Windows 7 - shortcut to control panel page

hi all, not been about for a few weeks, but now i need your help:

how do i open up a certain tab of the control panel with a shortcut?

i use the page shown below a lot, switching between mic and line-in inputs whilst recording, and i'm tired of having to click start >> control panel >> hardware and sound >> sound >> recording tab - i just want to click on a shortcut.



i know that control.exe mmsys.cpl will open up the default 'playback' tab, but how do i get to auto-open the recording tab?

as far as i remember, ever since windows 3, you could simply add ,2 to open the second tab, thusly: control.exe mmsys.cpl, 2

but that doesn't seem to work any more with windows 7. i did think about running the shortcut in xp compatibility mode, but no go...

i know it's just one extra mouse-click to get to where i want to go, but this problem is making my geek-bone itch.

anyone know how to do it?

There is no Image Mickey


Steve

strange, i can see one

i must have mucked up the attachments somehow...

Procmon is your friend - changing it to show just process and thread activity, and then opening the recording options from the taskbar, it shows this process starting:
control.exe mmsys.cpl,,recording

Sure enough, running the above does it.

wow - great!

thanks a lot cluberti

+ rep indeed.

(i wish i could read your avatar better...)

I'll put up a full version on my website later today and link it or something . Thanks for the rep too.

rep fully deserved!

as for your avatar, it's just the middle intersect bit that i can't read.

even more off topic, i may have some work for you...next tuesday, i have to vaccinate 42 cats - want to help?

Right-click the speaker icon in the notification area (the Windows one, not the Realtek or whatever one) and click on Recording devices.

that's a good one too, Dwarf!

so obvious really...i should be embarrased - but if you don't ask, you won't find out...

have some rep yourself.

You have a couple more options.

1. google God Mode. The name is wierd but --
2. another alternative -go to \windows\system32 and dir *.cpl.
You will get:
appwiz.cpl
bthprops.cpl
collab.cpl
desk.cpl
Firewall.cpl
hdwwiz.cpl
inetcpl.cpl
infocardcpl.cpl
intl.cpl
irprops.cpl
joy.cpl
main.cpl
mmsys.cpl
ncpa.cpl
powercfg.cpl
sysdm.cpl
TabletPC.cpl
telephon.cpl
timedate.cpl
wscui.cpl