 | | Welcome to Windows 7 Forums. Our forum is dedicated to helping you find solutions with any problems, errors or issues you are experiencing with Windows 7. The Windows 7 forum also covers news and updates and has an extensive Windows 7 tutorial section that covers a wide range of tips and tricks. | Windows 7 - Control Panel View - Category or Icons Control Panel View - Category or Icons How to Change the Windows 7 Default Control Panel View
Published by Brink
11-01-2008
| Control Panel View - Category or Icons How to Change the Windows 7 Default Control Panel View Information | | This will show you how to change the Windows 7 Control Panel view from either the default Category view, or all items with Small icons or Large icons view. | | RELATED LINKS: | METHOD ONE: |
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| From the Control Panel |
1. Open the Start Menu. 2. Click on the Control Panel button on the right. (See screenshot below) NOTE: In the Windows 7 Beta (7000 build), you will have to click on the small Control Panel icon towards the upper left corner of the Control Panel instead. 3. To Have the Control Panel with the Category View -A) Click on the View by drop down menu arrow, and select (dot) Category. (See screenshot above) 
3. For Control Panel with All Items with Large Icons View - NOTE: In the Windows 7 Beta (7000 build), you will have to click on the the All Control Panel Items link, then right click on a empty space in the Control Panel instead.A) Click on the View by drop down menu arrow, and select (dot) Large items. (See screenshot above)
4. For Control Panel with All Items with Small Icons View - NOTE: In the Windows 7 Beta (7000 build), you will have to click on the the All Control Panel Items link, then right click on a empty space in the Control Panel instead.A) Click on the View by drop down menu arrow, and select (dot) Small items. (See screenshot above)
5. Close the Control Panel when done. NOTE: When you close the Control Panel, whatever view you have selected will automatically be the same view the next time you open the Control Panel. | METHOD TWO: |
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| From the Local Group Policy Editor |
1. Open the Start Menu. 2. In the Start menu search box, type gpedit.msc and press Enter. (See screenshot below) 3. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Control Panel. 4. In the right pane, right click on Always open All Control Panel Items when opening the Control Panel and click on Properties. (See screenshot above) 5. To Make All Items View the Default -A) Select (dot) Enabled. (See screenhot below step 7)
B) Go to step 7. 6. To Make Category View the Default -A) Select (dot) Not Configures or Disabled. (See screenhot below step 7) 7. Click on OK. (See screenshot below) 8. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window. | METHOD THREE: |
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| From the Registry |
| OPTION ONE: | | Through a Download |
1. To Make All Items View the Default -A) Click on the Download button below to download the CP_All_Items_View.zip file below.  B) Go to step 3. 2. To Make Category View the Default - A) Click on the Download button below to download the CP_Default_Home_View.zip file below. 
3. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop. 4. Open the .zip file and extract the .reg file to the desktop. 5. Right click the .reg file (On Desktop) and click on Merge. 6. Click on Run, Yes, and OK when prompted. 7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply. 8. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg and .zip files on the desktop if you like. | OPTION TWO: | | Manually Through the Registry |
1. Open the Start Menu. 2. In the Start menu search box, type regedit and press Enter. (See screenshot below) 3. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer 4. To Make All Items View the Default - A) In the right pane of Explorer, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot above)
B) Type ForceClassicControlPanel and press Enter. (See screenshot below) C) Right click on ForceClassicControlPanel and click on Modify. (See screenshot above)
D) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below) E) The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below) F) Go to step 6. 5. To Make Category View the Default -A) In the right pane of Explorer, right click on ForceClassicControlPanel and click on Delete. (See screenshot above)
B) Click on Yes to confirm deletion. 6. Close Regedit. 7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.
That's it,
Shawn
. |  Published by | | Administrator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 10,967 | |
 Tutorial Tools | | | | | | | | | |
11-17-2008
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#1 | | Vista Home Basic 32bit SP1/ Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit/ Windows XP 32bit Rockford, IL USA |
Thanks davehc for finding this Quote: To Make All Control Panel Items the Default View -
A) Right click on a empty space in the Control Panel.
B) Select (check) Set as Default Control Panel View. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number HP Compaq Presario/SR5113WM OS Vista Home Basic 32bit SP1/ Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit/ Windows XP 32bit CPU AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ 1.9Ghz Motherboard Asus M2N68-LA Memory PNY Optima Memory DDR2 2GB 2x1 kit Graphics Card PNY Nvidia 8400 GS 256MB Sound Card On board RealTek Monitor(s) Displays Acer X163W LCD Screen Resolution 1366x768 Keyboard Standard 102 key with volume and sleep buttons Mouse Wireless Logitech LX7 PSU Dynex 400w Case Nothin Special Cooling Stock Hard Drives Western Digital 160 GB SATA 3G (3.0Gb/sec)
7200 rpm
Western Digital 160 GB IDE Internet Speed Comcrap 10mb cable Other Info Insignia 2.1 speakers, wireless Xbox 360 controller w/plug n play charger, Belkin wireless G + mimo usb network adapter. |
12-09-2008
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#2 | | Windows 7 build 6956 Sweden |
This option is not working with window 7 build 6956...anyone got another idea? | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Thinkpad T60 OS Windows 7 build 6956 CPU Core Duo 2Ghz Memory 2GB Graphics Card ATI Mobility x1400 Monitor(s) Displays 15'' Internet Speed 20 - 100megabyte/s |
12-09-2008
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#3 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail Texas |
Hello Natri,
Thank you for reminding me of this. In build 6956, Option One (step 5) is no longer there. Instead, Windows 7 will reopen the Control Panel to whichever view you had open when you last closed the Control Panel.
Hope this helps,
Shawn | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower w/ 250 mm Front & 120 mm Rear fan Cooling Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Copper CPU heat sink w/120 MM Hard Drives 2 x 750GB (RAID 0) Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 10.58 Mb/s Download and 1.12 Mb/s Upload Other Info Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
** Samsung CLX-3175FW Printer
** D-Link DIR-855 Router
** Motorola SB6120 Cable Modem
** ASRock ION 330 server |
12-10-2008
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#4 | | Vista and now 7 in 32 and 64 bit. Denmark |
I think it is a forgetful omission. It was really useful and will ceratinly be resinstated - I think?
Fwiw. I notice that they have also dropped the Menu Classic view. PIty, it was very popular in Vista and 6801.
Ok. I,ve found a compromise. If you would rather it opened ALWAYS in the Full View, with the option to switch to the other view.
Open GPedit.msc - User Configuration.
Open Administartive Templates - Control Panel
Enable the item "Always Open All Control Panel items.....
Maybe worth incorporating into the Tutorials? | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Three desktops and one laptop with good specs.. OS Vista and now 7 in 32 and 64 bit. |
12-10-2008
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#5 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail Texas |
| My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower w/ 250 mm Front & 120 mm Rear fan Cooling Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Copper CPU heat sink w/120 MM Hard Drives 2 x 750GB (RAID 0) Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 10.58 Mb/s Download and 1.12 Mb/s Upload Other Info Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
** Samsung CLX-3175FW Printer
** D-Link DIR-855 Router
** Motorola SB6120 Cable Modem
** ASRock ION 330 server |
12-23-2008
|
#6 | | XP,Vista, Windows 7 H town |
When i type in gpedit.msc in build 6956 i cant locate the file. is there something im missing here? | My System Specs | | |
12-23-2008
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#7 | | Vista Home Basic 32bit SP1/ Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit/ Windows XP 32bit Rockford, IL USA |
Buckeye25 follow step 5 in method 1
5. To Make All Control Panel Items the Default View -
NOTE: Special thanks to our member davehc for finding this option. In Windows 7 build 6956, this option is no longer available. Instead, Windows 7 build 6956 will automatically reopen the Control Panel to whichever view (Home or All Items) you had open when you last closed the Control Panel.
A) Right click on a empty space in the Control Panel. (See screenshot above)
B) Select (check) Set as Default Control Panel View. (See screenshot above)
6. Close the Control Panel when done. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number HP Compaq Presario/SR5113WM OS Vista Home Basic 32bit SP1/ Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit/ Windows XP 32bit CPU AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ 1.9Ghz Motherboard Asus M2N68-LA Memory PNY Optima Memory DDR2 2GB 2x1 kit Graphics Card PNY Nvidia 8400 GS 256MB Sound Card On board RealTek Monitor(s) Displays Acer X163W LCD Screen Resolution 1366x768 Keyboard Standard 102 key with volume and sleep buttons Mouse Wireless Logitech LX7 PSU Dynex 400w Case Nothin Special Cooling Stock Hard Drives Western Digital 160 GB SATA 3G (3.0Gb/sec)
7200 rpm
Western Digital 160 GB IDE Internet Speed Comcrap 10mb cable Other Info Insignia 2.1 speakers, wireless Xbox 360 controller w/plug n play charger, Belkin wireless G + mimo usb network adapter. |
12-23-2008
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#8 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail Texas |

Quote: Originally Posted by Buckeye25 When i type in gpedit.msc in build 6956 i cant locate the file. is there something im missing here? Hello Buckeye25,
The location for that file is at C:\Windows\System32\gpedit.msc. However, any of the other methods will work just as well to.
Hope this helps,
Shawn | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower w/ 250 mm Front & 120 mm Rear fan Cooling Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Copper CPU heat sink w/120 MM Hard Drives 2 x 750GB (RAID 0) Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 10.58 Mb/s Download and 1.12 Mb/s Upload Other Info Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
** Samsung CLX-3175FW Printer
** D-Link DIR-855 Router
** Motorola SB6120 Cable Modem
** ASRock ION 330 server |
12-24-2008
|
#9 | | XP,Vista, Windows 7 H town |
Thanks for the response Shawn!
Cheers
Marco | My System Specs | | All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:05 AM. |  |