Windows 7: Administrative Tools - Restore Shortcuts

   Information

Administrative Tools is a folder in Control Panel that contains tools for system administrators and advanced users. The tools in the folder might vary depending on which edition of Windows 7 you are using. This will show you how to restore the default Administrative Tools and it's shortcuts in Windows 7.

   Tip

Administrative Tools is located at the hidden system folder below.

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools

If the Admnistrative Tools folder is missing from this location, then you will see this Location is not available error below when you try to open Administrative Tools from any location.

1. Click on the Download button below to download and save the file below to you desktop.
NOTE: This is the same in both the 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7.

Administrative_Tools.zip

2. Open the downloaded ZIP file and extract the Administrative Tools folder to your desktop.

3. Open the extracted Administrative Tools folder, right click on the first shortcut, click on Properties, select the General tab, click on Unblock, then click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If there is not a Unblock button, then the shortcut has already been unblocked.

A) Repeat this step for each shortcut in the extracted Administrative Tools folder until you have unblocked all of the shortcuts in the folder.

4. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the hidden system folder below. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You can also open the Start Menu and right click on All Programs,click on Open All Users, and open the Programs folder to get to this location below as well.

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

5. Drag the extracted Administrative Tools folder from step 2 into the folder location in step 4, and drop it to a empty area in the main window (not in Navigation Pane). (see screenshot above)

6. If Administrative Tools Folder is in the Programs folder (step 4)
NOTE: If not, then go to step 7 instead.

A) Click on Yes. (see screenshot below)

B) Check the Do this for next ## conflicts box at the bottom, and click on the Copy and Replace option. (see screenshot below)

7. Click on Continue. (see screenshot below)

8. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes.

9. The Administrative Tools folder (step 2) has now been restored to the Programs folder (step 4). You should now be able to open Adminsitrative Tools from the Control Panel and Start Menu.