Invalid Control Panel Item

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  1. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
       #1

    Invalid Control Panel Item


    I recently purchased a new laptop and updating some software and drivers, an invalid and blank entry has appeared in the Control Panel section of the Start Menu. Please see attached screenshot, highlighted in yellow at the very top. I have also tried a fresh install, and after updating some drivers, this appeared again.

    I have checked about 2 dozen forums and articles on editing the registry in Windows 7 and deleting .cpl files, but none of the solutions address my problem. I can't find an invalid registry entry anywhere. I believe the solution lies somewhere in the registry but I can't find the correct key.

    Any help is appreciated, thanks!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Invalid Control Panel Item-cpl.jpg  
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  2. Posts : 6,668
    Windows 7 x64
       #2

    The way I have dealt with this in the past was to use tweak ui.
    I don't know if it works properly with windows 7 though.
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  3. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    TweakUI does not install on Windows 7. I haven't been able to find a tool that has Control Panel editing functionality that works on Windows 7. Can someone recommend such a tool?
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  4. Posts : 283
    Windows 7 X64 Professional
       #4

    Does right clicking/deleting it do anything? I doubt that would do anything to a registry entry (I really have no idea. Just taking a stab) but it might make it go away in the Control Panel.
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  5. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    When right clicking, the only 2 options that appear are "Create Shortcut" and "Sort by Name." Clicking "Create Shortcut" will give an error message "Windows cannot create the shortcut. Check to see if the disc is full."

    There is no option to delete. It's so weird! This blank entry does not appear if you actually open the Control Panel window. It only appears in the Start Menu Control Panel as shown in the screenshot.

    I know this seems like a trivial bug, but it's a bit annoying, and seems like a challenge to fix, and I feel I need to conquer this little bugger.
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  6. Posts : 7,730
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
       #6

    Have you had a look in the Startup folder itself?

    Navigate to Start>All Programs>Startup then right-click the Startup folder and choose Explore, and then see if you can delete the unwanted icon.
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  7. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    There is only one icon in the Startup folder and it points to a valid item. How is this related to the Control Panel Start Menu?
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  8. Posts : 7,730
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
       #8

    It's only me rambling on.

    I saw the mention of the Start Menu Control Panel and assumed you were thinking of the Startup Folder, sorry about that.

    Just a thought though. Do you have Windows configured to show hidden files?
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  9. Posts : 6,668
    Windows 7 x64
       #9

    Here is something brink posted on the subject.
    Remove an icon from Control Panel

    apparently if you go into that registry key and look for the namespace that is blank you can just remove it there.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #10

    I am configured to view hidden files.

    I've tried the namespace solution before as well, I can't find any blank entries there so I don't know what to delete, if anything. I'm thinking there must be another place in the registry where this blank entry is listed. Any thoughts?
      My Computer


 
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