Control Panel > Administrative Tools

[Carson Dyle]

Does anyone know why the Administrative Tools in the Control Panel launches a new (Explorer) window rather than simply opening in the same window as the Control Panel, as it once did (XP)? This is one of the little things in Windows 7 that annoys me. Why the need to open a new window? Can the behavior be made the same as in XP?

 

[TwoCables]

I have never noticed this before because I have the Control Panel displayed as a menu on the Start Menu. I recommend trying it this way yourself if you haven't already. I find it to be far more convenient to have the Control Panel displayed as a menu. This is due to being able to do it back in Windows 95/98/XP using TweakUI.

Anyway, it seems to me like there's no way to change the behavior because Administrative Tools is just a special folder full of shortcut files that point to the different programs collectively known as Administrative Tools. The Control Panel in Windows 7 cannot display folders due to the way it has been designed.

It's also not the only thing that requires a new Window. The following Control Panel items also need a new Window:

• Color Management
• Date and Time
• Desktop Gadgets
• Device Manager
• Flash Player (if it's installed)
• Folder Options
• Getting Started
• Indexing Options
• Intel Rapid Storage Technology (if it's installed)
• Internet Options
• Java (if it's installed)
• Keyboard
• Mail
• Mouse
• NVIDIA Control Panel (if it's installed)
• Quicktime (if it's installed)
• Region and Language
• Sound
• Taskbar and Start Menu
• Windows Anytime Upgrade
• Windows CardSpace
• Windows Defender

So there are just some things in the Control Panel that cannot be displayed inside of the Control Panel window because of the way the Control Panel coded. As you can see, the things that do open in the Control Panel window slide in. So, they're already a part of that Window - or something like that. I don't know how to explain it.

Either way, there's no way to change it without having Microsoft release a patch or a Service Pack to change it so that all of the Control Panel items slide in just like all of the items I didn't list here. However, that would be a huge change to Windows 7 and its code. It would make for an enormous service pack, probably the biggest one ever released.

 

[Carson Dyle]

It's also not the only thing that requires a new Window. The following Control Panel items also need a new Window:

So there are just some things in the Control Panel that cannot be displayed inside of the Control Panel window because of the way the Control Panel coded.

Those are all applets, most of which have always launched a new window. The Administrative Tools is subfolder (or submenu).

 

[TwoCables]

It's also not the only thing that requires a new Window. The following Control Panel items also need a new Window:

So there are just some things in the Control Panel that cannot be displayed inside of the Control Panel window because of the way the Control Panel coded.

Those are all applets, most of which have always launched a new window. The Administrative Tools is subfolder (or submenu).

I know, but getting it to open in the same Window would require some major changes to the code because I mean look at how everything else slides in when you click it. The code would have to be changed so that the Control Panel in Windows 7 can display shortcut files just like any other folder.

 

[Layback Bear]

If I understand you correctly Carson Dyle on what you are trying to do. Well it's Windows 7 not XP. Their are some differences and in a very short time you will get use to it with a little effort. There might be a way to open a window inside a window inside another window in Control Panel but I don't think so. If there is someone will drop by with the information your asking for.
I did check in folder options view and don't see anything that might help.
That is if I understand what you are asking.

 

[Carson Dyle]

No, I've been using it for quite a while and will never get used to things in the user interface that only make things more tedious. I understand now the reason that Microsoft moved in the direction of Windows 8. Vista and Windows 7 were made over-complicated in the vein of showing off little useless whizbang UI elements that were intended to show some kind of progress in a UI that had remained virtually unchanged since Windows 95. Trouble is, Microsoft is utterly incapable of designing user interfaces.

 

[TwoCables]

No, I've been using it for quite a while and will never get used to things in the user interface that only make things more tedious. I understand now the reason that Microsoft moved in the direction of Windows 8. Vista and Windows 7 were made over-complicated in the vein of showing off little useless whizbang UI elements that were intended to show some kind of progress in a UI that had remained virtually unchanged since Windows 95. Trouble is, Microsoft is utterly incapable of designing user interfaces.

That's why I recommended putting the Control Panel on the Start Menu and having it displayed as a menu. That way, you won't have to open the Control Panel window and then open Administrative Tools. With it displayed as a menu on the Start Menu, you just pop open the menu and click the Control Panel item that you want. No fuss, no mess (as they say).

So let's say that you want Administrative Tools. Well, with it displayed as a menu on the Start Menu, you just open the Start Menu, hover over Control Panel, and click Administrative Tools.

Alternatively, just open the Start Menu, type adm for "Administrative Tools", and then press Enter. Or, keep typing "administrative tools" until Administrative Tools is selected so that you can just press Enter to open it.

I apologize for any disrespect that I'm about to dispense with what I'm about to say, but I honestly don't see how this is more tedious. I mean, I am honestly feeling that you're overreacting to the design just a little bit (not a lot, just a little).

 

[Carson Dyle]

Like I said in the first post, it's just a small annoyance. It opens a second window that is unnecessary. Placing it in the Star Menu should handle that, but this makes about 200 things now for which I've sought workarounds in Windows 7.

 

[TwoCables]

I wouldn't call this a workaround. I call it, taking advantage of the options provided to us in Windows 7 by Microsoft.