How to hide or unhide the Control Panel icons

The Control Panel is a special folder that contains the tools (system software) used to configure the hardware and software.

For example, you can customize the mouse, keyboard, printer, add or remove hardware or program and also set the appearance of desktop using color schemes, screen savers etc. All tools in the control panel are saved with CPL extension.

You can find all CPL files inside C:\Windows\System32 folder with searching *.cpl extension.

Therefore, you can make your computer more secure to hide some important tools of control panel, because you can prevent other users to make any changes in your computer using the Control Panel tools.

Perform the following steps to hide the control panel tools:

To edit this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.

First click on Start button to open "Run" and type "regedit" then press Ok button to open the Registry Editor. In registry editor locate the given path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\don't load First right click in the right side of the registry editor panel and create the new DWORD value then rename this key exactly as the same name you want it to be hidden.

For example, if you want to hide the Add/Remove Programs Option then name the String Value appwiz.cpl .

Double click on new DWORD value and set its value No under "Value data" section.

Close the Registry editor and restart your computer for changes to apply.

But next time, if you want to restore the "Add/Remove Programs" option, then just type Yes instead of NO in Value Datadialog.

How to Change Windows 7 Taskbar to Work like Vista

A lot of people don’t like the new taskbar feature of Windows 7. Others prefer the old Vista taskbar over the Windows 7 taskbar. You can change Windows 7 taskbar to work like Vista taskbar. It takes some time before you get accustomed to your Windows 7 taskbar. But if you don’t have time to get used to the new version and want your computer to work the same way like before, here is a way to change Windows 7 taskbar to work like Vista

Right-click the empty area on the Taskbar Select Properties The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties windows will open. Under the box called “Use small icons” and “Taskbar location on screen”, select the option “Combine when taskbar is full” from the drop down of Taskbar buttons.

Click on the Apply button.

You have successfully changed the Windows 7 taskbar to work like Vista.

Now the Taskbar look similar to how it did in Vista. It will not appear very much alike to Vista taskbar, but the functions will be the same.

A different way to achieve the same is by unpinning all the programs from the Windows 7 taskbar. Add a quick launch bar to Windows 7. This will change the Windows 7 taskbar to work like Vista after the Quick Launch Bar is enabled.