Understanding the Control Panel

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated April 20, 2015)

1

Windows 7 is a complicated operating system that attempts to be as user-friendly as it can. Part of the attempt includes allowing you to modify the user interface and settings by which Windows does its work. The central place where you can make changes to the settings that Windows relies upon is in an area known as the Control Panel.

To display the Control Panel on a Windows 7 system, simply click the Start button and then click Control Panel. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Windows Control Panel

If you are using Windows 8, displaying the Control Panel is a bit more complex. For that version of the operating system, see the tip entitled Displaying the Windows 8 Control Panel.

Virtually everything you see in the Control Panel is a link to a place where you can make the changes you desire. All you need to do is figure out what you want to do, and then click the link that leads to where that task can be accomplished.

Many of the tips published in Windows Tips rely upon the Control Panel.

 This tip (10709) applies to Windows 7 and 8.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He  is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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What is eight more than 8?

2015-04-20 14:44:13

Geir

For those with problems finding what they want in the control panel (flipping back and forth) - or with advance requirements - the Gos Mode is an alternative: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/GodMode-Windows-7-How-to,9345.html
But please be careful in there, you can do a lot of damage.

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