Win98se Cannot Access Control Panel Options

Hi Everyone,

I have a funny problem on my Windows 98SE machine.

I cannot access my control panel options. I can see then but if I double click or right click properties nothing happens.

I have tried logging out of my normal user name logging on as another, same problem.

If I try to right click on my network settings on the desktop I have the same problem - I assume this works same as control panel.

Machine otherwise working ok until today.

I did some registry editing a few days ago to do with the Isearch toolbar don't think I did anything to set this off.

I would install the system policy editor but realised I cannot now do this.

Any help gratefully received

 

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer. Look for an entry named NoControlPanel and modify it's value to zero or delete the string. Logoff and back on.

 

Click Start - Find - Files or Folders and type "*.CPL" (without the quotes).

Right-click on each of the CPL's and choose open. Do they all open? Or is there a rogue file?

 

Hi Dave,

Thanks for your help, I could not find a NoControlPanel option in my registry.

 

Hi Brett,

That was very interesting.

I found all of the cpl files in c:\windows\system right-click allowed be to open all of the control panel options one by one which actually helped my immediate problem.

All of them opened but "findfast" started the Microsoft Frontpage 2000 installation routine which I don't think is right. When I cancelled out I got a message unable to access FindFast.exe.

Something else I have noticed, if I go to start run then type in command I get the error message

'This Internet Shortcut cannot be opened because failed to run'

Note the space between because and failed.


Could this be related as it must have started around the same time.

Thanks again everyone.

 

Search

do a search in windows (start-->find) and search for "*.cpl" (without ") those are your control panel applets, see if you can double click one and run it.

Kev

 

Hi Jake - looks like an IE problem. If you can get to Control Panel/
Add Remove Programs, scroll to / select Internet Explorerer and use the Repair
option. You may be asked for the Win98SE install files location - CD ?
(some poorly written app uninstall programs remove registry keys that
are necessary for Windows correct operation - such keys need to be
replaced or corrected)
regards