Restore Missing Control Panel Items - Windows 7 & Vista

Restoring Missing Control Panel Items in Windows

Have you encountered a situation where the Display Settings icon or the Network Connections folder are absent from the Control Panel’s Classic View? Perhaps you've also found that standard Start Menu searches fail to locate these essential tools. This behavior stems from a deliberate restriction imposed through the Windows Registry.

Understanding the Registry Block

Certain Control Panel applets are prevented from loading by default. To rectify this, access the Registry Editor by typing "regedit.exe" into the Start Menu search field. Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\don't load

Within this key, you will observe a list of items displayed in the right-hand pane. It is strongly recommended to create a backup of this key using the export function before proceeding with any modifications.

Removing the Restrictions

The desk.cpl entry controls the Display Settings wizard, while ncpa.cpl manages the Network Connections folder. Deleting these two specific entries will restore their functionality within the Control Panel.

After removing the entries, refresh the Control Panel view, or simply reopen it. The missing items should now be visible and accessible.

Restoring Search Functionality

Following the removal of these restrictions, the Display Settings and Network Connections options will also become searchable through the Start Menu. This enhancement significantly improves accessibility.

Hiding Control Panel Items

It's worth noting that the same registry key can also be utilized to intentionally hide Control Panel items if desired, offering a degree of customization.