Introduction to Configuration and Management
Control Panel is the central location for system configuration changes. To reduce clutter and provide easier access to some options, certain tools are no longer located in Control Panel. Table 7.2 lists the feature or function, how to gain access to it from Control Panel or another location, and where the feature or function is located in earlier versions of Windows.
To view a detailed description of each Control Panel item, click Details on the View menu in Control Panel. For additional information about any Control Panel item, see Windows 2000 Help.
Table 7.2 Tasks in Control Panel
Feature or Function |
Location in Windows 2000 Professional |
Location in Windows 98 |
Location in Windows NT 4.0 Workstation |
|---|---|---|---|
Add/Delete Users |
Users and Passwords |
Control Panel/Users |
In User Manager on the Start / Programs / Administrative Tools menu. |
Administrative Tools |
Programs menu (if enabled) or Control Panel |
System Tools\Programs\Accessories |
On Start / Programs menu. |
Console (MS–DOS) |
Programs/Accessories/Command Prompt |
Programs/MS DOS prompt |
Under Console in Control Panel |
Device configuration |
Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager option |
Control Panel/System Device Manager tab |
Under Devices in Control Panel. |
Dial-up connections |
Control Panel/Network and Dial-up Connections |
Control Panel/Modems |
Under Modem in Control Panel. |
Display options: Plus! property page |
Control Panel/Display/Effects property page |
Control Panel/Display/Plus! |
On the Plus! tab under Display in Control Panel. |
Game Controllers |
Control Panel/Game Controllers |
Control Panel/Game Controllers |
On the Devices tab under Multimedia in Control Panel. |
Hardware installation |
Control Panel/Add/Remove Hardware |
Control Panel/Add New Hardware |
The Hardware tab of the property page for the device. |
Modem configuration |
Control Panel/Phone and Modem Options |
Control Panel/Modems |
Under Modems in Control Panel. |
Multimedia |
Control Panel/Sounds and Multimedia |
Control Panel/Multimedia |
Under Multimedia in Control Panel. |
Network configuration |
Control Panel/Network and Dial-up Connections |
Control Panel/Network |
Under Network in Control Panel. |
Network Connections |
Control Panel/Network and Dial-up Connections |
My Computer and My Network Places |
Under Network in Control Panel. |
ODBC Data Sources |
Administrative Tools |
Control Panel/32bit ODBC |
In Control Panel. |
Passwords |
Control Panel/Users and Passwords |
Control Panel/Passwords or Users |
In User Manager on the Start / Programs / Administrative Tools menu. |
PC Card (PCMCIA) |
Control Panel/Add/Remove Hardware |
Control Panel/System/Device Manager tab |
Under PC Card (PCMCIA) in Control Panel. |
Ports |
Control Panel\Phone and Modem Options |
Control Panel/Modems/Connection tab of device |
Under Ports in Control Panel. |
Scanners and Cameras |
Control Panel\Scanners and Cameras |
Not available |
Not available. |
Scheduled Tasks |
Control Panel/Scheduled Tasks |
My Computer |
Services/Schedule. |
SCSI Adapters |
Control Panel/System/Hardware tab/Device Manager option |
Control Panel/System/Device Manager tab |
Under SCSI Adapters in Control Panel. |
Services |
Control Panel\Administrative Tools |
Control Panel\Services |
Under Services in Control Panel. |
Sounds |
Control Panel\Sounds and Multimedia |
Control Panel\Sounds |
Under Sounds in Control Panel. |
Tape Devices |
System/Hardware property page/Device Manager option |
Control Panel/System//Device Manager tab |
Under Tape Devices in Control Panel. |
Telephony |
Control Panel\Phone and Modem Options |
Control Panel\Telephony |
Under Telephony in Control Panel. |
UPS |
Control Panel\Power Options |
Control Panel\Power Management |
Under UPS in Control Panel. |
You can use Group Policy settings to restrict access to Control Panel. Table 7.3 is a list of some of the Group Policy settings that affect Control Panel and a brief description of each policy. For additional information, right-click the policy in MMC, click Properties , and then click the Explain tab; or see Group Policy Reference on the Microsoft Windows 2000 Resource Kit companion CD.
Table 7.3 Group Policy Settings That Affect Control Panel
Group Policy Setting |
Location |
Description |
|---|---|---|
Disable programs on Settings menu |
Local Computer Policy\User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu & Taskbar. |
Prevents any programs on the Start / Settings menu from running. |
Disable Control Panel |
Local Computer Policy\User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu & Taskbar. |
Disables all Control Panel programs. This policy prevents Control.exe, the program file for Control Panel, from starting. As a result, users cannot start Control Panel or run any Control Panel programs. |
Show only specified Control Panel applets |
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Control Panel |
Hides all Control Panel programs and folders except those specified in this setting. This setting removes all Control Panel programs (such as Network) and folders (such as Fonts) from the Control Panel window and the Start menu. It removes Control Panel programs you have added to your system, as well the Control Panel programs that are included in Windows 2000. The only programs that are displayed in Control Panel are those you specify in this setting. |
Hide specified Control Panel applets |
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Control Panel |
This policy removes Control Panel programs (such as Display) and folders (such as Fonts) from the Control Panel window and the Start menu. It can remove Control Panel programs you have added to your system, as well Control Panel programs that are included in Windows 2000. |
.gif "caution-icon")
Caution
If you enable either Show only specified Control Panel applets or Hide specified Control Panel applets , users still have access to all Control Panel programs from Help.