In prior versions of Windows before Vista, you could always open control panel items by passing control.exe the name of the *.cpl file that represented the item you were trying to open.
For instance, if you wanted to kick off the display properties you could trigger the command “control.exe desk.cpl”.
In Windows Vista, there’s a new syntax for opening control panel items - you’ve got the option to use the /name switch to pass the friendly name to control.exe instead of the difficult syntax.
For instance, if you want to initiate the Power Options panel you could initiate the following command from either the command line or the start menu search box:
control.exe /name Microsoft.PowerOptions
Here’s a table of all the names that should work, which you could use in shortcuts or batch files.
Microsoft.AddHardware
Microsoft.PenAndInputDevices
Microsoft.AdministrativeTools
Microsoft.PeopleNearMe
Microsoft.AudioDevicesAndSoundThemes
Microsoft.PerformaceInformationAndTools
Microsoft.AutoPlay
Microsoft.Personalization
Microsoft.BackupAndRestoreCenter
Microsoft.PhoneAndModemOptions
Microsoft.BitLockerDriveEncryption
Microsoft.PowerOptions
Microsoft.Bluetooth
Microsoft.Printers
Microsoft.CardSpace
Microsoft.ProblemReportsAndSolutions
Microsoft.ColorManagement
Microsoft.ProgramsAndFeatures
Microsoft.DateAndTime
Microsoft.RegionalAndLanguageOptions
Microsoft.DefaultPrograms
Microsoft.ScannersAndCameras
Microsoft.DeviceManager
Microsoft.SecurityCenter
Microsoft.EaseOfAccessCenter
Microsoft.SpeechRecognitionOptions
Microsoft.FolderOptions
Microsoft.SyncCenter
Microsoft.Fonts
Microsoft.System
Microsoft.GameControllers
Microsoft.TabletPCSettings
Microsoft.GetPrograms
Microsoft.TaskbarAndStartMenu
Microsoft.GetProgramsOnline
Microsoft.TextToSpeech
Microsoft.IndexingOptions
Microsoft.UserAccounts
Microsoft.Infrared
Microsoft.WelcomeCenter
Microsoft.InternetOptions
Microsoft.WindowsAnytimeUpgrade
Microsoft.iSCSIInitiator
Microsoft.WindowsDefender
Microsoft.Keyboard
Microsoft.WindowsFirewall
Microsoft.MobilityCenter
Microsoft.WindowsSideShow
Microsoft.Mouse
Microsoft.WindowsSidebarProperties
Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter
Microsoft.WindowsUpdate
Microsoft.OfflineFiles
Microsoft.ParentalControls
You should note that you’re able to also create shortcuts to control panel items by just right-click dragging the link in Control Panel to the folder you want to create the shortcut in.
