SOLVED: Windows 7: Can't access Control Panel

neilm · #1 (**permalink**) 19-06-2009, 08:45 PM

This is an odd problem- it is on my Advent 4213 but I've put it in General as it may be independent of make/model.

This afternoon I tried to use the Right Click on the power icon in the tasktray to change some settings. Nothing happened- the context menu came up, but all the links except Windows Mobility centre (which worked OK) just resulted in about 30 seconds of disk activity then nothing.

So, I decided to go to Power Settings via Start/Control Panel- same result. No Control Panel page, just the disk activity light for 30 seconds then nothing else. All this time, I can open/switch programs with no trouble.

Same happens with any system link from the start menu including Printers and Networking.

I tried the 'Create Administrator Account' via the start menu Search facility, and 'Modify User Accounts' with the same result- nothing

All the while I can run and use any installed program.

I'm using Panda AV for Win7 Beta, and have tried turning it off, with no change. I can't turn Windows Firewall off as I can't access the settings.

I've tried a system restore back to one month agao when I know it was working, and again, same result.

This has completely foxed me and I'd dearly like some advice!

neilm · #2 (**permalink**) 19-06-2009, 09:09 PM

Well I've now sussed this, though I still don't know why it happened.

I decided that Directory Opus may be the culprit, as it takes over all the Explorer calls. I couldn't uninstall it as I couldn't access the Add/Remove control panel, but I did manage to change Directory Opus to prevent it being the default Explorer, and after a restart it's all OK again.

It's still a mystery as I've been using DO since I installed Win7 RC, with no trouble till today. Anyway, it's working again which is what matters!

windows · #3 (**permalink**) 20-06-2009, 09:57 AM

It will work fine as long as the option to replace explorer folders is not used.

neilm · #4 (**permalink**) 20-06-2009, 07:12 PM

That is certainly the case now, but I still can't understand why it's been OK until now

Supposedly it shouldn't have worked at all!

windows · #5 (**permalink**) 21-06-2009, 09:35 AM

Exactly my point so it is damned weird!