Microsoft KB Archive/313808

= Description of Control Panel Files in Windows XP =

Article ID: 313808

Article Last Modified on 5/7/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional

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This article was previously published under Q313808



SUMMARY
This article describes common Control Panel (.cpl) files.



MORE INFORMATION
Each tool in Control Panel is represented by a .cpl file in the Windows\System32 folder. The .cpl files in the Windows\System32 folder are loaded automatically when you start Control Panel.

NOTE: Occasionally, Windows uses entries in the [MMCPL] section of the Control.ini file to load Control Panel files.

The following table lists the most common .cpl files, including all the .cpl files that are included with Windows:

Third-party software and hardware manufacturers add Control Panel icons to provide an interface for you to use when you configure settings for their products. An icon is displayed in Control Panel after the program's Setup tool places the .cpl file in the Windows\System32.

To create a shortcut to a Control Panel tool, either drag an icon from Control Panel to the desktop or another location or manually create a shortcut, and then specify the path to the .cpl file.

For additional information about Control Panel files, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

149648 Description of Control Panel (.cpl) Files

180025 How to Open Control Panel Folders from the Command Prompt

Additional query words: Replacing Missing Control Panel Icons

Keywords: kbenv kbfile kbinfo KB313808

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