Article ID: 313808
Article Last Modified on 5/7/2007
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
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:
| File name | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Access.cpl | Accessibility properties |
| Appwiz.cpl | Add/Remove Programs properties |
| Desk.cpl | Display properties |
| Hdwwiz.cpl | Add Hardware properties |
| Inetcpl.cpl | Internet properties |
| Intl.cpl | Regional Settings properties |
| Irprops.cpl | Infrared Port properties (located in C:\Windows\Driver cache\I386\Driver.cab until you install an infrared device) |
| Joy.cpl | Joystick properties |
| Main.cpl | Mouse properties |
| Mmsys.cpl | Multimedia properties |
| Ncpa.cpl | Network Connections properties |
| Nusrmgr.cpl | User Accounts properties |
| Nwc.cpl | Gateway Services for NetWare properties |
| Odbccp32.cpl | Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) Data Source Administrator properties |
| Powercfg.cpl | Power Options properties |
| Sapi.cpl | Speech Properties (located in C:\Program files\Common files\Microsoft Shared\Speech) |
| Sysdm.cpl | System properties |
| Telephon.cpl | Phone and Modem Options properties |
| Timedate.cpl | Time and Date properties |
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
