Shortcuts to Device Manager and Services in Control Panel, How?
Hi,
Control Panel is a convenient and sensible place for Windows (XP, SP2)
to store the various system utilities and dialogs.
BUT 2 of the things I use most regulary, 'Device Manager' and
'Services', are started from either a secondary folder (Admin. Tools) or
from the 'System' dialog's 'Hardware' tab -- how inconvenient !!
Today after living with this inconvenience for many years I finally got
around to creating 2 shortcuts in Control Panel, one for Device Manager
and one for Services, only to find Control Panel won't let me add
shortcuts. I've added shortcuts to them on my desktop which work fine,
but I can neither add a shortcut nor copy one to Control Panel. On the
desktop in fine in the short-term but can someone tell me how to add
these shortcuts to Control Panel, which is, after all, their natural home.
Many thanks.
PS. In case anyone wants to know, use these file names from the
run/command prompt/create shortcut to directly open Device Manager and
Services respectively: devmgmt.msc and services.msc
A list of file names for similar system dialogs/apps (EG. Disk
Management, Event Viewer, etc.) can be found here:
Re: Shortcuts to Device Manager and Services in Control Panel, How?
Perhaps you can add them to the Tools tab on the system configuration
utility (msconfig) and a shortcut to msconfig any where you want, including
the Quick Launch bar. As I recall the device manager is a snap in on the
MMC so perhaps that's why you cannot create the shortcut. I can do it in
Vista, but not in XP Pro SP2. For adding the Tool tab and adding new tools
to it, see: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906569
"Poster Matt" <postermatt@no_spam_for_me.org> wrote in message
news:Oxkyj.16336$XI.9641@text.news.virginmedia.com ...
> Hi,
>
> Control Panel is a convenient and sensible place for Windows (XP, SP2) to
> store the various system utilities and dialogs.
>
> BUT 2 of the things I use most regulary, 'Device Manager' and 'Services',
> are started from either a secondary folder (Admin. Tools) or from the
> 'System' dialog's 'Hardware' tab -- how inconvenient !!
>
> Today after living with this inconvenience for many years I finally got
> around to creating 2 shortcuts in Control Panel, one for Device Manager
> and one for Services, only to find Control Panel won't let me add
> shortcuts. I've added shortcuts to them on my desktop which work fine, but
> I can neither add a shortcut nor copy one to Control Panel. On the desktop
> in fine in the short-term but can someone tell me how to add these
> shortcuts to Control Panel, which is, after all, their natural home.
>
> Many thanks.
>
> PS. In case anyone wants to know, use these file names from the
> run/command prompt/create shortcut to directly open Device Manager and
> Services respectively: devmgmt.msc and services.msc
>
> A list of file names for similar system dialogs/apps (EG. Disk Management,
> Event Viewer, etc.) can be found here:
>
> http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/mmc.htm
>
> HTH.
Re: Shortcuts to Device Manager and Services in Control Panel, How?
Colin Barnhorst wrote:
> Perhaps you can add them to the Tools tab on the system configuration
> utility (msconfig) and a shortcut to msconfig any where you want,
> including the Quick Launch bar. As I recall the device manager is a
> snap in on the MMC so perhaps that's why you cannot create the
> shortcut. I can do it in Vista, but not in XP Pro SP2. For adding the
> Tool tab and adding new tools to it, see:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906569
Thanks for the suggestion Colin, that's an alternative I'll consider if
getting them into Control Panel fails.
I'd still like them in Control Panel, surely it's possible to add them,
after all 3rd part apps manage it, EG. Java, Quicktime.
Anyone know how?
Thanks and good night, getting late in my TZ.
> "Poster Matt" <postermatt@no_spam_for_me.org> wrote in message
> news:Oxkyj.16336$XI.9641@text.news.virginmedia.com ...
>> Hi,
>>
>> Control Panel is a convenient and sensible place for Windows (XP, SP2)
>> to store the various system utilities and dialogs.
>>
>> BUT 2 of the things I use most regulary, 'Device Manager' and
>> 'Services', are started from either a secondary folder (Admin. Tools)
>> or from the 'System' dialog's 'Hardware' tab -- how inconvenient !!
>>
>> Today after living with this inconvenience for many years I finally
>> got around to creating 2 shortcuts in Control Panel, one for Device
>> Manager and one for Services, only to find Control Panel won't let me
>> add shortcuts. I've added shortcuts to them on my desktop which work
>> fine, but I can neither add a shortcut nor copy one to Control Panel.
>> On the desktop in fine in the short-term but can someone tell me how
>> to add these shortcuts to Control Panel, which is, after all, their
>> natural home.
>>
>> Many thanks.
>>
>> PS. In case anyone wants to know, use these file names from the
>> run/command prompt/create shortcut to directly open Device Manager and
>> Services respectively: devmgmt.msc and services.msc
>>
>> A list of file names for similar system dialogs/apps (EG. Disk
>> Management, Event Viewer, etc.) can be found here:
>>
>> http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/mmc.htm
>>
>> HTH.
>
Re: Shortcuts to Device Manager and Services in Control Panel, How?
I still think the dependency on MMC is at the root of your problem doing it.
"Poster Matt" <postermatt@no_spam_for_me.org> wrote in message
news:lvlyj.16370$XI.3233@text.news.virginmedia.com ...
> Colin Barnhorst wrote:
>> Perhaps you can add them to the Tools tab on the system configuration
>> utility (msconfig) and a shortcut to msconfig any where you want,
>> including the Quick Launch bar. As I recall the device manager is a snap
>> in on the MMC so perhaps that's why you cannot create the shortcut. I
>> can do it in Vista, but not in XP Pro SP2. For adding the Tool tab and
>> adding new tools to it, see:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906569
>
> Thanks for the suggestion Colin, that's an alternative I'll consider if
> getting them into Control Panel fails.
>
> I'd still like them in Control Panel, surely it's possible to add them,
> after all 3rd part apps manage it, EG. Java, Quicktime.
>
> Anyone know how?
>
> Thanks and good night, getting late in my TZ.
>
>
>> "Poster Matt" <postermatt@no_spam_for_me.org> wrote in message
>> news:Oxkyj.16336$XI.9641@text.news.virginmedia.com ...
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Control Panel is a convenient and sensible place for Windows (XP, SP2)
>>> to store the various system utilities and dialogs.
>>>
>>> BUT 2 of the things I use most regulary, 'Device Manager' and
>>> 'Services', are started from either a secondary folder (Admin. Tools) or
>>> from the 'System' dialog's 'Hardware' tab -- how inconvenient !!
>>>
>>> Today after living with this inconvenience for many years I finally got
>>> around to creating 2 shortcuts in Control Panel, one for Device Manager
>>> and one for Services, only to find Control Panel won't let me add
>>> shortcuts. I've added shortcuts to them on my desktop which work fine,
>>> but I can neither add a shortcut nor copy one to Control Panel. On the
>>> desktop in fine in the short-term but can someone tell me how to add
>>> these shortcuts to Control Panel, which is, after all, their natural
>>> home.
>>>
>>> Many thanks.
>>>
>>> PS. In case anyone wants to know, use these file names from the
>>> run/command prompt/create shortcut to directly open Device Manager and
>>> Services respectively: devmgmt.msc and services.msc
>>>
>>> A list of file names for similar system dialogs/apps (EG. Disk
>>> Management, Event Viewer, etc.) can be found here:
>>>
>>> http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/mmc.htm
>>>
>>> HTH.
>>
Re: Shortcuts to Device Manager and Services in Control Panel, How?
As an alternative to adding it to control panel, you can add device manager
to the right click context menu of My Computer icon with a simple registry
edit. Copy/paste into Notepad the following lines, save as .reg file. Double
click on the .reg file to merge its contents
"Poster Matt" <postermatt@no_spam_for_me.org> wrote in message
news:Oxkyj.16336$XI.9641@text.news.virginmedia.com ...
> Hi,
>
> Control Panel is a convenient and sensible place for Windows (XP, SP2) to
> store the various system utilities and dialogs.
>
> BUT 2 of the things I use most regulary, 'Device Manager' and 'Services',
> are started from either a secondary folder (Admin. Tools) or from the
> 'System' dialog's 'Hardware' tab -- how inconvenient !!
>
> Today after living with this inconvenience for many years I finally got
> around to creating 2 shortcuts in Control Panel, one for Device Manager
> and one for Services, only to find Control Panel won't let me add
> shortcuts. I've added shortcuts to them on my desktop which work fine, but
> I can neither add a shortcut nor copy one to Control Panel. On the desktop
> in fine in the short-term but can someone tell me how to add these
> shortcuts to Control Panel, which is, after all, their natural home.
>
> Many thanks.
>
> PS. In case anyone wants to know, use these file names from the
> run/command prompt/create shortcut to directly open Device Manager and
> Services respectively: devmgmt.msc and services.msc
>
> A list of file names for similar system dialogs/apps (EG. Disk Management,
> Event Viewer, etc.) can be found here:
>
> http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/mmc.htm
>
> HTH.
"Jean Rosenfeld" <jean.rosenfeld@nospam.uk> wrote in message
news:u1wfu4$eIHA.5560@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> As an alternative to adding it to control panel, you can add device
> manager to the right click context menu of My Computer icon with a simple
> registry edit. Copy/paste into Notepad the following lines, save as .reg
> file. Double click on the .reg file to merge its contents
>
> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell]
> @="none"
>
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\DevMgr]
> @=hex(2):40,00,25,00,77,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,69,00 ,72,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,\
>
> 00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,64,00 ,65,00,76,00,6d,00,67,00,\
> 72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,34,00,00 ,00
> "SuppressionPolicy"=dword:4000003c
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\DevMgr\command]
> @=hex(2):25,00,77,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,69,00,72,00 ,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,\
>
> 00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,6d,00,6d,00 ,63,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,\
>
> 65,00,20,00,2f,00,73,00,20,00,25,00,77,00,69,00,6e ,00,64,00,69,00,72,00,25,\
>
> 00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00 ,32,00,5c,00,64,00,65,00,\
> 76,00,6d,00,67,00,6d,00,74,00,2e,00,6d,00,73,00,63 ,00,00,00
>
>
>
>
> "Poster Matt" <postermatt@no_spam_for_me.org> wrote in message
> news:Oxkyj.16336$XI.9641@text.news.virginmedia.com ...
>> Hi,
>>
>> Control Panel is a convenient and sensible place for Windows (XP, SP2) to
>> store the various system utilities and dialogs.
>>
>> BUT 2 of the things I use most regulary, 'Device Manager' and 'Services',
>> are started from either a secondary folder (Admin. Tools) or from the
>> 'System' dialog's 'Hardware' tab -- how inconvenient !!
>>
>> Today after living with this inconvenience for many years I finally got
>> around to creating 2 shortcuts in Control Panel, one for Device Manager
>> and one for Services, only to find Control Panel won't let me add
>> shortcuts. I've added shortcuts to them on my desktop which work fine,
>> but I can neither add a shortcut nor copy one to Control Panel. On the
>> desktop in fine in the short-term but can someone tell me how to add
>> these shortcuts to Control Panel, which is, after all, their natural
>> home.
>>
>> Many thanks.
>>
>> PS. In case anyone wants to know, use these file names from the
>> run/command prompt/create shortcut to directly open Device Manager and
>> Services respectively: devmgmt.msc and services.msc
>>
>> A list of file names for similar system dialogs/apps (EG. Disk
>> Management, Event Viewer, etc.) can be found here:
>>
>> http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/mmc.htm
>>
>> HTH.
>
>
Re: Shortcuts to Device Manager and Services in Control Panel, How?
Many thanks for those 2 .reg files Jean - that'll do me - didn't know
you could do that. Can 'Control Panel' be added to the same right-click
context menu?
Jean Rosenfeld wrote:
> To add services to contest menu:
>
> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\Services]
> @=hex(2):40,00,25,00,77,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,69,00 ,72,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,\
> 00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,00 ,72,00,73,00,76,00,63,00,\
> 2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,34,00,00,00
> "SuppressionPolicy"=dword:4000003c
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\Services\command]
> @=hex(2):25,00,77,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,69,00,72,00 ,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,\
> 00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,6d,00,6d,00 ,63,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,\
> 65,00,20,00,2f,00,73,00,20,00,25,00,77,00,69,00,6e ,00,64,00,69,00,72,00,25,\
> 00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00 ,32,00,5c,00,73,00,65,00,\
> 72,00,76,00,69,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,2e,00,6d,00,73 ,00,63,00,00,00
>
> "Jean Rosenfeld" <jean.rosenfeld@nospam.uk> wrote in message
> news:u1wfu4$eIHA.5560@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> As an alternative to adding it to control panel, you can add device
>> manager to the right click context menu of My Computer icon with a simple
>> registry edit. Copy/paste into Notepad the following lines, save as .reg
>> file. Double click on the .reg file to merge its contents
>>
>> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>>
>> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell]
>> @="none"
>>
>>
>> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\DevMgr]
>> @=hex(2):40,00,25,00,77,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,69,00 ,72,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,\
>>
>> 00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,64,00 ,65,00,76,00,6d,00,67,00,\
>> 72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,34,00,00 ,00
>> "SuppressionPolicy"=dword:4000003c
>>
>> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\DevMgr\command]
>> @=hex(2):25,00,77,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,69,00,72,00 ,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,\
>>
>> 00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,6d,00,6d,00 ,63,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,\
>>
>> 65,00,20,00,2f,00,73,00,20,00,25,00,77,00,69,00,6e ,00,64,00,69,00,72,00,25,\
>>
>> 00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00 ,32,00,5c,00,64,00,65,00,\
>> 76,00,6d,00,67,00,6d,00,74,00,2e,00,6d,00,73,00,63 ,00,00,00
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Poster Matt" <postermatt@no_spam_for_me.org> wrote in message
>> news:Oxkyj.16336$XI.9641@text.news.virginmedia.com ...
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Control Panel is a convenient and sensible place for Windows (XP, SP2) to
>>> store the various system utilities and dialogs.
>>>
>>> BUT 2 of the things I use most regulary, 'Device Manager' and 'Services',
>>> are started from either a secondary folder (Admin. Tools) or from the
>>> 'System' dialog's 'Hardware' tab -- how inconvenient !!
>>>
>>> Today after living with this inconvenience for many years I finally got
>>> around to creating 2 shortcuts in Control Panel, one for Device Manager
>>> and one for Services, only to find Control Panel won't let me add
>>> shortcuts. I've added shortcuts to them on my desktop which work fine,
>>> but I can neither add a shortcut nor copy one to Control Panel. On the
>>> desktop in fine in the short-term but can someone tell me how to add
>>> these shortcuts to Control Panel, which is, after all, their natural
>>> home.
>>>
>>> Many thanks.
>>>
>>> PS. In case anyone wants to know, use these file names from the
>>> run/command prompt/create shortcut to directly open Device Manager and
>>> Services respectively: devmgmt.msc and services.msc
>>>
>>> A list of file names for similar system dialogs/apps (EG. Disk
>>> Management, Event Viewer, etc.) can be found here:
>>>
>>> http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/mmc.htm
>>>
>>> HTH.
>>
>
>
Re: Shortcuts to Device Manager and Services in Control Panel, How?
Poster Matt wrote:
> Many thanks for those 2 .reg files Jean - that'll do me - didn't know
> you could do that. Can 'Control Panel' be added to the same right-click
> context menu?
Forget that - I found it and a load more.
Here's a rar file link to several .reg files I've made to add the
following items to the right-click context menu of My Computer:
Add+Remove Programs, Control Panel, Device Manager, Log-Off, Re-Boot,
Services, Shudown. [A web search will reveal even more if you want
something else as well.]
Notes:
1) Each item has its own .reg file so you can add just the ones you want.
2) The Log-Off, Re-Boot, and Shutdown items when clicked on in the
context menu, do NOT bring up a confirmation dialog, once clicked they
issue a warning but there is no way to cancel.
3) All the .reg files worked fine for me in XP SP2 - I would not use
them with any other version of Windows, and it would be sensible to back
up your registry before installing just-in-case.
Re: Shortcuts to Device Manager and Services in Control Panel, How?
and finally...
I'm not sure if I like the lack of confirmation with LogOff, Shutdown,
and Re-Boot. Is there a method of invoking the 'Shutdown' dialog which
you get when clicking 'Turn Off Computer' from (ironically) the Start Menu?
I tried using 'Shutdown -i' but that just invokes the remote shutdown
dialog.
Shortcuts to Device Manager and Services in Control Panel, How? 
Linear Mode
