Classic Shell: Forum

Hi,

I have ClassicShell installed on Windows 8. I used to be able to expand the control panel, but somehow, now it only shows (Empty). Please help!

Thanks.

Looks like something is wrong with your settings. Export your settings to XML file and attach it here.

Hi,

Thanks for the quick reply. Settings file is attached.

Everything seems to be in order. What happens when you double-click on Control Panel?

the control panel window pops up.

Just a thought: I ran MBAR (http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/mbar/). At the start-up of the program, it complained about AppInit_DLLs entry in registry. I deleted the registry entry using MBAR program. Is this issue related to that deleted registry entry?

It is possible. Maybe some Control Panel item was using the AppInit_DLLs and is now corrupted. Do you remember what the entry was?
Also, try rebooting. Maybe the control panel is in a bad state.

well, I don't remember the registry entry. I have uninstalled and reinstalled ClassicShell and have rebooted the computer before.

About the control panel being in a bad state, is there anything that I could do to verify and repair it?

Thanks!

Can it be that your Control Panel CLSID in the registry somehow got deleted? Does opening any of the following from Run dialog open Control Panel?:

shell:::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
shell:::{5399E694-6CE5-4D6C-8FCE-1D8870FDCBA0}
Both should open Control Panel.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

Yes, they both do.

Something might be broken on your system. You could try this if it works. Open Start Menu settings -> All Settings. Go to Customize Start Menu tab. Double click ControlPanelItem. Erase the command control_panel and in the Link field, enter shell:::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}. See if it shows Control Panel as expanding menu.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

I just tried that and still it shows (Empty) instead of exapnding.

have u tried: Classic Shell Settings>Customize Start Menu Tab, Right-Click & Delete "ControlPanelItem" from the left Column, and Drag "Control Panel" from the right column over to the left column?

you could also search C:\Windows\System32 for *.msc *.cpl & *.exe files and paste the ones you need as shortcuts in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools (at least thats where it is in Windows 7)

you could also search C:\Program Files, C:\Program Files (x86), and C:\Program Data for other useful files

or you could create a new folder, and do something like this: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=297

are there any shortcuts in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools, or wherever it is in Windows 8?

I tried the first suggestion, still the same. About the last question, yes, there are shortcuts in Administrative Tools and it is expandable.

maybe u can try opening regedit and going to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\don't load and right-click it, save a back-up, then delete that key completely and see if that doesnt fix it..

Well, I did that also, still the same ...

maybe its time to try Start> type cmd, hit Ctrl+Shift+Enter, and run sfc /scannow.. u might need your installation disk

SFC /scannow will only restore missing/damaged system files. This looks like a registry issue. You might need to do a System Restore to restore the registry to the date when the Control Panel expanded correctly.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

there's got to be a fix for that, restore control panel to default settings, with a mr fixit or something

I ran SFC /scannow a few times, didn't help.

I use CCleaner for registry issues and I ran it, didn't help.

I have disabled system restore to save space on my SSD. I am not a fan of system restore. Even if I had it, we don't know how many restore points we have to go back to get that feature back. Going back some restore points would also affect other computer setup.

I was googling this issue and came across this: (http://support.pokki.com/customer/porta ... ows-8-apps). I am not sure if that is a related issue or not.

I doubt it, unless you installed Pokki

But if your UAC is disabled, maybe you could try to uninstall any shell modification or enhancement programs, enable UAC, then restart, and see if it comes back..

Update1: I just noticed that there are some links in some control panel items that I am not able to click anymore. I guess this issue is bigger than what I originally thought. I am going to reinstall Windows using my hard disk back up image. Thanks everybody for trying to help.

Update 2: I am back on-line and I have my expandable control panel again

Great! have you installed Classic Shell & everything else?

Yes, I have every thing. I had an image of my hard disk from a couple of months ago ...

I have this problem too on Windows 7 x64 but I don't have a backup image to reinstall. I've tried everything suggested in this thread to no avail. Any ideas?