Windows 10: Control Panel versus System Settings

Hello,


Increasingly I have noticed this sort of ambiguity in Windows 10 where there are settings in the "control panel" that are also controlled through settings in the "system settings."


Latest example, is the "Manage Sound Devices" under system settings->Sound where you can enable or disable your stereo mix input or your mic input. But the same settings also exist in the Sound control panel for sound devices. So you can have one where that says the device is enabled and another where it says the device is disabled. And when does disabling the device deactivate the device driver?


It is not helpful to bury the control under layers of interfaces created in different places within the operating system. The purpose of the operating system is to allow the user to easily understand, observe and control what the computer is doing. It seems that there are various interfaces controlling whether devices are active for the operating system, or for 3rd party applications and whether they are available for particular applications and when they are not.


I tried another feature recently in windows called "controlled folder access" that limits applications from accessing certain folders. However, when I tried to enable access for a specific application, the application still could not access the folder.


It does not help the user to remove functionality in an effort to simplify the interface, if the simplification no longer provides the fidelity for basic controllability or adjustments.


Best Regards.

:)

 

windows 10 control panel

Hello,

Thank you for visiting Microsoft Community and providing us with the detailed description about the issue.

As per the description, I understand that you want to know how to access the control panel in Windows 10?

I certainly understand your concern and will try my best to help you.

I would suggest you to try the following steps to open the Control Panel in the system.

Step 1: Opening Control Panel in Windows 10.

• 
  Open Run command box by simultaneously pressing Windows and R keys (Windows + R).
  
• 
  In the Run dialog box, type
  Control and then press Enter key to open the classic Control Panel.
  

Step 2: Access Control Panel in Windows 10 from desktop.

• 
  Right-click on the Start button (Windows logo button at the bottom-left corner of the desktop) and then click Control Panel to open the same.
  

Step 3: Launch Control Panel using search.

• 
  Open Start menu or screen.
  
• 
  In the search box, enter Control Panel and then press Enter key to open the same.
  

Note: You can quickly access the search with the help of Windows + C hotkey.

Step 4: Create Control Panel shortcut on desktop.

• Right-click on desktop, click New, and then click Shortcut.
• In Type the location of the item box, type the following path.

explorer shell:ControlPanelFolder

• Click Next button.
• In the Type a name for this shortcut box, type Control Panel, and click Finish button. You can now double-click on the Control Panel icon on the desktop to quickly launch the same.

Step 5: Pin Control Panel to Start or taskbar.

• 
  In the Start search box, type Control Panel.
  
• 
  When you see search results, right-click on Control Panel entry and then click Pin to Start to pin it to the Start menu or screen.
  

Note: Clicking Pin to taskbar will pin the Control Panel to taskbar.

I hope this information is helpful.

Please do let us know if you need any further assistance, we will be glad to assist you.

Thank you.

 

windows 10 control panel

Step 2 does not work at all. Anything from File Explorer and above does not launch at all.

 

windows 10 control panel

Great help.......thanks.....I wonder why Microsoft did not installed it automatically....