Microsoft is beginning to replace Control Panel with Windows 10's Settings app

[imdarkbreeze]

It's a nice thought, but good luck with that. Been hearing how people were going to be doing that since about 2001, and so far, hasn't really worked out well for most people.

Maybe in a few more years it will become an actual, viable alternative.

If we're being honest, Windows 10 has been, mostly, the first Windows version I've ever used, and I've used them all, all the way back to Windows 1.0, that I haven't ever really had any kind of major problems with. Windows 8.1 was mostly ok, aside from horrific changes to the UI, but 10 is superior to 8.1 in just about every way that matters.

I absolutely understand though that everybody has their own opinion, and it would be an awfully tiresome, boring existence if they didn't.

 

[madboyv1]

How do I set the "Default communication device" in Settings?

I assume you were saying that sarcastically but thinking about it I'm not entirely sure you can and it is just buried. Like, if you set your input device in settings it implies default input device, but does not change the default communication device. Well, at least in my case, I've got a disabled mic from my webcam and a paired but disconnected bluetooth headset that if enabled, would allow me to select them as communication devices, but my microphone jack does not allow me to set it that way. Huh.

 

[Nobina]

I prefer Control Panel over Settings but at least make one a standard.

 

[HerbJerb]

If the settings app actually worked even 50% of the time, this wouldn’t be such a horrific loss.

 

[captaincranky]

However, for users like myself who have always preferred the more basic, down-to-earth UI of Windows 7 (and even Vista), it's sad to see the Control Panel's demise creep closer....[ ]...

I think Vista was underappreciated. It was the 1st version of Windows to include native SATA drivers. (Pardon me, I meant "AHCI" drivers).

However, Windows 7's "Aero" interface with the slide show function in operation, will go with me to my grave.

DX-12, I dun't need no steenking Dx-12.

 

[poshflamingos]

I created a shortcut to the control panel ages ago, and it still works in 20H2 Build 19042.630.

God Mode still works, too.
Create a new folder and change the folder name to GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

What kind of ***** decided to call that "god mode"? It's just a folder with a bunch of settings applets. If you want something that doesn't look utterly ridiculous, change "GodMode" at the beginning of that string to "Settings" or something.

 

[Markoni35]

Why are OS creators taking all the worst crap from other operating systems, instead of best? When it comes to GUI and usability, Linux desktops have stolen a bunch of horrible stuff from Windows and MacOS, but have somehow omitted the best stuff. Windows is stealing a ton of crap from Linux, but not the good stuff. Is that just a coincidence, or are they deliberately hiring mentally retarded people as engineers and CEOs in Microsoft, Apple and for Linux development?

I think it must be the second. There's a test for each new candidate. Those that fail the test get the job.

 

[Shalimar]

Quadibloc said
(psycros said
Fortunately there is still no reason to migrate from Windows 7 and won't be any time soon.)
Huh? If your computer is connected to the Internet, you need to go to Windows 10 immediately, as Windows 7 is no longer receiving security updates from Microsoft - and, indeed, has not been doing so for some time.

~~~

Umm #1 NO you do NOT need to go to w10 immediately. Its not even an OS its a service and one that even w/updates is a massive security hole with the biggest security flaws being M$s own design!!! The fact its so pathetically bloated and riddled with spyware by default is reason enough to NEVER use it if you have any choice at all.

As for w7.. and updates.. even if there was no more security updates ever.. it is still far more secure than w10 will ever be if you are using it as supplied by M$, But thats moot regardless since you are so oblivious and blind you neglected to even get a clue that updates are STILL being made for w7 and will be for several years yet to come..

Either way it does not matter. w7 is still here for those needing winbloze and its working perfectly (or as perfectly as winbloze ever can) including on all the latest gen hardware (only exception being amd apus which that failure to give the needed code has cost amd a ton of sales already.)

 

[Dustyn]

Although I originally hated the "Settings" app and preferred the "Control Panel", I have to admit that Microsoft has come a long way with the Settings app. I'm glad they never tried to kill it earlier, but I'm ready to see the Control Panel go at some point.

 

[HyperPete]

This whole thread is laughable.

• To the person who said they just need one place for all settings, use God mode. (I posted it above.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Master_Control_Panel_shortcut
• @"poshflamingos" - with a username like that, you're complaining about "utterly ridiculous" monikers?!
• To the person who complained about registry settings (or files) being overwritten, have you considered using local security policy, or even making your registry entries (or files) Read-Only for everything including System? (You're already in the registry making modifications, how much harder is that?)
• To those complaining that Microsoft is "forcing you" to change, NOBODY is FORCING you do to ANYTHING. Write a better OS if you don't like it.
• To those wishing for a "viable alternative to Windows 10", Learn Linux. It's a GUI-Based OS now, with countless distributions for you to choose between.
• For those of you complaining about the need to reinstall your OS, stop running pirated software. As someone else already said, I too have been running Windows... since Version 3.0. Except for Betas that I have chosen to run, I have never had a significant problem that was not caused by me screwing around with something. You play, you pay.

I'm sure you all backup your systems regularly so if you have a problem you can just restore it, right?
What, you don't?
Not even System Restore, which practically does it FOR YOU?
Stop complaining, stop stealing software, backup, backup, backup, and if you don't like Windows 10 and the way the company who OWNS it changes it, stop using it. I was a network admin for over 18 years, managing 7 domains, and over 300 servers, most of which were Windows servers. Windows does not break itself, despite what some of you are trying to suggest.

 

[Gezzer]

Win10, Open the @#$% Control Panel doors!!
Sorry, I can't do that Dave.

In the past there has been many settings to control or fix problems that could only be done with the old Control Panel items (the dialogs/utils). Why does MS have to remove the old before properly fixing the new method/feature? They break before they fix.

M$ is still salty that we didn't embrace Win8 as the one OS to rule us all, so they're slowly changing Win10 into Win8. They want everyone using an Xbox, surface pro, whatever phone they can convince to run windows, and Windows desktops. Then they have a captive audience for the Windows store, and other M$ "services" just like the average iCult user. They could care less about anything else including making their OS better for the end user...

 

[Gezzer]

Honestly im glad, its a support nightmare having both settings and control panel, I'll be happy when we are fully transitioned onto the settings menu

If your job is dealing with the average computer user having issues I understand your pain and point. My problem is will settings let me do everything that I can using the control panel, like move or change the size of my swap file for example? If M$ is going to only make the most basic of tools available to the end user they'll be hanging a lot of us power users out to dry. And I'm not happy paying someone to do something that I should be able to do myself.

 

[Gezzer]

How do I set the "Default communication device" in Settings?

Well you take it in to a M$ store and have a "Windows Einstein" do it for you silly. For the low low price of $30US, or better yet take advantage of their super duper support program for only $20US a month. You'll never have to fiddle with your OS again. Of course they can't guarantee a turn around time shorter than a month on that plan. So upgrade for another $10US a month to their super duper pooper plan and cut that wait time down to a week. And their new slogan? Microsoft, the new Apple...

 

[Mr Majestyk]

I have a control panel shortcut on Windows 10 2004 still works.

 

[texasrattler]

I just love the inevitable comments like this "It hasn't happened to me, so maybe problems do not exist and maybe it is the way that user XXX is using the PC." It is a logical fallacy to assume that because you have not experienced it, it does not exist. I have had multiple different problems with multiple different updates and colleagues of mine have also had similar problems.

On one of my PCs I have made some modifications to the registry to get caller ID working with the modem I have because I have a use for the caller ID info. Virtually every update, I have to reinstall those modifications because M$ has decided that they need to reinstall the modem driver for this modem which always overwrites the modifications that I made. M$ has no legitimate reason to do that, IMO. To me, it seems like M$ just likes making things difficult for people who use Windows 10. And this particular problem is among the least annoying of problems I have experienced. Perhaps the most annoying one was when I updated, and my PC rebooted to a black screen with only the mouse cursor showing. No desktop, nothing else. In other words, a completely useless PC. It was not in screensaver mode either, nothing brought the screen back except my restoring the PC to the previous version of the OS using an image backup.

Next time you do an update, instead of ragging on people who complain about legitimate problems, consider yourself lucky you have not experienced any.

It aint luck that I know how to use a computer. I love how ppl say oh I have all these issues but article after article will say not everyone will have said issue. So ppl scream MS messing things up but millions see no issue. Again some of that will be because of how one uses a computer.

 

[OortCloud]

The control panel is still accessible in 20H2 - the very latest update. As many have said settings would be fine if A: They worked and B: They had all the settings present on them and not just a subset. So often I will try to use the new settings to do something and find the options just aren't present or there is some 'advanced' button/hyperlink that drops you back into the old-style dialogs.

 

[AmigaInside]

Dear Techspot, do you have any contacts in Microsoft? If so, please tell them they forgot something.

In the language section of the Control Panel in the earlier versions of W10, you were still able to select which language INPUT (keyboard) methods to keep or remove. That particular section has been removed from the CP, and Settings cannot do this. In theory the option is there (Settings/Language/Keyboard/click on language/Remove) but that Remove button is greyed out permanently.

So, if say you have 3 languages installed, you are also forced to switch between all these three keyboard input languages (with Alt+Shift). You cannot keep only one or two input languages out of these three.

There is a Powershell trick that works, but this is a bug they keep ignoring. Oh, have a nice day, Techspot.

 

[AMD RYZEN 9]

What just happened? Microsoft is on a crusade to kill off any and all traces of "old Windows" in its latest Windows 10 operating system, and though the progress has been slow, the company took another major step toward that goal with its latest Windows update. Those with an up-to-date copy of Windows can reportedly no longer access Control Panel's System menu.

Instead, TechRadar reports, users who attempt to navigate to the System page of the Control Panel will be automatically redirected to Windows 10's equivalent Settings interface.

Functionally speaking, there isn't a whole lot of differences between the two UIs for ordinary users: you can accomplish many of the same basic tasks across both of them.

However, for users like myself who have always preferred the more basic, down-to-earth UI of Windows 7 (and even Vista), it's sad to see the Control Panel's demise creep closer. I've staved off the inevitable temporarily thanks to Windows 10's update deferment feature, but it will come for me eventually.

Better enjoy this interface while you can.

Unfortunately, as TechRadar points out, even third-party apps that might ordinarily give a user direct access to the System page in Control Panel will no longer work for that purpose: Microsoft is "blocking" such workarounds where it can.

That doesn't mean other methods won't pop up, but for the time being, the situation is looking bleak. Over time, Microsoft will likely continue to make additional portions of Control Panel inaccessible to average users.

Indeed, that's precisely what the company is doing for the "Programs and Features" sub-menu in Windows 10 preview builds. In said builds, the menu reportedly redirects to the Settings app's "Apps & Features" interface instead.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/87461-microsoft-beginning-replace-control-panel-windows-10-settings.html

Then I wouldn’t get the new windows because the control panel is very important to me.

 

[kmo911]

Just keep the pc offline forever. no updates and no better win 10 EASY. just try to get familiar with new version then on a nother pc ssd disk.I has been there since win 95 beta CRY CRY

 

[HyperPete]

Then I wouldn’t get the new windows because the control panel is very important to me.

Move forward, or be left behind.

 

[osu9400]

I'm on preview build 20251 (dev channel) and control panel is still there. There was no mention of this in the release notes this week.

 

[osu9400]

Dear Techspot, do you have any contacts in Microsoft? If so, please tell them they forgot something.

You can tell them in the Windows Feedback app. Hit Win+F. Chances are someone has already left this feedback so you can upvote it and comment.

 

[osu9400]

The Settings UI is inferior to Control Panel in every way.

What? I rarely use control panel anymore. 90% of the system settings I need are in the settings app. Plus, it's indexed so any setting is just a few clicks away without knowing the path. What's the point of holding onto control panel anyway, it looks like a relic and it's clunky. The attachment to this is a bit weird. I understand people don't like change, but it's been years in the making.

 

[AmigaInside]

You can tell them in the Windows Feedback app. Hit Win+F. Chances are someone has already left this feedback so you can upvote it and comment.

Thanks but been there, done that. Others, too. I'm sure you can imagine the result.

 

[TheBigT42]

In contrary, Microsoft should kill Settings app and embrace classic control panel

All Microsoft does is move **** around so you can't find it and makes it more difficult to do the same tasks