How to Force Control Panel Home or Classic View in Vista
InformationThis tutorial will show you how to force the Control Panel to have the Control Panel Home or Classic View for all users on the computer. Users will not be able to change between the two as they could by default.
EXAMPLE: Default Control Panel View
NOTE: By default in Vista, users can click on either the Control Panel Home or Classic View link to switch between the two at will.
EXAMPLE: Force Control Panel Home ViewNOTE: Users will only have the Control Panel Home view displayed, and the Classic View link will be removed.
EXAMPLE: Force Classic ViewNOTE: Users will only have the Classic View displayed, and the Control Panel Home link will be removed.
OPTION ONE 
1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Control Panel. (See screenshot below)
3. In the right pane, right click on Force classic Control Panel view and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)
4. To Restore the Default Control Panel View
A) Dot Not Configured. (See screenshot below step 6A)
B) Go to step 7.
5. To Force the Control Panel Classic View
A) Dot Enabled. (See screenshot below step 6A)
B) Go to step 7.
6. To Force the Control Panel Home View
A) Dot Disabled. (See screenshot below)
7. Click on OK. (See screenshot above)
8. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.
OPTION TWO 1. To Restore the Default Control Panel View
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Default_CP_View.reg
B) Go to step 4.
2. To Force the Control Panel Classic View
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Force_Classic_CP_View.reg
B) Go to step 4.
3. To Force the Control Panel Home View
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Force_CP_Home_View.reg
4. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
5. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.
6. Click on Run, Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.
8. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION THREE 1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. Click on the Continue button in the UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If Explorer is not there, then right click on Policies, click on New and Key, then type Explorer and press enter.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
5. In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot above)
NOTE: If ForceClassicControlPanel is already here, then skip this step and go to step 6.
A) Type ForceClassicControlPanel and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
6. To Force the Control Panel Home View
A) Right click on ForceClassicControlPanel and click on Modify. (See screenshot above)
B) Type 0 (number zero) and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
C) The registry will not look like the screenshot under step 5A.
D) Go to step 9.
7. To Force the Control Panel Classic View
A) Right click on ForceClassicControlPanel and click on Modify. (See screenshot below step 5A)
B) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
C) The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)
D) Go to step 9.
8. To Restore the Default Control Panel View
A) In the right pane, right click on ForceClassicControlPanel and click on Delete. (See screenshot above)
B) Click on Yes to confirm deletion.
C) The registry will not look like the screenshot under step 4.
9. Close regedit.
10. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.
That's it,Shawn
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- How to Add User Accounts Netplwiz to the Control Panel in Vista
- How to Add or Remove Local Group Policy Editor from the Vista Control Panel
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