Classic View and Category View in Windows XP Control Panel
Submitted by jasonslater on January 2, 2008 – 35 Comments
In Windows XP in the Control Panel – the left hand side that says “Switch to Classic View” or “Switch to Category View” can sometimes be missing. To re-enable this you need to click Tools, then Folder Options and under the General tab ensure that “Show common tasks in folders” is selected then click OK.
You can then elect to switch between the user friendly (apparently) Category View or the more featured Classic View.
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Hi Jason,
When I go to Start->Control Panel it doesn’t look anything like the window that has the left hand side that says “Switch to Classic View” or “Switch to Category View” – I just get a vertical strip of control panel icons with no menu at all, so I can’t click on Tools->Folder Options because there is no “Tools” Help!
Hi there, it sounds like you may have Control Panel displayed as a menu on the Start Menu.
You can check this by right-clicking on the Start Menu button itself, select Properties, click the Start Menu tab, then the Customize button. Click on the Advanced button and in the section saying Start menu items – see if the option “Display as a menu” is highlighted – if so then that will produce a vertical list of icons you describe.
You can change this option to “Display as a link” then click Ok then Ok. Now when you click on Start then Control Panel it should appear in its own window.
Good grief, what a fast reply!
And yes, you are quite right, I had got the Control Panel displayed as a menu, and now it’s fixed. I have been Googling for a fix to this one on and off for ages.
Thanks Jason!
Hi Jason,
I know I’m being cheeky, but perhaps you can help me with another problem I have with XP: Fast User Switching doesn’t work. I went to the microsoft website which told me how to enable it by going to “control panel> user accounts > change the way users log on and off > use fast user switching” but when I followed these instructions I found that the checkbox was already checked. Even so, when I go to Start > Logoff > Switch user, it brings me back to the welcome screen, but then when I try to login to another user account, the screen momentarily flashes, shows the desktop wallpaper for the account I am trying to switch from for a second, then brings me back to the welcome screen. Any ideas? I promise I haven’t got a stack of these questions – this is the only one now!
Regards – David
Hi Jason – so, when I click Tools, then Folder Options, under the General tab the “Show common tasks in folders” is shaded (i.e. not an option) unless I click “Restore defaults” which I do, then I click “apply” and it still doesn’t restore the “category view” Any thoughts? thanks!
chagest, it sounds like you may have an active policy disabling the “show common tasks in folders” option. This is likely if you are running a corporate PC.
This link may help you:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/singleclickfolder.htm
Which basically says that
the value of ClassicShell needs to be set to zero in:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer
and
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer
But always be careful when updating your registry – and make sure you take a backup of your registry first.
David,
Ensure that Terminal Services service in Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Services (or just type services.msc into the command window) is started. Also make sure that the service Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is set to automatic and is started and that Fast User Switching Compatibility is started.
If this doesn’t fix it check the Event Viewer (Control Panel->Administrative Tools-Event Viewer) to see if any errors or warnings are indicated.
Hi Jason,
Total shot in the dark with this one … your web link was sent to me to try to help me with my simple issue. I have donwloaded a National Geographic desktop background photo and can not remove it, nor over ride it for the life of me!! Usually you can right click on a photo an set it to ‘desktop background,’ but it just won’t remove at all!
What can I do?
Thank you,
Kerri
Kerri,
Are you able go get into Start->Control Panel->Display?
If so, you should be able to go onto the Desktop tab where the Background list will let you change the background.
Sure can! The problem is that the actual ‘Desktop’ tab is completely gone! Very strange. I went back on their site and tried to download another to see what would happen and an error message came up saying that there are ‘restrictions’ and to please contact the administrator?? Is it possible I turned something off and did not know?
Kerri,
Is this a corporate PC? Perhaps your IT department has locked down the computer using Group Policy. Also, is your PC XP or Vista?
You may find this post useful
http://billjr.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!28CBD6442F406227!362.entry
Jason.
Hi,
I know this is a little off topic, but I just got a new laptop with XP…I’ve had a desktop with XP as well, and I really liked having the XP view (on my toolbar and start up screen and all). My computer seems to be set on Classic view with no option to switch. I was able to switch my control panel and my folders over using your instructions.
When I try to switch my themes, the only options I have are:
Window Classic (Modified) — which I want to get away from
My Current Theme — this doesn’t seem to change anything
More Themes Online — which is no longer offered by Microsoft
and Browse — which just takes me to my own files.
Any suggestions? Is there something I’m missing?
Thanks,
Meredith
Meredith, it sounds like a problem with the Luna Theme (luna.msstyles) which is located under Windows->Resources->Themes->Luna
A fixed Luna file can be downloaded from
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Scroll down the list to number #187 and on the right hand side you should see a link called “Restore Luna Theme”.
First backup or copy your Luna.msstyles file (just in case you need to get back to it!) then unzip this file and copy the Luna.msstyles file into Luna folder to replace the older file.
After a reboot the XP Theme should appear again.
Thank You… This answered my question perfectly. I added your site as a favorite. I am sure I will be bothering you frequently!
*Smiles*
Thanks for the comment Alyssa – I am pleased you solved your problem
Hello Jason,
Thanks to your clear instructions and the very helpful graphics, got it fixed in literally less than a minute. And I’m a silver surfer.
This link may help you:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/singleclickfolder.htm
Which basically says that
the value of ClassicShell needs to be set to zero in:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer
and
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer
But always be careful when updating your registry – and make sure you take a backup of your registry first.
When I try to do this, there is no explorer option under policies. Any ideas?
Hi Jason,
I have a similar problem with my control panel display. I can only get the classic view to show. I do not have the option of category view. I have followed all the fixes you have suggested regarding this, but nothing has worked. This is a home pc and the other users do not have this problem. This has only been a problem since I removed a malware program (antiviruspro9, I think) with Malewarebytes. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Hi Jason, Just writing to thank you for some of the advice above. The one on changing from classic to category view in Control Panel has really helped me. Thank you, you are the man!!!
HI JASON I KEEP GETTING UNABLE TO COMPLETE WINDOWS GENUINE VALIDATION ICON ON MY TASKBAR COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN FINALLY AFTER MONTHS OF TRYING GET RID OF THIS THANKS . BRIAN
Brian, try this MS Link
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916247
[...] that could have been… How about pictures? That seems to be the way things are going… http://www.jasonslater.co.uk/2008/01…control-panel/ BTW – all I did was google for: windows xp control panel category view To find that. I had to [...]
Hi Jason,
I have a problem like many of the others..my control panel wont let me switch back to the “Switch to Category View”.. i followed everything u said and it doesnt work, I dont even have a tools but i do have a folder options, i go into it and the show common tasks is marked but there still is nothing…it worked fine until i got that anti-spywarexp virus or whatever it is..please help
Hi Thank you for this post.
in my win xp computer when I click on Start>Setting>control panel I see all the items in control panel.
how can I change it so I can click on “control panale” annd then see it. Please check the snapshot: http://dav4u.com/cp/control_panel_view.PNG
regards
You need to right click on the green Start button (bottom right), select properties then go onto the Start Menu tab, then click Customize then go into the Advanced Tab. The first item in the Start menu items panel says “Control Panel” and under it you can choose to display it as a link (preferred), or as a menu (which is what you appear to have at the moment). Hope that helps.
Hi,
thank you jasonslater .
My start menu is set to “classic start menu” and when I click on the customiz button there is not “control panel” menu with submenu.
please view the image:
http://dav4u.com/cp/start_menu_snap.PNG
thank you
Ah, I had assumed you were on just the “Start Menu” option – and not on the “Classic Start Menu”.
It sounds like your registry has possibly overridden the settings under Customize. You could try setting the Expand Control Panel option,click OK, then unset the same option and click OK.
If this doesn’t work perhaps it is a group policy problem – if you are comfortable with the registry you can check the registry settings by loading regedit and navigating to HKEY_CURRENT_USER->Software->Microsoft->Windows->CurrentVersion->Policies->Explorer
If there is a setting for “ForceClassicControlPanel” set it to 1, if not create it as a dword and set it to 1.
Thank you again jasonslater
I did create the registry:
http://dav4u.com/cp/registry_issue.PNG
and it did not change it.
I did change manually to “start menu” and then customize and advanced and set it link it works. But when I change it to “classic menu” it is back as Menu not a link.
regards
i still need help!!!
Switch to classic view doesn’t work: I click on “Switch to classic view” but nothing happens. Or almost nothing: I get a default Beep, indicating an error.
Any suggestions? Thanks!
Hello Jason,
I have a problem.
So my category login view wont work,it brings me to the classic view one and as much as I press ‘Switch to Category View’,the Control Panel changes but my login process stays the same.
What do I do to get my Category View login way back?
Hi Jason,
I’ve reviewed the previous post on the problem of not being abe to get the “Category View”. I’ve verified the Control is displayed as as a link and I’ve verified the registry data for the ForceClassicControlPanel. I used to have it, but I don’t rember when I lost it! Any help would be appreciated!
Tks,
Dennis
I have a problem similar to queenn. My OS is windows xp professional service pack 2. I have managed to get my control panel in category view, but my actual options still seem to be in classic mode, at least when i try to alter my accounts. when i go to user accounts, i am greeted with the old classic view, but everything else is category. this means that there is no option to turn on the welcome screen or fast user switching.when i click on user accounts, i see a box which has two tabs at the top, one labelled users the other labelled advanced. under the users tab is a table with the titles “user name”, “domain”, and “group”, and an option to change the administrators password. under advanced there are three sections; “passwords and NET. passports”, “advanced user management”, and “secure logon”. If i try to change the way i logon with a program such as logon loader, my computer locks itself.
Please Help!!!!!!!
to change your control panel from category view to classic view
first click the start menu–>control panel–>then click tools (it’s located above beside favorites)—>then click folder options–>then go to general tab and click “show common tasks in folders” then click ok!
you’re done!
Hello, im new at this things so im not really sure what kind of windows xp i have, but i have one problem, i do as you said above in this web site, but when i get the side bar (FINALLY) it doesnt show the option to switch the category or classic view, it only shows the also show options, can you help me please!??