by Roger G. Best

Windows 7 has won me over as an advocate!  I’ve got to tell you that I believe it to be the best Operating System that Microsoft has ever delivered.  And I just love it when something I like keeps giving me more reasons to like it.  There is this neat little (o.k., maybe it’s not so little) Windows 7 trick that’s been making it’s rounds on the Internet lately. The trick basically enables something called “GodMode.”  GodMode is a term devised by the Microsoft development team that provides a single place to access all Windows settings without needing to browse options and folders in the Control Panel.

To install and use it, just follow the simple instructions below:

1. Create a new folder.
2. Rename the folder to

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

(note that you can change the “GodMode” text, but the following period and code number are not so flexible).

1. Once you’re renamed the folder the folder icon will change — double click it to show the GodMode window:

The window shows nearly 50 sections with quick links to configuration options. If we were to be more literal, I would be less likely to call it GodMode and describe it as an “all tasks” list since everything offered here can be found somewhere else.  But, I definitely find it easier than stumbling through the dozens of Windows screens and panels.

As a Caution!

The trick appears to work on both the 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows 7. Vista 32-bit and Windows Server 2008 32-bit should also work. However, it is known to crash 64-bit versions of Vista — and you may need to boot in safe mode or to the command line to delete the folder.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 at 4:42 pm and is filed under Tips and Tricks, Windows 7. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.