Faster Access to Windows 7 Settings with God Mode

Perhaps you've heard about the recently unearthed Windows hack called "God Mode." It sounds awesome, but let's be clear: All it really does it open a folder that displays all 250 or so Control Panel options in a single, integrated view.

Admittedly, that's a far cry from some potential "god mode," but it's pretty useful nonetheless. If you have trouble finding the right place to change settings in Control Panel, this simple hack is for you.

To turn it on, create a new folder and name it Name.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}, where "name" is whatever you want to call this folder.

(The overly optimistic "god mode" moniker came about because early posts about this hack named the folder "god mode.") There's nothing mystical about the name of the folder; you can even rename the folder afterwards if you want to.

Consider God Mode yet another handy tool in your toolbox -- but it's by no means a unique new capability in Windows 7. If you know more or less what you're looking for, remember that you can always enter its name (or a related keyword) in the Start menu's Search box. You'll see the results right in the Start menu, without any need to open the Control Panel at all. Looking for the Control Panel app to change you screen resolution, for example? You can type "screen," "display,", or "resolution" in the start menu and they'll all take you to the right place.