Most IT Pros are likely to want to manage various setting within Windows - both on Windows 10 and Windows Server (with the Desktop Experience!) - things like power management, a network setting, etc. Doing so means in many cases means weaving one's way through the UI to hit some window to facilitate the issue at hand. For example, if I want to set the DNS server IP address on a NIC, I have to figure out how to get, eventually to the Network Connections applet, from where I can select the NIC and make the change.
One might say. just do it with PowerShell. PowerShell is great for routine things - automation makes sense. But for one-off issues, the GUI is often just faster and easier. The issue is navigating the Windows UI. The migration of things form the Control Panel into Settings has not helped.
Almost all of the lower level applets you need to manage Windows from the UI are available to you by running a specific program. For example, to get to the Network Connections applet, just run ncpa.cpl. And if you run it from PowerShell, there is tab completion of the applet's name.
There are around 40 commands you can fun to do useful things. These commands are implemented as *.CPL and *.MSC programs. You can discover then for your self by running this:
Enjoy
One might say. just do it with PowerShell. PowerShell is great for routine things - automation makes sense. But for one-off issues, the GUI is often just faster and easier. The issue is navigating the Windows UI. The migration of things form the Control Panel into Settings has not helped.
Almost all of the lower level applets you need to manage Windows from the UI are available to you by running a specific program. For example, to get to the Network Connections applet, just run ncpa.cpl. And if you run it from PowerShell, there is tab completion of the applet's name.
There are around 40 commands you can fun to do useful things. These commands are implemented as *.CPL and *.MSC programs. You can discover then for your self by running this:
Get-Command *.CPL, *.MSCHere's what you should find:
| Command Name | What Is It? |
| appwiz.cpl | Uninstall or Change A Program |
| azman.msc | Authorization Manager |
| bthprops.cpl | Bluetooth & Other Devices |
| certlm.msc | Certificate Manager for Local Computer |
| certmgr.msc | Certificate Manager for Current User |
| comexp.msc | Component Services, Event Viewer, Services |
| compmgmt.msc | Computer Management, System Tools, Storage and Services |
| desk.cpl | Display layout |
| devmgmt.msc | Device Manager |
| DevModeRunAsUserConfig.msc | Start Menu Configuration |
| diskmgmt.msc | Disk Management |
| eventvwr.msc | Event Viewer |
| Firewall.cpl | Firewall Manager |
| fsmgmt.msc | Shared Folder Management |
| gpedit.msc | Local GPO Editor |
| hdwwiz.cpl | Device Manager (again!) |
| inetcpl.cpl | Internet Properties |
| intl.cpl | Region Settings |
| irprops.cpl | InfraRed - on systems with IR |
| joy.cpl | Game Controller |
| lusrmgr.msc | Local User Manger |
| main.cpl | Mouse Properties |
| mmsys.cpl | Sound Properties |
| ncpa.cpl | Network Interface properties |
| perfmon.msc | Performance Monitor |
| powercfg.cpl | Power Configuration |
| printmanagement.msc | Printer Manament |
| rsop.msc | Resultant Set of Policy |
| secpol.msc | Local Securityh Policy |
| services.msc | Services |
| sysdm.cpl | System Properties |
| TabletPC.cpl | Tablet and Pen Settings |
| taskschd.msc | Task Scheduler |
| telephon.cpl | Phone Location Information |
| timedate.cpl | Time and Date |
| tpm.msc | Trusted Platform Module |
| WF.msc | Defender Firewall |
| WmiMgmt.msc | WMI Management |
| wscui.cpl | Security and Maintenance |
Enjoy
1 comment:
As one who has been at this stuff since 1977, before PC's were ever a thing, I've been using these well before PowerShell was ever a thing. You can also just pin the 'Administrative Tools ' and 'Control Panel (using the small icons view)' to your Explorer 'Quick Access' Panel or the taskbar.
For example, do this in Explorer ...
'Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Administrative Tools'
...without the quotes of course, and pin to your Quick Access node.
Heck, you can even create a new taskbar toolbar and add it to there, thus all being a mouse click or a couple of mouse clicks away.
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