Cannot Access Control Panel

The Control Panel of the Windows operating system is like the toolbox of a carpenter. This is where you get the tools to make changes on the operating system on a user level. Microsoft have put all the necessary tools to make any changes on the operating system in the Control Panel without having to have the knowledge of a software programmer. You wanted to make changes on your computer settings through the Control Panel, however, the CONTROL PANEL is not an option on the START menu.


You tried to go through another method to open the Control Panel by clicking START button and choose RUN, typed CONTROL PANEL and hit ENTER key on the keyboard. Alas! You got the message "This operation has been canceled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact system administrator."


This will happen if the Control Panel was disabled from the registry of the computer.

These steps will show how to enable the Control Panel on Windows XP.

1. Click the START button and choose RUN.


2. Type gpedit.msc into the Run box.


3. Click OK button.

4. Expand the ADMINISTRATIVE TEMPLATES by double-clicking it or by clicking the [+] symbol before it.


5. Click the CONTROL PANEL option to show the other options under it on the right pane.


6. Right-click on the PROHIBIT ACCESS TO THE CONTROL option and choose PROPERTIES.


7. Mark the DISABLED option.


8. Click OK button.

You will now see the Control Panel option under the START menu.