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In Windows XP Professional, if the Folder Options icon does not appear in the Control Panel, it may be hidden via a local Group Policy setting. If that is the case, here is how to undo this setting.

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Steps

  1. Solve Folder Options Disappeared in Control Panel Step 1.jpg
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    Log on to Windows with a user account that has Administrator privileges.
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  2. Solve Folder Options Disappeared in Control Panel Step 2.jpg
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    Click on the "Start" button, on the Windows taskbar.
  3. Solve Folder Options Disappeared in Control Panel Step 3.jpg
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    Click on "Run" and place your cursor in the text box.
  4. Solve Folder Options Disappeared in Control Panel Step 4.jpg
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    In the text box, type gpedit.msc and click "Ok" to run the group policy editor.
  5. Solve Folder Options Disappeared in Control Panel Step 5.jpg
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    Navigate to the "Control Panel" item under "Administrative Templates" (Local Computer Policy -> User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Control Panel).
  6. Solve Folder Options Disappeared in Control Panel Step 6.jpg
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    Check the State of "Hide specified Control Panel applets". If this is enabled, double click it and choose "Disabled". Click on "Ok" to save your changes.
  7. Solve Folder Options Disappeared in Control Panel Step 7.jpg
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    Check "Show only specified Control Panel applets". If this is enabled, double click it and choose "Disabled". Click OK to save your changes.
  8. Solve Folder Options Disappeared in Control Panel Step 8.jpg
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    Close the group policy editor.
  9. Solve Folder Options Disappeared in Control Panel Step 9.jpg
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    Click on the "Start" button, on the Windows taskbar.
  10. Solve Folder Options Disappeared in Control Panel Step 10.jpg
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    Click on "Control Panel". If "Control Panel" is not visible, try clicking on "Settings", then "Control Panel".
  11. Solve Folder Options Disappeared in Control Panel Step 11.jpg
    11
    Choose "View" from the menu, then "Refresh".
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Tips

  • If there is no Run item on the start menu, right click the taskbar, then choose task manager. In the task manager menu, click File, New Task...
  • Folder Options usually can be accessed from any Explorer window, under the Tools menu. These policy settings do not seem to affect this.
  • XP Home does not come with the group policy editor. But you can use regedit.exe and navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer!DisallowCpl
  • If neither of these policy items are enabled, there is some other reason the icon is missing.

Warnings

  • If the computer is part of a domain, the domain may have one or more group policies in effect that are hiding the icon. Your network administrator will be able to fix this.
  • There are other ways to hide Control Panel applets.

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Sources and Citations

Article Info

Categories: XP Instructions

In other languages:

Español: resolver la desaparición de las opciones de carpeta en el Panel de Control, Русский: вернуть папку, которая пропала из Панели управления, Português: Resolver o Desaparecimento das Opções de Pastas no Painel de Controle

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