How to Enable Windows 7 GodMode
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Here’s a neat Windows 7 trick that’s been doing the rounds on the Internet. It enables “GodMode,” a term devised by the Microsoft development team, which provides a single place to access all Windows settings without needing to browse options and folders in the Control Panel.
To use it:
- Create a new folder.
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 essential).
- 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. Strictly speaking, it’s not a God Mode since all the options are available elsewhere. It’s more akin to an “all tasks” list — but you may find it easier than stumbling through Windows numerous screens and panels.
Big Red Warning!
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.
New Year, New Windows
Since it’s the new year, you may be considering an upgrade to Windows 7. I’ve been watching the prices closely since Microsoft’s Windows “E” fiasco and they should have risen on January 1, 2010. However, that does not appear to have occurred just yet … perhaps it won’t be long? movie downloads
US Amazon.com:
- Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade — $110
- Windows 7 Home Premium (full version) — $180
- Windows 7 Professional Upgrade — $175
- Windows 7 Professional (full version) — $255 (down $5)
- Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade — $200
- Windows 7 Ultimate (full version) — $292
UK Amazon.co.uk:
- Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade — £65
- Windows 7 Home Premium (full version) — £90 (down £20)
- Windows 7 Professional Upgrade — £133 (down £6)
- Windows 7 Professional (full version) — £160 (up £10)
- Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade — £150
- Windows 7 Ultimate (full version) — £170 (up £4)
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this also works in vista
…but see the warning above!
I guess I wanted to try it that hard that I forgot to read the big red warning
nice :)
All of those options are in fact for Windows Search which allows a user to get more “human” like options. For example, when I type “auto” in the Start Menu search I get three options: AutoPlay, Auto-hide the taskbar, Automatically adjust for daylight saving time. And that is only looking for it in the start. A good portion also works directly in the Control Panel search box.
@logic_earth
Good point about the Windows Search — it’s also possible to search through the GodMode folder only.
it doesn’t have be named “GodMode.{…” it can be any text as long as the GUID is the same…try it you’ll see
The term “GodMode” was NOT devised by the Windows development team. The name you give the folder is completely arbitrary, and was chosen by whoever decided to post this “trick” somewhere.
I explained the background of this here:
http://brandonlive.com/2010/01/04/the-so-called-god-mode/
Tried it in Vista 64 and it crashes explorer.exe as noted above. However, attempting to delete from command prompt (even as adminisitrator) as suggested above does not work. Had to boot to a linux distro to actually delete the folder.
Very neat trick! Thanks!
Tried to open it win 7 32bit so fare no crash :)
I am drunk with power! THANKS! M@ in Surfers Paradise
The Godmode part is the foldername. You can name it what you want. I renamed it “Super Control Panel”, but for sh*ts’n'giggles I tried this instead:
BoobsMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
Yes, Windows now has BoobsMode and GodMode!
Hmm. So basically you’re saying that still, after numerous incarnations of Windows, they still haven’t got basic UI down right and you must resort to hacks like this achieve simple things like a usable Control Panel…?
It was discovered in Windows Vista called Master Control Panel… When I didn’t have blog….and posted on various Windows Forums.
For any crashes in Windows Vista x64, here is solution – http://bit.ly/5Klxj4
Windows 7 GodMode : Old wine in new bottle. – http://bit.ly/5r3iGM
Stop buying retail versions. Here (x86-64):
Home Premium Full – $121.99 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754
Professional Full – $157.99 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116758
I tried it in 64bitVista and yes it did kill explorer, I used the command line to rename the folder and then I could delete it
ie.
“c:\>rename GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} godfolder”
then
“c:\> del godfolder”
All done, no safemode linux distros et el.
just rename the folder at the command line prompt, then you can delete
Works on Vista 32-bit SP2.
Here are the instructions for removing the GodMode folder on 64bit Vista (or 64bit Windows Server 2008).
http://chrisbarba.wordpress.com/2010/01/06/how-to-remove-…om-vista-64bit/
It’s simply like selecting View-Details in the Control Panel – No more – No less
Here are the instructions for removing the GodMode folder if setup on 64bit Vista.
http://chrisbarba.wordpress.com/2010/01/06/how-to-remove-…om-vista-64bit/
——————————————————————————–
Chris http://chrisbarba.wordpress.com
Try these other Windows 7 GodModes …
GodMode1.{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}
GodMode2.{0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}
GodMode3.{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}
GodMode4.{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}
GodMode5.{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}
GodMode6.{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}
GodMode7.{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}
GodMode8.{1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43}
GodMode9.{1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87}
GodMode10.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
GodMode11.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
GodMode12.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
GodMode13.{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}
GodMode14.{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}
GodMode15.{62D8ED13-C9D0-4CE8-A914-47DD628FB1B0}
GodMode16.{78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC}
Some will also work in Vista.
hi, i have deleted the god mode file/folder from my desktop through the cmd function. i have also searched the registry for any leftovers but explorer still keeps crashing. anybody know what to do?
by the way, i’m on 32 bit vista
i got it off by deleting the registry keys with a third party registry editor; they didn’t show up when i searched for them (ED7BA470-8E54-465E ….) with regedit.
for people who may not be familiar with using the command prompt: i was still able to use explorer like this:
bring up task manager (ctrl alt del) and then select file, new task, run, and then type c:/ and push return (don’t type explorer) you can also navigate to the desktop folder this way (c:\users\”username”\desktop).
Guys,
I did this on a vista x64 in my “Documents and Settings” folder and now explorer crashes whenever I open that folder. None of the above remedies have worked for me. Using the command prompt, I can cd into Documents and Settings but then if I try to either rename or delete the godmode directory it says “The system cannot find the file specified.” Moreover, when I type “dir” while in the Documents and Settings directory it says “File Not Found.” Safe mode doesn’t help either. Is there any other way to delete this folder without installing Linux on my other partition?
Thx
@jfc2017
That sounds a little strange.
Ubuntu and several other Linux distros are available as boot disk images. You can boot to that OS, rummage around your disk, delete files, then shut down Linux without installing anything.
You could also try Windows boot disks such as Bart PE.
Nice, thanks for this.