Control Panel "Don't Load" Feature Does Not Work

Last reviewed: April 10, 1997
Article ID: Q126972

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.51
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.51

SYMPTOMS

You can prevent individual Control Panel components from loading under Windows NT versions 3.1 and 3.5 by modifying the Registry. However, this does not work in Windows NT version 3.5. For example, if you modify the Registry to specify that the Control Panel Keyboard component should not load, the component still loads.

CAUSE

In Windows NT version 3.5, a cache mechanism is implemented to speed up the loading of Control Panel components. When you run Control Panel for the first time, a cache is created that includes information regarding each component in the Control Panel. Therefore, Registry entries specifying certain components not to load are not read in Windows NT version 3.5.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, add the /CACHE switch to the Control Panel Command Line in the Program Manager Program Item Properties dialog box after you modify the Registry. For example:

   CONTROL.EXE /cache

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.5. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

You can use the following procedure to prevent Control Panel components from loading.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

Run Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE).
From the HKEY_CURRENT_USER subtree, go to the following key:
```
      \Control Panel
```
From the Edit menu, choose Add Key.
Type "Don't Load" (without the quotation marks) in the Key Name text box and choose OK.
Select Don't Load.
From the Edit menu, choose Add Value.

Type the following in the appropriate text boxes:

      Value Name:  <Control Panel component>
      Data Type:   REG_SZ
      String:      0 or 1 (Either string value will prevent the
                           Control component from loading)

   The default Control Panel component names are:

      Color          International          Desktop
      Fonts          System                 Keyboard
      Ports          Date/Time              Printers
      Mouse          Network                Devices
      Drivers        Sound                  Cursors
      Server         Services               UPS
      Display (Windows NT version 3.5 only)
      MIDI Mapper (Windows NT version 3.1 only)

Quit Registry Editor and restart Control Panel.

NOTE: If you need to modify the Registry again to prevent additional Control Panel components from loading, do not repeat steps three and four.

Additional query words: prodnt main cpl nkbd
Keywords : kbbug3.50 kbusage ntutil
Version : 3.1 3.5 3.51
Platform : WinNT

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Last reviewed: April 10, 1997
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