Vista - can't open control panel

When I try to open the control panel the screen flashes, the wait icon
appears, and then thats it. Nothing actually opens. I also found recently
that windows update does the same thing. Any help would be appreciated.

"needs help" <needs help@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:F3D4E67A-5268-4316-8852-66F6921DEBA1@xxxxxxWelcome to the club! First off, do you have a Dell? If so, many people
have had this, and the solution is unknown. Dell Tech (the clueless-club)
Support can't help. My problem showed up about 2 months after getting the
new Dell, stayed with me for about 6 weeks, then went away, and it's been
good for months now.

Along with the Control Panel fiasco, you probably can't play several
installed MS games, use the Aero Flip feature, and other small items.

Keep us posted on your findings. I'm not sure, but even the Event Viewer
doesn't show anything amiss.

EW

Icons are missing from Control Panel, or you cannot start Control Panel, the Welcome Center, or games in Windows Vista:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936686

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"needs help" <needs help@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:F3D4E67A-5268-4316-8852-66F6921DEBA1@xxxxxx
When I try to open the control panel the screen flashes, the wait icon
appears, and then thats it. Nothing actually opens. I also found recently
that windows update does the same thing. Any help would be appreciated.

"EW" <ewyatt_del_me-@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:46f05e9c$0$47120$892e7fe2@xxxxxx
Are you seeing these problems on OEM seats? Meaning Dell installed the OS
and then shipped the product? I ask because I've installed Vista Ulitmate
"clean" on 5 different Dell platforms without experiencing those problems.

Lang

"Lang Murphy" <lang_murphy@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23wMI39n%23HHA.4612@xxxxxxLang, this problem is indeed on (some?) Dell OEM products and it's highly
intermittent. But since my system is clean now I can't give any further
info on current actions I might be taking. Uh, perhaps if the original
message poster would come back and say something.....

EW

"Ramesh, MS-MVP" <ramesh@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:eeHm0sn%23HHA.464@xxxxxx
Icons are missing from Control Panel, or you cannot start Control Panel, the
Welcome Center, or games in Windows Vista:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936686

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks for the link, Ramesh. I "looks" like a relevant solution to the
problem, but in my experience, I didn't have the "error message" on startup
nor the Nero installation it referred to for the fix. But if it ever
happens again, I'll use the hotfix just for luck! Thanks again.

EW

"EW" <ewyatt_del_me-@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:46f1b5f4$0$47160$892e7fe2@xxxxxx
Ah... gotta love (hate?) those stoopid intermittent problems. Very hard to
TS. Doesn't look like the op is going to resurface. Oh, well...

Lang

Lang Murphy lang_murphy@xxxxxx posted to
microsoft.public.windows.vista.general:
It does not help that when trying to troubleshoot intermittent
problems the number one requirement is keep _everything else_ the
same. These days the autonomic response is to start changing stuff,
in hope of a change. Worse, no logging of changes, just keep
fiddling. Many computer users are their own worst enemy.

very common problem in vista and microsoft has released a hotfix for it so give it a shot because it worked for me...hmmm my bad i cant seem to find the website for the hotfix but i'll find it as soon as possible and let u guys know

Hi the KB/936686 only works if you had the nero cd problem.

Try this: Type "solution control panel" in Windows Vista General Discussion.
I posted a solution, (not a fix). Hope it helps.
BarbLynne