Windows 7 GodMode? Not really

Of late, I saw the following making rounds on twitter, the blogosphere, on email and even on CNET:

Create folder, rename it to GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} and double click on it. 

So I thought I’d make a few things clear here.

 

  • Firstly, it’s not called GodMode. Name your folder DevilMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} and the new folder will be called DevilMode instead. So it really isn’t “God Mode” – you can call it whatever you like.

    image

  • Secondly, what you get is just the Windows 7 Control Panel in a different (expanded) layout – it doesn’t contain any “hidden” tweaks. Take a look:

image

When I collapse the tree, GodMode becomes this:

image

Now, let’s open Control Panel and switch to Large Icons:

image

I get exactly the same thing. Why?

 

Explanation:

  • Open the Windows Registry (REGEDIT)
  • Search for “ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C”
  • You will find this key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID

image

  • As you can see, this is nothing but Control Panel

What you’ve done is basically figuring out how to make a shortcut to Control Panel and give it your own name! You can do the same with any of the classes in the registry and achieve similar results!

For example: SuperGodMode.{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921} will open the Personalization Control Panel and call it “Super God Mode” :-)

This is a fully documented Windows Shell feature, not an Easter Egg.

Good bye “God Mode”!

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Shijaz Abdulla is a Partner Technology Advisor at Microsoft, helping their top tier partners build on their Microsoft practice. He is also a trusted advisor to medium enterprise customers in Qatar. He is a blogger, tech enthusiast, and a Microsoft evangelist.


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13 Responses to Windows 7 GodMode? Not really

  1. ɹןʇnqן says:

    Windows 7 GODMODE! http://xrl.us/bgr2gc
    Windows 7 NotSoMuchGodMode: http://xrl.us/bgr2hh

  2. "God Mode" is a 32-bit only shell extension to reference a registry key in a folder name, or some shit: http://bit.ly/4AMIYZ

  3. Ramesh K says:

    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

  4. Anonymous says:

    party pooper!

  5. Shijaz says:

    LOL. @Anonymous

    @Ramesh – nice posts. The point I’m trying to drive is that there is no “hidden feature” unlocking – this is not a hack – it’s just Control Panel! :)

  6. Jinx says:

    Its not a hack, but it sure makes to be a much more enjoyable experience.

    Network connections are a pain in the butt to get to, so if you’d like a shortcut, try these. You can also drop these to your favorites sidebar.

    Network Connections.{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}
    Wireless Networks.{1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87}
    :D

  7. Pingback: Windows 7 God Mode? I think not. « To Be Announced

  8. Pingback: …here's a whosit » Blog Archive » Somebody’s been playing too much Doom at work

  9. Pingback: Windows 7 GodMode? Not really | devtrends.com

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