Run Windows 7 in ‘GodMode’

Posted on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010. Filed under Technology, Tips and Tricks.

Just when you thought Windows 7 couldn’t get any better, this week geeks unlocked a hidden feature in the operating system called ‘GodMode’. The tweak lets you configure a number of settings and access system tools in Windows 7 from one, central place. Think of it as the Control Panel on steroids.

It’s also really easy to activate. All you have to do is:

  1. Create a new folder somewhere (right-click -> ‘Create folder’).
  2. Name the folder “GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}” and hit enter.
  3. You’re done. The folder icon will change to look like the picture in this post. Click it to open up your new, super Control Panel.

GodMode is awesome. I find the standard Control Panel somewhat counter-intuitive. Fortunately Microsoft really did think of everything with Windows 7. And thanks to my cousin Alessio Camera who gave me the heads-up =)

Oh, and apparently this will work with up to date versions of Windows Vista too…

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  • I am trying to run this folder but it says that most of the options are run by my system administrator, I am the system administrator and there are no other users on my laptop.

    Can you help me?
  • Hi Terence. What is the exact error message you are getting? Might be worth taking a look at your user account setting and make double sure that you're set up as an administrator.
  • zluigi
    Great tip - Thanks for the tip Simon and for heads up from Alessio!
  • Cool tip Simon.
  • Folks, do not attempt this on Vista 64. If you already tried it, there are fixes in the comments thread of the original article that broke this story: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10423985-56.h...
  • Thanks for the heads-up Josh.
  • Chris
    I tried this in Vista and my PC is in a constant loop. I'm going to lose about $100 worth of stuff I bought through iTunes because of this on top of the hassle of reloading Windows. Thanks a lot.
  • It sucks that you're having that problem, but you're not going to lose anything in iTunes. Your purchases are linked to your account and can be downloaded at any time.

    I can not take responsibility for the feature of an operating system not working for you. A friend of mine recommended a game to me that causes my computer to crash - obviously I can't blame him for that.

    I'm sorry you had the problem, but most people who tried this, myself included, had it work without any hitches.
  • Chris
    I got it resolved, thanks to Josh. I cannot directly blame you for my PC crashing, but it wouldn't had happened had I not seen this *tip*. Live and learn. I'm not going to do anything of this nature again without researching how it affects different systems.
  • tyme
    Just a note, my friend tried this in Vista Home, and it worked there too - so apparently it either was (or now is) available in Vista also.
  • Mark
    Awesome tip! I always thought the control panel was difficult to find stuff on. This puts all the important stuff in one place. I like.
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