Activate GodMode in Windows 7

Behold Windows Seven users now have the power of God, well GodMode anyways.

No this isn't some crazy hack or mod that lets gamers control their virtual worlds. Its a trick that allows users to view the control panel with a slightly different view than you normally see. The "trick" was first revealed by CNet's Microsoft Correspondent, Ina Fried.

By creating a folder titled GodMode (or any other) with a specific CLSID ID String {ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} users can create a  folder that brings together a long list of customization settings allowing you to change all your settings from one place.

I've broken it down into five-step process to avoid confusion:

Step 1: Right click.

Step 2: Click create folder.

Step 3: Name your new folder this, "GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}" and press enter.(again any name works as long as you add the last string)

Once that is done, the folder's icon will change to resemble a control panel and will contain dozens of control options all listed in one nice neat little package!

Microsoft has released an unofficial statement, from MS blogger Brandon Paddock, explaining the feature.  Microsoft points out that you can change the text from "GodMode" to anything -- so the "GodMode" is really just a power feature.  However, it's not intended for use and should not be relied upon, according to Microsoft.

Writes Mr. Paddock:

The second thing you’ve discovered is the “All Tasks” folder.  This is a special shell folder which is used as the source of the “Control Panel” search results seen in the Start menu.  This folder was not designed to be browsed to directly, as the normal Control Panel folder (accessible via Start -> Control Panel) contains all the same items but with a custom view designed to be easier to navigate.  The “All Tasks” folder has no custom view, so you just see the standard Explorer list view and little else.

The existence of this folder and its CLSID are implementation details and should not be relied upon by anybody for any purpose.

God Mode?  Hardly.

Despite what MS says the "trick" has been used by many users, including myself and we've all agreed that this is a handy tool for any power-user arsenal.

Update: Here is a list of other similar strings, as with GodMode none of them provide access to anything that you couldn't already do in Control Panel but they do provide easier access. For a complete list of strings like these and what they give you access to, you can visit Canonical Names of Control Panel Items on MSDN's Windows Developer Center.

Default Location - {00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}
Biometrics - {0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}
Power Settings - {025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}
Notification Area - {05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}
Manage Credentials - {1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}
Get New Programs - {15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}
Default Programs - {17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}
NET Framework Assemblies - {1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43}
Wireless Networks - {1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87}
Network Neighborhood - {208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
My Computer - {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
Printers - {2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
RemoteApp and Desktop - {241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}
Windows Firewall - {4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}
Performance - {78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC}
GodMode - {ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}