The Continuing Nightmare of Microsoft Vista

I've been without sound on my PC for over a week now. Just as I solved my longterm problem inability to open the Control Panel (uninstall Divx) I lost my sound. Well today being in an awkward mood I decided to hunt down the problem. I went into the newly rediscovered control panel and wandered up and down. In Control-Panel-Sound-Playback-Sounds I tried to get it to play the sample sounds eg Default Beep nowt.

Anyway wandering around in Control-Panel-Sound-Default-Playback-Device-Levels I eventually noticed a TINY icon indicating sound switched off, clicked it and Bob's Your Auntie I've got my sound back!

My complaint is that I'm supposed to be a computer expert using Windows since Windows 3.1 (& Dos before that) so if it took me a week!

The new Vista Sound Control Panel applet seems alien to me, why did they change it I never had trouble with the old on XP????

Cannot Access the Control Panel with Vista

Ever since I had one of those overnight Vista Upgrades I've never been able to access the Control Panel; it opens and then closes without any error message.
### Solved this by uninstalling DivX ###

Fortunately you can access the components/applets of the Control Panel directly from the Command Prompt. (Even if you haven't got any problems with the control panel you can use these to create shortcuts directly to an applet you use frequently)

eg
> control ncpa.cpl -- gives you access to the Networks

in c:\windows\system32\
Firebird2Control.cpl
Firewall.cpl
ISUSPM.cpl
TabletPC.cpl
appwiz.cpl
bthprops.cpl
collab.cpl
desk.cpl
hdwwiz.cpl
inetcpl.cpl
infocardcpl.cpl
intl.cpl
irprops.cpl
joy.cpl
main.cpl
mmsys.cpl
ncpa.cpl
nvcpl.cpl
powercfg.cpl
sysdm.cpl
telephon.cpl
timedate.cpl
wscui.cpl

eg
control APPWIZ.CPL -- Add/Remove Programs Property Page

Here is the list for Windows XP
Common Control Panel applets

Accessibility Options access.cpl
Add New Hardware Wizard hdwwiz.cpl
Add/Remove Programs appwiz.cpl
Date and Time Properties timedate.cpl
Display Properties desk.cpl
FindFast findfast.cpl
Folder Properties * folders
Fonts Folder * fonts
Internet Properties inetcpl.cpl
Joystick Properties joy.cpl
Keyboard Properties main.cpl keyboard
Mouse Properties main.cpl
Network Properties ncpl.cpl
Password Properties password.cpl
Phone and Modem options telephon.cpl
Power Management powercfg.cpl
Printers Folder * printers
Regional settings intl.cpl
Scanners and Cameras sticpl.cpl
Sound Properties mmsys.cpl sounds
Sounds and Audio Device Properties mmsys.cpl
System Properties sysdm.cpl
User settings nusrmgr.cpl
TweakUI tweakui.cpl

Vista : I can see in Color!

After a year or so I can see natural colors on my Vista PC, there has been an upgrade of the driver!

Pity I can't load the Control Panel though. Hmm must read the FAQ on fixing problems with Control Panel, ah here it is "First Open the Control Panel"

Setting up ODBC DSN when Control Panel doesn't work on Vista

Since one of the automatic Vista upgrades my Control Panel will only open briefly then shuts down ; thanks very much Microsoft.

Fortunately you can access the components of the control panel directly if you know their names.

c:\windows\system32\Odbcad32.exe

Will allow you set up a DSN. Found this out by trial and error.