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Windows 7 "God Mode" Mythbusting

Published 1/3/2010 in Windows 7 News by Steve Sinchak with 33,615 views

The tweak of the day everyone is talking about is the so called Windows 7 "God Mode."  Simply create a new folder, call it GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} and you will have a shortcut to every setting on your computer.  Sounds great right? The problem is no new features or settings are exposed. Only a list of tasks that can be accomplished within Control Panel that Windows 7 and Vista use for start menu and control panel search.

The feature is not actually even called God Mode but All Tasks.  Since the All Tasks feature is simply a shell folder you can access it a few different ways.  The most direct method is to open up Explorer and type in shell:::{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} in the address bar and hit Enter.  Alternatively, create a folder and name it anything.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}.

At one point during the Windows 7 betas this feature was even exposed to users as All Tasks but hidden in the final releases.  That caused me to do some extra editing on the final review of my Windows 7 Tweaks book.

In this case someone named the folder GodMode which sounds like a secret feature burried deep within Windows. In reality its just another shell folder. If you need to change a setting simply search for it in the Start Menu.  That is what this feature was actually designed for.

Although if you are the kind of person that likes to navigate through a list of 279 tasks instead of simply typing in what you need try out this even better backdoor secretly created by the president of the Windows division.  Create a new folder and name it: SinofskyBackdoor.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}.

 
Comments
Resuna
Works in Vista too.
240 days ago
Resuna
The "shell:::{}" link works in Vista, but do NOT create the "anything.{}" folder. It throws Explorer into an endless crash-and-restart loop.
240 days ago
"try out this even better backdoor secretly created by the president of the Windows division. Create a new folder and name it: SinofskyBackdoor.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}."

Huh??? That's the same All Tasks folder, just with a different name.
240 days ago
ben
works in Vista too.
but my system crashed when i clicked on it.
and you dont need to name godmode.
240 days ago
Robbie
Thank you myth busters of the tech world!
239 days ago
Oskar, it was a pathetic attempt at a joke.
239 days ago
adam
only 64bit vista crashes. You can create the folder fin in 32bit vista
239 days ago
Exodus Naixus
Thanks for the information. Great job.
235 days ago
u2
Steve, Oskar wasn't joking. the two methods are the same. You should read before b4 making any comments. Or perhaps the word "backdoor" gives you a certain sensation?
235 days ago
U2, I was joking. "backdoor secretly created by the president of the Windows division" That was not obvious enough?
234 days ago
John B
Simply type the letter "s" in the control panel search box to enter the God mode.
232 days ago
John
nice one John B
226 days ago
Matt
Simply type the letter "{any-letter-here}" in the control panel search box to enter the God mode, minus some random stuff...

Har har.
223 days ago
Scott
LOL good one john b S mode love it works great I even wrote a song about it . s mode man s mode man doin everthing that a s mode can
222 days ago
hardy
The idea was speed and simplicity....
if you move godmode to the desktop its a snap
to access ALL parameters...which is great for those
having to use it constantly esp in a developers realm
but Id agree too much was made of it.
215 days ago
markus
The Good mode is beter that Control Panel.
188 days ago
markus
Vista x64 users DO NOT USE THIS TWEAK!!!

Those that did and are stuck with AppCrash can boot with a Live Linux x64 disk (such as Ububtu Desktop x64) and delete the file from the Desktop.

All is not lost though, for Vista x64 users, make a shortcut and set it to point to: explorer.exe shell:::{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

This is 100% functional.
188 days ago
AngryAnts
markus
LOL

CRTL ALT DEL or (CRTL Shift ESC)

File run cmd

cd etc etc Desktop where you created this idiotic file link

rmdir GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} simple click restart its fuxed
148 days ago
Very nice John B. Although I heard rumors of an upcoming T mode!!!
146 days ago
guto
works but what is it for
78 days ago
Kevin Brown
Wasn't there an actual super secret back door in an early distribution of Unix?
53 days ago
Gnewb
It's pointless. At least they could have attempted to arrange the routines in a meaningful order. I honestly don't see any improvement in windows 7 vs xp. If you can, tell me (other than it looks nicer, which is subjective anyway)
34 days ago
 
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