Start Control Panel applets (2)
General syntax:
RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,Control_RunDLL filename.CPL,@n,t
where:
| filename.CPL | is the name of one of Control Panel's *.CPL files, |
| n | is the zero based number of the applet within the *.CPL file, and |
| t | is the number of the tab for multi paged applets |
Examples:
| Date/time applet, Time Zone tab: | RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,Control_RunDLL TIMEDATE.CPL,@0,1 |
| Desktop applet, Screensaver tab: | RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,Control_RunDLL DESK.CPL,@0,1 |
| Network applet, Protocols tab: | RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,Control_RunDLL NCPA.CPL,@0,2 |
| Network applet, Adapters tab: | RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,Control_RunDLL NCPA.CPL,@0,3 |
| System applet, Environment tab: | RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,Control_RunDLL SYSDM.CPL,@0,2 |
An alternative approach is using CONTROL.EXE.
However, if you want to make your batch file wait for the Control Panel applet to be closed, you'll have to use the RUNDLL32 command with START /WAIT
General syntax:
CONTROL.EXE filename.CPL,@n,t
where:
| filename.CPL | is the name of one of Control Panel's *.CPL files, |
| n | is the zero based number of the applet within the *.CPL file, and |
| t | is the number of the tab for multi paged applets |
Examples:
| Date/time applet, Time Zone tab: | CONTROL.EXE TIMEDATE.CPL,@0,1 |
| Desktop applet, Screensaver tab: | CONTROL.EXE DESK.CPL,@0,1 |
| or alternatively, in Windows 2000 & XP: | CONTROL.EXE DESK.CPL ,@ScreenSaver |
| Note the space between the *.CPL file name and the comma. This seems to work for DESK.CPL only. Use the description on the tab, remove any spaces. Credits: Neil J. Rubenking, in one of his articles in PC Magazine. Tip: Leslie Katz |
Open Install new modem wizard
RUNDLL32 modemui.dll,InvokeControlPanel
Credits: Jeffrey W. Horning (posted on JSI FAQ)
Start "Add New Hardware" Wizard
(Windows 95)
RUNDLL SYSDM.CPL,InstallDevice_Rundll
Credits: Faris Mlaeb
Open the "Unplug or Eject Hardware" wizard
(Windows 2000 or later, or Windows 98 SE with hotplug.dll installed):
RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll
Credits: Chris S./Dx21.com
Open Device manager
RUNDLL32 devmgr.dll DeviceManager_Execute
Credits: Jeffrey W. Horning (posted on JSI FAQ)
Install a screensaver
(copy the *.SCR file to the Windows directory first) (2):
RUNDLL32 DESK.CPL,InstallScreenSaver C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\Default.scr
(To invoke the screensaver use:
C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\Default.scr /S
Tip by "UnhappyEggWhisk" on forums.somethingawful.com)
The directory shown is for Windows NT 4/2000, modify for Windows 9x/XP
Lock the screen
(Windows 2000)
RUNDLL32 USER32.DLL,LockWorkStation
Credits: Steven Clements (posted on alt.msdos.batch.nt)
Redraw the screen
(Windows 95)
RUNDLL USER,repaintscreen
Credits: Faris Mlaeb
Rearrange the windows on the screen
(Windows 95)
- Cascade:
- RUNDLL32 USER,cascadechildwindows
- Tile:
- RUNDLL32 USER,tilechildwindows
Credits: Faris Mlaeb
Change screen resolution
(Windows 9x with PowerToys' QuickRes installed):
RUNDLL DESKCP16.DLL,QUICKRES_RUNDLLENTRY hresxvresxbpp
Where hres is the horizontal resolution in pixels,
vres is the vertical resolution in pixels, and
bpp is the number of bits per pixel.
The following example will set the screen resolution to
800 x 600 at 256 colors (28 colors = 8 bits per pixel)
RUNDLL DESKCP16.DLL,QUICKRES_RUNDLLENTRY 800x600x8
Credits: William Allen (posted on alt.msdos.batch)
Disable mouse and/or keyboard
(Windows 9*/ME)
RUNDLL KEYBOARD,DISABLE
RUNDLL MOUSE,DISABLE
There is an ENABLE function too, but I haven't found the right syntax yet. Without any further parameters it only halts the system without warning (Windows 95). You will probably need the other RUNDLL commands to do a "clean" reboot.
Credits: Koro das Master
Halt system
RUNDLL MOUSE,ENABLE
Credits: Faris Mlaeb
Start "Add New Printer" wizard
RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL AddPrinter
Open "Connect to Printer" dialog
RUNDLL32 WINSPOOL.DRV,ConnectToPrinterDlg
This commands opens the "Connect to Printer" dialog, as you might have guessed. I don't see any useful application yet, but maybe you do.
Open the Printers folder
RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,Control_RunDLL MAIN.CPL @2
or for Windows 2000:
RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL PrintersFolder
Credits: Pascal Rebsamen
| Note: | To create a shortcut in the Start Menu to open the Printers
folder, create a directory using one of the following commands.
|
Print a test page
(Windows 95 and later; unfortunately this command does not always work):
RUNDLL32.EXE SHELL32.DLL,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL PrintTestPage
Or for Windows 9x (source: Daniel U. Thibault):
RUNDLL32.EXE MSPrint2.DLL,RUNDLL_PrintTestPage
Manage printer settings
(Windows 2000)
RUNDLL32 PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry /?
This will display an extensive list of available functions
and many examples.
View this same list in HTML.
Add a TCP/IP printer port
RUNDLL32 tcpmonui.dll,LocalAddPortUI
Credits: Jeffrey W. Horning (posted on JSI FAQ)
Clear Internet Explorer branding
(the annoying company name in IE's title bar)
RUNDLL32.EXE iedkcs32.dll,Clear
Credits: "pradeep" (posted on Go4Expert Forum)
Open the dialog box for editing the Favorites in Internet Explorer
RUNDLL32.EXE shdocvw.dll,DoOrganizeFavDlg
Credits: "pradeep" (posted on Go4Expert Forum)
Delete Internet Explorer 7's browsing history, cookies and temporary files
RUNDLL32.EXE inetcpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess n
Where n can have the following values:
| 1 | delete browsing history (list of visited sites) |
| 2 | delete all cookies |
| 8 | delete temporary files (cache) |
| 16 | delete all saved forms data |
| 32 | delete all saved passwords |
| 255 | delete all of the above |
| 4351 | delete all of the above and all settings stored by add-ons |
The use of powers of 2 suggests that one can combine (add)
these values, e.g. 40 to delete temporary files
(8) and passwords (32)
simultaneously, but I didn't test this assumption yet.
Credits: Herby on neowin.net
Start GUI mode disk format
RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,SHFormatDrive
Start GUI mode diskcopy
RUNDLL32 DISKCOPY.DLL,DiskCopyRunDll
Credits: Media Chance
"Map Network Drive" dialog
(Windows 95)
RUNDLL32 USER,wnetconnectdialog
and for Windows XP:
RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL Connect
Credits: Faris Mlaeb (Windows 95) and Ian Freeman (Windows XP)
Open the Network ID wizard
RUNDLL32 netplwiz.dll,NetAccWizRunDll
Credits: Jeffrey W. Horning (posted on JSI FAQ)
Open the Add network place wizard
RUNDLL32 netplwiz.dll,AddNetPlaceRunDll
Credits: Jeffrey W. Horning (posted on JSI FAQ)
Logoff Windows (1)
- Logoff Windows 98:
- RUNDLL SHELL32.DLL,SHExitWindowsEx
- Logoff Windows 98 and run Explorer after relogon:
- RUNDLL SHELL32.DLL,SHExitWindowsEx 4
- Logoff Windows NT 4:
- RUNDLL32 USER32.DLL,ExitWindowsEx
RUNDLL32 USER32.DLL,ExitWindowsEx - This is not a mistake, the command usualy must be called twice before anything happens.
Reboot (1)
- Windows 95 (not reliable, sometimes only shutdown):
- RUNDLL USER.EXE,ExitWindowsExec
- Windows 98:
- RUNDLL SHELL32.DLL,SHExitWindowsEx 2
- Windows NT 4:
- @ECHO OFF
PUSHD "%temp%"
ECHO [Version] > {out}.inf
ECHO signature=$chicago$ >> {out}.inf
ECHO [defaultinstall] >> {out}.inf
RUNDLL32 SETUPAPI,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 1 {out}.inf
DEL {out}.inf
POPD - (original batch file by Walter Zackery, adapted for readability)
Shutdown (1)
- Windows 95:
- RUNDLL USER.EXE,ExitWindows
- Windows 98:
- RUNDLL SHELL32.DLL,SHExitWindowsEx 1
- or:
- RUNDLL32 KRNL386.EXE,exitkernel
- (will also power down ATX boards)
Activate suspend mode (1)
(Windows 2000/XP)
RUNDLL32 PowrProf.dll, SetSuspendState
Credits: TechRepublic's Windows XP Newsletter & Graham Smith.
Show "System setting changed, do you want to reboot now?" dialog (1):
(Windows 9*)
RUNDLL SHELL.DLL,RestartDialog
Display NT's "About" dialog
Showing version, servicepack, registered owner and amount of physical memory:
RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,ShellAboutW
Open a file with Windows' "Open as" dialog
RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,OpenAs_RunDLL filename
Open a .ZIP file in Explorer
(Windows XP)
RUNDLL32.EXE ZIPFLDR.DLL,RouteTheCall zipfile.ZIP
Unfortunately, there seems to be no (native) command to copy files into the .ZIP file
Swap your mouse to left handed use
(tip from "Speedy Gonzales")
- Windows 95:
RUNDLL USER.EXE,SwapMouseButton- Windows NT:
RUNDLL32 USER32.DLL,SwapMouseButton
I know of no command yet to undo this, but the following will get you close:
CONTROL MAIN.CPL
or:
RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,Control_RunDLL MAIN.CPL,@0,1
Start "DialUp Connection" Wizard
(Windows 95)
RUNDLL RNAUI.DLL,RnaWizard
Credits: Faris Mlaeb
Start DialUp Network
START RUNDLL32 RNAUI.DLL,RnaDial exact name of dialer entry
TRACERT -h 1 -w 1
The RUNDLL command starts DUN, the TRACERT command
is supposed to actually start the dialing process, assuming
automatic dialing is enabled.
Since I do not have access to any PC with DUN installed,
I could not test the TRACERT command's effect.
Credits for these commands: Michael J. Gregg and Tom Lavedas
Use the RASPHONE command in Windows NT, which can also hang up the connection
Credits: Simon Sheppard.
Open the Fonts folder
RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL FontsFolder
Credits: Media Chance
Open an Active Directory Search window:
RUNDLL32 dsquery,OpenQueryWindow
This allows you to search Active Directory for users or computers, though only a limited part of the properties is accessible.
Credits: TechRepublic's Windows XP e-Newsletter for August 5, 2004
Activate registry changes
in HKEY_CURRENT_USER without logging off (Windows 2000 and later):
RUNDLL32.EXE USER32.DLL,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters ,1 ,True
Credits: Pete Smith.
Remove Messenger
(Windows XP)
RUNDLL32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove
Credits: Pascal Rebsamen (posted on WinBoard)
Install a driver using its .INF file
(Windows XP)
RUNDLL32 setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 inf_file.INF
or (IE 4+):
RUNDLL32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection inf_file.INF,DefaultInstall
Command for Vista and Windows 7:
InfDefaultInstall.exe inf_file.INF
Repair IE 6
(Windows XP)
RUNDLL32 setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %windir%infie.inf
Credits: Pascal Rebsamen (posted on WinBoard)
Switch between windows
(Windows 7)
RUNDLL32 DwmApi #105
Credits: Scott Dunn, WindowsSecrets
Turn Aero on or off
(Windows 7)
Turn ON Aero:
RUNDLL32 DwmApi #102
Turn OFF Aero:
RUNDLL32 DwmApi #104
Credits: Vishal Gupta
