Cannot open powercfg.cpl
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Thread: Cannot open powercfg.cpl

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Unhappy Cannot open powercfg.cpl

    Hi

    I cannot open powercfg.cpl
    - I have tried several ways of restoring including:

    One from this site: type "sfc /scannow" which scanned everything and didn't fix it.

    The other was to attempt to copy powercfg.cpl over the original one.

    Even in SAFE mode with DOS the file appears to remain locked for all intents and purposes...

    If I delete it, it restores itself.

    The exact error message is: An exception occured while trying to run "C:\WINDOWS\System32\shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL powercfg.cpl","

    Any ideas?

    Thanks in advance!
    Adam

  2. #2
    photolady's Avatar
    photolady is offline Lifetime Friend of Site Staff
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    Hi Adam and Welcome to Virtual Dr.

    Did you try right click desktop, select Properties in the list, then select the screen saver tab, click the Power button at the bottom. This should get you to the power control.

    If that doesn't work, go to Start>Run and type powercfg.cpl that also will open power control panel.

    When you ran sfc /scannow did you have your xp cd in the drive also?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    well ...

    I have done/tried right clicking on the screensaver then power option - get the same error - use the start => run - get the same error.

    I don't know if it is a file corruption.

    when I ran the scan it asked for the CD which I put in the drive - it scanned, found nothing, reported nothing and fixed nothing.

    I'm just attempting to run the XP repair wizard :/

    This doesn't seem an easy one to fix even after playing with Windoze for 10 years *sigh*

  4. #4
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    You'll find a spare copy of Powercfg.cpl in the Windows\System32\dllcache folder. Copy it into Windows\System32 and see if that cures the problem.
    Nick.

  5. #5
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    done but no go

    So tried that they were the same size:

    powercfg.cpl - 112Kb
    powercfg.exe - 48Kb

    Perhaps you can send me yours or I can try with a copy from another windwos XP install?

    meh

  6. #6
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    Here you go:
    Nick.

  7. #7
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    Mar 2007
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    same thing

    Right I tried that but got the same result - plus the file was the same size and date as mine *sigh*

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
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    thanks this file
    ım from turkey
    whats up

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    If it worked before on your computer, you might want to reset powermanagement.
    Go to start > Run ,type in: cmd
    This will open a commandbox, at the c:> prompt type:
    powercfg /RestoreDefaultPolicies

    In the BIOS check if APM (Advanced Power Management) is enabled.
    Also in devicemanager (doubleclick computer it should say ACPI computer)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
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    Quote Originally Posted by DeP
    If it worked before on your computer, you might want to reset powermanagement.
    Go to start > Run ,type in: cmd
    This will open a commandbox, at the c:> prompt type:
    powercfg /RestoreDefaultPolicies
    Hey, that worked! Thanks! I bet it was some update that my company applied to try to get our laptops to standby more often that screwed up the policies for my machine.

  11. #11
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by DeP View Post
    If it worked before on your computer, you might want to reset powermanagement.
    Go to start > Run ,type in: cmd
    This will open a commandbox, at the c:> prompt type:
    powercfg /RestoreDefaultPolicies

    In the BIOS check if APM (Advanced Power Management) is enabled.
    Also in devicemanager (doubleclick computer it should say ACPI computer)
    hi bro dis didnt work for my laptop

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
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    more subtle than that

    Whatever version you have is fine.
    To get rid of any non standard powercfg.cpl alternatives, just go to

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Controls Folder\Power

    and rename the "shellex" subfolder you have there to something funny, such as
    "shellex.NOTHANKS" or "shellex.DISABLED".

    From now on Windows will use its powercfg.cpl instead of your OEM's version.
    Should you revert, just rename the shellex key back.

    Ciao
    Mauro

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    Smile Thanks

    Quote Originally Posted by m2f2 View Post
    Whatever version you have is fine.
    To get rid of any non standard powercfg.cpl alternatives, just go to

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Controls Folder\Power

    and rename the "shellex" subfolder you have there to something funny, such as
    "shellex.NOTHANKS" or "shellex.DISABLED".

    From now on Windows will use its powercfg.cpl instead of your OEM's version.
    Should you revert, just rename the shellex key back.

    Ciao
    Mauro
    Thanks it woked beatiful....

    David E.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    ;))

    It works for me too! Thx ;D

  15. #15
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    Aug 2009
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    1
    It works for me as well. -Shaun

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