Recently there has been some discussion within various IT posts relating to a feature known as Windows 7 God Mode. After some investigation I have discovered that this feature is not specifically an unknown set of capabilities that has just been realised, but rather a way to link to many of the various configuration options already available in Windows 7. I personally would rather call this the Windows 7 God List of configuration options rather than a mode. Similar to a Super Control Panel. I must be clear to point out that a user does not get any more capabilities than they already have and many configuration options will require a UAC elevation in order to have the privilege level required to perform the task (as is normal operation).

The way God Mode is activated is to create a new folder and then rename it to the following:

GodList.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Note that the text at the beginning can be any arbitrary name or description followed by a period. Many people are typing ‘GodMode’ here. I am proving a point by calling it ‘GodList’. The large number at the end must be encased in the curly brackets as this GUID (Globally Unique Identifier) is the actual reference to where this folder is to link to.

This will then turn the folder into a virtual shortcut that links to a list of the ’GodMode’ shortcuts. Note that it does not actually show the shortcut icon. There are approximately 300 links contained inside this list.

Click to see larger image

There is actually more than one link like this, here is a list of some more links that are specifically for Windows 7.

Action Center
{BB64F8A7-BEE7-4E1A-AB8D-7D8273F7FDB6}

Backup and Restore
{B98A2BEA-7D42-4558-8BD1-832F41BAC6FD}

Biometric Devices
{0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}

Credential Manager
{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}

Default Location
{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}

Devices and Printers
{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}

Display
{C555438B-3C23-4769-A71F-B6D3D9B6053A}

HomeGroup
{67CA7650-96E6-4FDD-BB43-A8E774F73A57}

Location and Other Sensors
{E9950154-C418-419e-A90A-20C5287AE24B}

Notification Area Icons
{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}

Recovery
{9FE63AFD-59CF-4419-9775-ABCC3849F861}

RemoteApp and Desktop Connections
{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}

Speech Recognition
{58E3C745-D971-4081-9034-86E34B30836A}

Troubleshooting
{C58C4893-3BE0-4B45-ABB5-A63E4B8C8651}

The following links also work in Windows Vista. (In addition to Windows 7)

Administrative Tools
{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153}

All .NET Frameworks and COM Libraries
{1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43}

All Tasks (Control Panel)
{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

AutoPlay
{9C60DE1E-E5FC-40f4-A487-460851A8D915}

BitLocker Drive Encryption (Ultimate edition only)
{D9EF8727-CAC2-4e60-809E-86F80A666C91}

Computer Folder
{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

Default Programs
{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}

Ease of Access Center
{D555645E-D4F8-4c29-A827-D93C859C4F2A}

Font Settings
{93412589-74D4-4E4E-AD0E-E0CB621440FD}

Get Programs
{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}

Manage Wireless Networks
{1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87}

Network and Sharing Center
{8E908FC9-BECC-40f6-915B-F4CA0E70D03D}

Network Connections
{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}

Network Folder
{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}

Parental Controls
{96AE8D84-A250-4520-95A5-A47A7E3C548B}

Performance Information and Tools
{78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC}

Personalization
{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921}

Power Options
{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}

Programs and Features
{7b81be6a-ce2b-4676-a29e-eb907a5126c5}

Sync Center
{9C73F5E5-7AE7-4E32-A8E8-8D23B85255BF}

System
{BB06C0E4-D293-4f75-8A90-CB05B6477EEE}

User Accounts
{60632754-c523-4b62-b45c-4172da012619}

Windows Firewall
{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}

Windows SideShow
(note some users have reported a brief performance degradation when using this)
{E95A4861-D57A-4be1-AD0F-35267E261739}

Windows Update
{36eef7db-88ad-4e81-ad49-0e313f0c35f8}

This is a chance that these shortcuts will work in later versions of Windows also, but of course there is no way of knowing at the time of posting. Please also be warned that these may not be officially supported and could cause unexpected behaviour on some systems.

Have Fun.

Dean