Unable to open Control Panel

Hello,

I can't open the Control Panel after going to Settings, what I do get is a window saying that Windows Explorer (not IE) has "performed an illegal operation and will be shut down." Clicking details shows....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in module APIWJ32.DLL at 018f:53947ba6.
Registers:
EAX=00000000 CS=018f EIP=53947ba6 EFLGS=00010246
EBX=70a967b0 SS=0197 ESP=03759a38 EBP-03759a94
ECX=00472008 DS=0197 ESI=00000824 FS=0d77
EDX=00000000 ES=0197 EDI=00000000 GS=0000
Bytes at CS:EIP:
39 b8 9c 08 00 00 0f 84 9d 00 00 e9 65 3d 00
Stack dump:
006c2b90 00000824 70a967b0 5395ecbe 5395ddc0 5395c747 5395d3ee 5395db03 5395dbec 5395e284 5395d5e5 5395cc5c 5395e8c2 5395c773 5395e9de 5395c61c
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

However, Windows Explorer never closes. The same error message (and details) appears when I try to open Printers. After closing that message another window opens saying that Internet Explorer has caused an error and will shut down, but it also doesn't actually shut down. What those details are I don't know.

This problem and my previous post about being unable to change my monitor resolution and color settings started when I downloaded AOL Instant Messenger a few days ago. I don't know if there's a connection, but I suspect that something "snuck in" when I did that download.

Thanks in advance.

 

Try going to
C:\WINDOWS\system32\control.exe
If this works you can always right click on it and pin it to your start menu.

 

Here are some shortcuts, Do the following by going to Start> run> [type] the property you want.

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

controlmind

 

Didn't read your full post before I replied,sorry. Here is a good article you may be interested in link . Have you tried system restore?