Windows 8 Power User? Secrete God Mode

For the record, I like Microsoft Windows 8. However, just like any operating system, it is not perfect - there are always annoyances. For many traditional power users, one of the most annoying things about Windows 8 is that it is not easy find all of the control panel settings and configuration wizards that have traditionally been available in previous versions of the operating system.
All of those settings are available; they are just difficult to put your finger on sometimes. For example, there are two control panels in Windows 8 - one is attached to the Start Screen and one is part of the Desktop environment. Of course, neither of them grants you access to all of the configuration settings you’d like to see. This is where you can employ the power of what has been dubbed “god mode.”

I have the power

In Windows 8, god mode is just a special folder that contains links to all of the control panel and configuration settings. Creating the special folder is not difficult, but it does require knowledge of a special code.
First, open the Desktop and start Windows Explorer. For this to work properly, you have to change two settings under the View tab of Windows Explorer. As you can see in Figure A, you will want to check the boxes: File name extensions and Hidden items.

Figure A

Check File name extensions and Hidden items

With those changes made, right-click on the Windows 8 Desktop and navigate to New | Folder, as shown in Figure B.

Figure B

Create a new folder

This is where the code comes in. Replace the “New folder” temporary name with this string of text:

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

When you press Enter the new folder will be renamed GodMode and its icon will go from a plain folder to a folder that looks like Figure C.

Figure C

GodMod folder on the Desktop

When you double-click that folder you will be taken to a very long list of control panel settings and configuration wizards, separated into sections. (Figure D)

Figure D

Every configuration tweak at your command

You can leave the GodMode Folder on the Desktop if you’d like, but if you right-click it you can Pin it to the Start Page so that it has its own tile like Figure E.

Figure E

GodMode as a tile

Or you can pin the folder to Windows Explorer on the Taskbar on the Desktop, as displayed in Figure F.

Figure F

Available from the Taskbar

Thanks to Mark Kaelin!