Hi!

Suddenly Control panel is refusing to work.

When starting Control panel it just appears on the task bar, and will not open on the screen.

By moving the mouse over it, it will show a preview to the window, but will not open.

Please

David

There could be many reasons for this

Lets start with running a system file check and uploading the event viewer logs

Please run a system file check (SFC)
All instructions are in our Wiki article below...
Should you have any questions please ask us.

System file check (SFC) Scan and Repair System Files

Please provide us with your Event Viewer administrative logs by following these steps:


Click Start Menu
Type eventvwr into Search programs and files (do not hit enter)
Right click eventvwr.exe and click Run as administrator
Expand Custom Views
Click Administrative Events
Right click Administrative Events
Save all Events in Custom View As...
Save them in a folder where you will remember which folder and save as Errors.evtx
Go to where you saved Errors.evtx
Right click Errors.evtx -> send to -> compressed (zipped) folder
Upload the .zip file to skydrive or a file sharing service and put a link to it in your next post

moving the mouse over it, it will show a preview to the window, but will not open.

That's a symptom of having a window on another monitor.  So check to see if you have a Second Screen (e.g. phantom monitor) enabled in Extend mode.  Press Win-P to see the dialog.   Continue pressing CursorUp and Enter to change it even if you don't see it to try to change it.   ; )

Otherwise depending on how the window got there you could move it back in various ways.  E.g. if it really is on another monitor press Win-Shift-CursorLeft to bring it back.  Or try using the Taskbar Thumbnail's right-click Move command.   Since you can't see a window to use your mouse with to drag you need to engage the move with a Cursor key (e.g. right- or left "arrow" key) action and then you can use your mouse to drag the window around.   It probably helps to have seen a real instance of the scenario on a multi-monitor configuration to be clear about the procedures involved.   <eg>

 

Yes, I had turned the extra screen off. Turning it on and off fixed the problem.

Thanks,

David