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Microsoft Color Control Panel Applet version 1.0 requires Windows XP performance counters to be enabled

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Published: November 1, 2005

An issue has been identified in version 1.0 (build 1.0.176.0) of the Microsoft Color Control Panel Applet for Windows XP that may cause the software not to run if Windows XP performance counters are disabled.

Note: The information in this document applies to the 1.0.176.0 build posted on October 28, 2005; later builds of the software are not affected.

Symptoms
After installing version 1.0 (build 1.0.176.0) of the Microsoft Color Control Panel Applet for Windows XP, the software fails to start when clicking on the Color item in the Windows Control Panel. The hourglass may spin for a few seconds, but nothing happens.

Why this occurs
When started, the Color Control Panel Applet uses the Process class in version 1.1 of the Microsoft .NET Framework to verify that no other instance of the application is running. If another instance of the application is already running, the current instance does not start.

However, the Process class in the .NET Framework is dependent on Windows XP performance counters. Some anti-virus and Internet security software may disable performance counters in Windows, causing this check to always fail, even if only once instance of the Color Control Panel Applet has been started. When this happens, the software will quietly exit without displaying its window on the desktop.

How to fix it
This can be addressed by making a change to the Windows Registry.

Caution: Making incorrect changes to the Windows Registry can dramatically affect your system and cause you to lose data. Be sure to back up your data before continuing.

Note: You must be running with Administrative privileges in Windows XP to complete this task.

  1. From the Start menu, choose Run.
  2. Type "regedit" then click OK. The Windows Registry Editor appears.
  3. Navigate to the following registry key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\PerfProc\Performance
    (Make sure you have found the "PerfProc" key, not the "PerfOS" key.)
  4. Right click on Disable Performance Counters, then choose Modify.
  5. Enter a value of 0 (zero), then click OK.
  6. Try starting the Color Control Panel Applet again.

After this change, the software should run correctly.

Note: We've taken care to ensure that this tool operates as it should, but it is not part of Windows and is not supported by Microsoft. For this reason, Microsoft Technical Support is unable to answer questions about the Microsoft Color Control Panel Applet for Windows XP.