Editing System Settings (section)

=== Control Panels (Classic Mac OS) ===
Before the release of Mac OS X in 2001, users modified system settings using control panels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Control Panels Folder |url=https://udcf.gla.ac.uk/~gwm1h/system7.5.3/About_Control_Panels.html |access-date=2021-05-05 |website=udcf.gla.ac.uk}}</ref> Control panels, like the preference panes found in System Preferences, were separate resources (cdevs) that were accessed through the [[Apple menu]]'s Control Panel.

A rudimentary form of system preferences dates back to 1983 with the Apple Lisa Preferences menu item. This included a subset of configurable settings called "convenience settings" as well as other settings that adapted according to the programs and devices installed on the Lisa Office System. The original control panels in the earliest versions of the [[classic Mac OS]] were all combined into one small [[Desk Accessory]]. [[Susan Kare]] designed the [[User interface|interface]] for the original control panel and tried to make it as user-friendly as possible. This design was used until System 3 when separate control panel files ("cdev"s) were added, accessible solely through the control panel.

With the debut of [[System 7]] the control panels were separated into individual small application-like processes accessible from the Finder, and by a sub-menu in the Apple menu provided by Apple Menu Options. [[Mac OS 9]], the last release of the Mac OS before Mac OS X, included 32 control panels. By [[Mac OS 9]], many control panels had been rewritten as true applications.

The control panels included with [[Mac OS 9]] are:<ref>{{cite web|title = Mac OS X 10.0: Using Mac OS 9 Control Panels in Classic Environment|url = http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22222|website = support.apple.com|access-date = 2015-01-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = GUIdebook > Screenshots > Settings menu|url = http://www.guidebookgallery.org/screenshots/menu|website = www.guidebookgallery.org|access-date = 2015-01-06}}</ref>
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* Appearance
* [[Apple Menu]] Options
* [[AppleTalk]]
* [[ColorSync]]
* [[Control Strip]]
* Date & Time
* DialAssist
* Energy Saver
* [[Extension (Mac OS)|Extensions Manager]]
* File Exchange
* File Sharing
* File Synchronization
* General Controls
* Internet
* Keyboard
* Keychain Access
* Launcher
* Location Manager
* Memory
* Modem
* Monitors
* Mouse
* Multiple Users
* Numbers
* [[QuickTime]] Settings
* Remote Access
* [[Apple Software Update|Software Update]]
* Sound
* Speech
* Startup Disk
* TCP/IP
* Text
* Web Sharing
{{div col end}}