Why can’t the Windows Settings be opened after installing SIDES Restaurant POS?

Why can’t the Windows Settings be opened after installing SIDES Restaurant POS?

What
After installing SIDES Restaurant POS, access to the Windows Settings and Control Panel may be blocked. As a result, connected printers cannot be checked, added or configured via Windows.

Where
Windows: Local Group Policy Editor > User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel

If a printer connected to a Self Order Terminal is not working, it may need to be checked or reconfigured through the Windows Settings. If the Windows Settings cannot be opened, further troubleshooting may be blocked.

This does not automatically mean that Windows is corrupted or that the device needs to be replaced. Access is often intentionally blocked during the installation of SIDES Restaurant POS.

Why are the Windows Settings blocked?

During the installation of SIDES Restaurant POS, the option “Block access to Windows system settings” is available.

If this option is enabled, the currently logged-in Windows user cannot open the Windows Settings or the Control Panel.

This function is primarily intended for Self Order Terminals (SOTs). On these devices, customers may use the Windows on-screen keyboard to enter information such as a pager number. The restriction prevents customers from accessing the Windows Settings through the on-screen keyboard or other Windows functions and making changes to the operating system.

Important: This restriction is an intended feature of the POS installation and does not indicate corrupted Windows system files.

What are the effects of the restriction?

While the restriction is active, the following actions cannot be performed, among others:
  • Open the Windows Settings
  • Open the Windows Control Panel
  • Add or remove printers in Windows
  • Check printer status, printer properties or print queues
  • Configure printer drivers or other device settings
  • Change certain network, device or system settings
The restriction can be temporarily removed in order to check the printer.

Step 1: Open the Command Prompt

  1. Open the Windows Start menu using the Windows icon in the taskbar.
  2. Enter cmd in the Windows search field.
  3. Open the Command Prompt search result.

Step 2: Open the Local Group Policy Editor

  1. Enter the following command in the Command Prompt:

    gpedit.msc

  2. Confirm the command by pressing Enter.
  3. The Local Group Policy Editor opens. The left-hand area displays sections including Computer Configuration and User Configuration.

Step 3: Navigate to the policy

  1. Open the User Configuration folder in the left-hand area.
  2. Open the Administrative Templates folder underneath it.
  3. Select the Control Panel folder.
Path: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel

Step 4: Enable access to the Windows Settings

  1. In the right-hand area, locate the policy Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings.
  2. Open the policy by double-clicking it.
  3. Select Not Configured in the window that opens.
  4. Click Apply and then OK.
The available settings have the following meanings:
  • Not Configured: Access to the Windows Settings and Control Panel is allowed.
  • Enabled: Access to the Windows Settings and Control Panel is blocked.

Step 5: Apply the change

After making the change, check whether the Windows Settings can be opened again.

If the change does not take effect immediately, the following options are available:
  • Sign out the currently logged-in Windows user and sign in again.
  • Restart the computer.
  • Run the command gpupdate /force in the Command Prompt.

Step 6: Check or configure the printer

Once the Windows Settings can be opened again, the connected printer can be checked further.

Depending on the issue, check the following:
  • whether the printer is displayed in Windows,
  • whether the printer is marked as offline or faulty,
  • whether the print queue is blocked,
  • whether the correct printer driver is installed,
  • whether the printer needs to be set as the default printer,
  • whether a Windows test page can be printed successfully.

Step 7: Enable the restriction again

Once the printer has been checked or configured, the restriction should be enabled again on a publicly accessible Self Order Terminal.

  1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor again using gpedit.msc.
  2. Navigate again to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel.
  3. Open the policy Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings.
  4. Select Enabled.
  5. Confirm the change by clicking Apply and then OK.

This prevents end customers from accessing the system settings through the on-screen keyboard or other Windows functions.

Note: Reinstalling Windows or replacing the hardware is not necessary solely because access to the Windows Settings is blocked. If the printer still does not work after access has been restored, the actual printer issue must be investigated separately.

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