diff --git a/reactos/base/shell/explorer/taskbar/desktopbar.cpp b/reactos/base/shell/explorer/taskbar/desktopbar.cpp
index cf31ab61f3e..6b1b8418580 100644
--- a/reactos/base/shell/explorer/taskbar/desktopbar.cpp
+++ b/reactos/base/shell/explorer/taskbar/desktopbar.cpp
@@ -405,11 +405,11 @@ int DesktopBar::Command(int id, int code)
 		break;
 
 	  case ID_ABOUT_EXPLORER:
-		explorer_about(_hwnd);
+		explorer_about(g_Globals._hwndDesktop);
 		break;
 
 	  case ID_DESKTOPBAR_SETTINGS:
-		ExplorerPropertySheet(_hwnd);
+		ExplorerPropertySheet(g_Globals._hwndDesktop);
 		break;
 
 	  case ID_MINIMIZE_ALL:
diff --git a/reactos/base/shell/explorer/utility/utility.cpp b/reactos/base/shell/explorer/utility/utility.cpp
index fdb74c2738d..bc928bed1e3 100644
--- a/reactos/base/shell/explorer/utility/utility.cpp
+++ b/reactos/base/shell/explorer/utility/utility.cpp
@@ -382,10 +382,12 @@ BOOL RunDLL(HWND hwnd, LPCTSTR dllname, LPCSTR procname, LPCTSTR cmdline, UINT n
 
 BOOL launch_cpanel(HWND hwnd, LPCTSTR applet)
 {
-	//launch_file(_hwnd, applet, SW_SHOWNORMAL);	// This would be enough, but we want the to use the most direct and fastest call.
-	//launch_file(_hwnd, String(TEXT("rundll32.exe /d shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL "))+applet, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
+	TCHAR parameters[MAX_PATH];
+	
+	_tcscpy(parameters, TEXT("shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL "));
+	_tcscat(parameters, applet);
 
-	return RunDLL(hwnd, TEXT("shell32"), CONTROL_RUNDLL, applet, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
+	return ((int)ShellExecute(hwnd, TEXT("open"), TEXT("rundll32.exe"), parameters, NULL, SW_SHOWDEFAULT) > 32);
 }