Run Commands

Do you use the Run feature in Windows XP? The main reason most people don't use the Run feature is because they don't know the Commands. Getting used to using your keyboard exclusively and leaving your mouse behind will make you much more efficient at performing any task on any Windows system.

Type the following commands in your Run Box (Windows Key + R) or Start Run

• excel = Microsoft Excel (If Installed)
• msaccess = Microsoft Access (If Installed)
• powerpnt = Microsoft PowerPoint (If Installed)
• winword = Microsoft Word (If Installed)
• frontpg = Microsoft FrontPage (If Installed)
• notepad = Notepad
• wordpad = WordPad
• acrobat  =  Adobe Acrobat (if installed)
• charmap  =  Character Map
• calc = Calculator
• msmsgs = Windows Messenger
• mspaint = Microsoft Paint
• wmplayer = Windows Media Player
• rstrui = System Restore
• netscp6 = Netscape 6.x
• netscp = Netscape 7.x
• netscape = Netscape 4.x
• waol = America Online
• control = Opens the Control Panel
• control printers = Opens the Printers Dialog
• devmgmt.msc = Device Manager
• msinfo32 = System Information
• cleanmgr = Disk Cleanup
• ntbackup = Backup or Restore Wizard (Windows Backup Utility)
• mmc = Microsoft Management Console
• folders  =  Folders Properties
• fonts  =  Fonts control / Fonts Folder
• javaws  =  Java Control Panel (if installed)
• winchat  =  Microsoft Chat
• control netconnections  =  Network Connections
• ncpa.cpl  =  Network Connections
• netsetup.cpl  =  Network Setup Wizard
• regedit  =  Registry Editor
• regedit32  =  Registry Editor
• shutdown  =  Shuts Down Windows
• shutdown -a  =  Stop Shuts Down
• sysedit  =  System Configuration Editor
• msconfig  =  System Configuration Utility

Creating Your Own Run Commands

If you are like me, you will use a few programs very frequently. One way to make them start faster is to give them their own Run command:

   1. Win+R to open the Run dialog
   2. Enter %windir% to open the Windows directory
   3. Alt+F W S to open the File menu, choose the New menu item, then the Shortcut menu item
   4. Go through the wizard to create a shortcut to the desired program
   5. The name you give the shortcut is what you type in the Run dialog to start the program