What Commands can you type into your run window - Tips4pc.com offers free computer help

The Windows Run command dialog box is an extremely useful tool as it can open just about anything you want. You just have to know the special commands to type in.

You can get to the RUN dialog box by pressing the Windows key and R.

In Windows XP go to Start Button and open Run from there. In Windows Vista go to the start icon in the left corner and when the start menu appears type in the bar at the bottom.

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Here are some handy commands to try out.

My favorites are marked with ********

Run Commands	What they do
mstsc********	Brings up a Remote Desktop connection box
services.msc	Displays the services that are running on your computer.
Desktop	Displays the desktop folder which contains that icons shown on the actual desktop.
control userpasswords	shows your Windows User accounts
http://www.tips4pc.com	Opens Internet Explorer and goes straight to my webpage...LOL
gpedit.msc	Brings up the Local Computer Policy
iexplore	opens Internet Explorer
notepad	Brings up a blank notepad
regedit********	brings up the registry to edit
msconfig	displays the system configuration utility where you can edit your startup programs
c:	Opens C drive or type the letter of another drive to open that particular one.
Control	*Displays Control Panel*
Control mouse	*Used to control mouse properties*
Chkdsk	*Repair damaged files*
Cleanmgr	*Cleans up hard drives*
Clipbrd********	*Windows Clipboard viewer*
Cmd********	Opens a Command Window (dos)
\\10.0.0.1 ********	It will display the shared files on another computer on your network (replace 10.0.0.1 with the IP address of the computer you want to access.)
\\mitz********	It will display the shared files on another computer on your network (replace mitz with the name of the computer you want to access.)
Sendto********	Displays the folder that contains the items in your send to menu. You can put a shortcut in here and it will appear in the sendto menu.
fsmgmt.msc	Views your computers shared folders
shutdown	Shuts down Windows
Charmap	*Character Map*
Cfgwiz32	*ISDN Configuration Wizard*
Calc	*Calculator*
sysdm.cpl	Opens System Properties
taskmgr	Opens task manager
appwiz.cpl	Used to run Add/Remove wizard
wupdmgr	Windows Update Website Launches (make sure you have a genuine copy of Windows)
wuaucpl.cpl	Opens Windows Automatic Update Settings Dialog box
winver	Shows you which version of Windows your computer is running
winword	Opens Microsoft word
control admintools	Administrative Tools which have Computer management, Services, and more
devmgmt.msc	Device Manager
control desktop	Display Properties
verifier	Driver Verifier Utility
control folders********	Folders Properties
fonts	Opens Windows fonts folder
inetcpl.cpl ********	Internet Properties
inetwiz	Internet Setup Wizard
logoff	Logs You Out Of Windows and takes you to the sign in screen
label	Shows the label or name of your drive.
mspaint	Opens the Windows paint program
ncpa.cpl********	Network Connections
netsetup.cpl	Network Setup Wizard
osk	Onscreen keyboard appears
msimn	Opens Outlook Express email program
printers	Opens the Windows printer folder
intl.cpl	Regional Settings
mmsys.cpl	Sounds and Audio
msinfo32	Access to Windows system information
wab********	Brings up Windows Address Book.. Do not have to open other programs to get there.
Wabmig	Displays Import Address book box
wabmig	Windows Address Book Import Utility
ntbackup	Open Windows Backup Wizard. Usually in Windows XP Professional.
tourstart	Windows XP Tour Wizard
... (3 dots)********	Opens My Computer. This one is very cool and fast.
.	Opens C:\documents and settings\your user name
.. (full stop)	Opens C:\documents and settings
"	Opens C:\documents and settings\your user name
temp	Shows C:\Windows\temp folder
%temp%********	Shows all temporary files and folders on your computer..AHHH there are heaps!!!
dfrg.msc	Disk defrag
restore	Opens the restore folder where you can click on the .exe file to start system restore
accwiz	Accessibility wizard appears
dvdplay	Opens Media player
dxdiag	Opens a direct x utility
eudcedit	Private character editor
fsquirt	Bluetooth wizard
netsetup	Network setup wizard
rasphone	Dial up networking wizard
scrnsave.scr	Shows your screensaver
sysedit	System configuration utility
wiaacmgr	Scanner and camera wizard
recent********	Shows recent documents (as I do not have them pinned to my menu for everyone to see..
%systemroot%********	Opens the Windows Folder
diskmgmt.msc	Brings up disk management.. Handy to label hard drives etc
compmgmt.msc	Opens computer management
timedate.cpl	Shows the date and time dialog box

Notes:

Be sure to check this list out thoroughly as some of these shortcuts can be very handy and a lot quicker to open or start most programs.
Even if you just use the 3 dots to open My Computer, this list would have fulfilled its purpose.
Your files and folders need to be in their default location for these commands to work. For example if my documents is on another drive it will not find it unless you change the registry settings.
To remove the history from your run window you need to clean all the values from the HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU\ key in the registry.
You also can put shortcuts into C:\Windows\System32 and then type in the name of the shortcut in the run bar and it will work
Sometimes when you put a command into the run window the Windows cmd window flashes and closes before you can see it. Try typing cmd /k before the command and the window will stay there. For example cmd /k ipconfig
Try typing net use and it doesn't work. Then type cmd /k net use

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