Useful Run Commands For Windows Vista and XP

Filed in » Featured, Shortcuts and Automation

Useful Run Commands For Windows Vista and XP

Submitted by Alvin Nyau on 8, 2008 View Comments

Like everyone said, time is gold. Every single second is precious and time is not to be wasted. Do you notice that sometimes we actually used up to 10 seconds to open a windows program? With today tip, you can probably open any programs in less than 5 seconds. So now I’m going to show you a list of general and common commands that you can use in the Run option from the start menu (Start > Run box). I consider this tip somewhat advanced, but if you get this into your head early on and spend more time familiarizing yourself, you can be a PRO in computing shortcuts!

This list is quite long and extensive. If you can’t memorize all these right away, you can always come back here and check out the commands you need when you wish to open certain windows programs. (Bookmark this page!)

Additional Advice: I strongly recommend you to use SlickRun. SlickRun is simply another “run option” that is much more simple to use.

SlickRun is a free floating command line utility for Windows. SlickRun gives you almost instant access to any program or website. SlickRun allows you to create command aliases (known as MagicWords), so C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe becomes MAIL.

Enter a web URL into SlickRun and it will launch your browser and navigate to the specified address. Run multiple programs in a few keystrokes, jot a note, look up a definition… SlickRun is the most natural way to interact with your computer.

Alright, here we go.

Run Commands that can be used in both “Windows Vista” and “Windows XP”:

To open…	Run Commands…
MSN Messenger (If installed)	msnmsgr
Accessibility Options	control access.cpl
Add Hardware Wizard	hdwwiz.cpl
Add or Remove Programs	appwiz.cpl
Add/Remove Programs with Add New Programs Preselected	control appwiz.cpl,,1
Add/Remove Programs with Add Remove Windows Components Preselected	control appwiz.cpl,,2
Add/Remove Programs with Set Program Access & Defaults Preselected	control appwiz.cpl,,3
Administrative Tools	control admintools
Adobe ImageReady (if installed)	imageready
Adobe Photoshop (if installed)	photoshop
Calculator	calc
Certificate Manager	certmgr.msc
Character Map	charmap
Command Prompt	cmd
Component Services	dcomcnfg
Computer Management	compmgmt.msc
Control Panel	control
Date and Time Properties	timedate.cpl
Device Manager	devmgmt.msc
Direct X Troubleshooter	dxdiag
Disk Cleanup Utility	cleanmgr
Disk Management	diskmgmt.msc
Disk Partition Manager	diskpart
Display Properties	control desktop
Display Properties	desk.cpl
Display Properties with Appearance Tab Preselected	control color
Driver Verifier Utility	verifier
DVD Player	dvdplay
Event Viewer	eventvwr.msc
File Signature Verification Tool	sigverif
Files and Settings Transfer Tool	migwiz
Firefox (if installed)	firefox
Fonts Folder	fonts
Fonts options	control fonts
Game Controllers	joy.cpl
Iexpress (Self Extracting Package Creator)	iexpress
Iexpress Wizard	iexpress
Internet Explorer	iexplore
Internet Properties	inetcpl.cpl
Java Web Start	javaws
Keyboard Properties	control keyboard
Logs You Out Of Windows	logoff
Microsoft Access (if installed)	msaccess
Microsoft Excel (if installed)	excel
Microsoft Frontpage (if installed)	frontpg
Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool	mrt
Microsoft Movie Maker	moviemk
Microsoft Paint	mspaint
Microsoft Powerpoint (if installed)	powerpnt
Microsoft Word (if installed)	winword
Mouse Properties	main.cpl
Mouse Properties	control mouse
Nero (if installed)	nero
Network Connections	control netconnections
Network Connections	ncpa.cpl
Notepad	notepad
ODBC Data Source Administrator	odbcad32
On Screen Keyboard (interesting tool!)	osk
Outlook Express	msimn
Paint	pbrush
Phone and Modem Options	telephon.cpl
Phone Dialer	dialer
Power Configuration	powercfg.cpl
Printers and Faxes	control printers
Private Character Editor	eudcedit
Quicktime Player (if installed)	quicktimeplayer
Quicktime (If Installed)	QuickTime.cpl
Real Player (if installed)	realplay
Regional Settings	intl.cpl
Registry Editor	regedit
Registry Editor	regedt32
Reliability and Performance Monitor	perfmon.msc
Remote Access Phonebook	rasphone
Remote Desktop	mstsc
Scheduled Tasks	control schedtasks
Services	services.msc
Shared Creation Wizard	shrpubw
Shared Folders	fsmgmt.msc
Shuts Down Windows	shutdown
Sounds and Audio Properties	mmsys.cpl
SQL Client Configuration	cliconfg
Sync Center	mobsync
Syncronization Tool	mobsync
System Configuration Editor	sysedit
System Configuration Utility	msconfig
System Information	msinfo32
System Properties	sysdm.cpl
Task Manager	taskmgr
Telnet Client	telnet
Tweak UI (if installed)	tweakui
Utility Manager	utilman
Windows Address Book (Contacts)	wab
Windows Address Book Import Utility	wabmig
Windows exprorer(It shows me Documents)	explorer
Windows Firewall	firewall.cpl
Windows Magnifier (Try this out!)	magnify
Windows Management Infrastructure	wmimgmt.msc
Windows Media Player	wmplayer
Windows Picture Import Wizard (require camera connected)	wiaacmgr
Windows Security Center	wscui.cpl
Windows System Security Tool	syskey
Windows Version (About your Windows)	winver
Wordpad	write

Run Commands that are usable in only “Windows Vista”:

To open…	Run Commands…
Adapter Troubleshooter	AdapterTroubleshooter
Advanced User Accounts Control Panel	Netplwiz
Authorization Manager	azman.msc
Back up or Restore your stored User Names and Passwords	credwiz
Backup Status and Utility	sdclt
Color Management	colorcpl
Computer Management Snapin Launcher	CompMgmtLauncher
Disk Defragmenter	dfrgui
Ditilizer Calibration Tool	tabcal
DPI Scaling	dpiscaling
Driver Package Installer	dpinst
Firewall Control Panel	FirewallControlPanel
Firewall Settings	FirewallSettings
iSCSI Initiator	iscsicpl
Language Pack Installer	lpksetup
Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool	msdt
Problem Reports and Solutions	wercon
Remote Assistance	msra
Software Licensing (Windows Activation)	slui
Sound Recorder	soundrecorder
Sound Volume	sndvol
System Properties (Advanced tab preselected)	SystemPropertiesAdvanced
System Properties (Computer Name tab preselected)	SystemPropertiesComputerName
System Properties (Data Execution Prevention preselected)	SystemPropertiesDataExecutionPrevention
System Properties (Hardware options preselected)	SystemPropertiesHardware
System Properties (Performance options preselected)	SystemPropertiesPerformance
System Properties (Protection options preselected)	SystemPropertiesProtection
System Properties (Remote options preselected)	SystemPropertiesRemote
Trusted Platform Module Initialization Wizard	TpmInit
Windows Features	optionalfeatures
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security	wf.msc
Windows Image Acquisition (only if you have a scanner)	wiaacmgr
Windows Mobility Center (Only For Mobile PC)	mblctr
Windows Update Application	wuapp
Windows Update Standalone Installer	wusa

Run Commands that are usable in only “Windows XP”:

To open…	Run Commands…
Check Disk Utility	chkdsk
Group Policy Editor (XP Prof)	gpedit.msc
Local Security Settings	secpol.msc
Local Users and Groups	lusrmgr.msc
Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof)	rsop.msc
Windows XP Tour Wizard	tourstart

I consider this tip to be one of the most successful I have ever written. So, be sure you bookmark this tip or add this post to any of your social bookmarking sites using the links below.

tip to your friends!

Subscribe, Follow, and Like!

Enjoy the article so far? Be the first to our articles and get latest updates on useful tips, tricks, freebies and more!

Free Tips and Ebooks

Please check junk folder for activation link.

By subscribing to us, you're entitled to get:
1. Daily computer tips updates
2. One free ebook per month
3. Free giveaways every now and then
Your email privacy is 100% guaranteed.

View Comments to "Useful Run Commands For Windows Vista and XP" - Add Yours »

Rizal said:

Typo: the command for “Windows explorer (It shows me Documents)” should be “explorer” instead of “explore”

8, 2008 at 10:11 am

Rizal said:

SlickRun (http://www.bayden.com/SlickRun) can also save you a lot of time. You can configure the keystrokes you want it to recognize for even faster launches.

8, 2008 at 10:23 am

Alvin Nyau said:

Thanks for the correction and the sharing of SlickRun! I really appreciate it.

8, 2008 at 2:49 pm

JuMz said:

Launchy 2.0 is something very similar to SlickRun. If you have used spotlight on the mac, you will love Launchy.

http://www.launchy.net/

8, 2008 at 4:52 am

Doug Rosbury said:

Time is your slave holder. You are it’s slave as well as a slave to the money that comes with it. The only existence time has is as
the illusion that it is real. No one, therefore, is free who believes
that they are human and belong in this physical realm.
As long as you believe time is real, you are not free.—Doug [?]

27, 2008 at 12:30 am

Keith Park said:

Thanks for this very useful list of run commands.

There have been a lot of times in the past when trying to access items like the control panel and add/rem programs on a sow unresponsive m/c has take a long time, these commands im sure will reduce the time

thx aagin

Keith

11, 2008 at 4:20 am

Dancing Monkey Mania » Blog Archive » links for 2008-10-01 said:

[...] Useful Run Commands For Windows Vista and XP (tags: reference utilities windows) [...]

1, 2008 at 4:01 pm

Willem said:

Interesting web page is, i\’ll see you later one more timeI

28, 2008 at 7:58 pm

David Latapie said:

Thank you for this!

12, 2008 at 9:57 pm

Chris said:

You might want to add the command for Microsoft Project which is “winproj” for XP (should be the same for Vista I would think).

1, 2009 at 12:32 am

ranjan said:

this site is very good

25, 2009 at 4:40 pm

Bill Woodbury said:

Don’t forget ipconfig/renew. Can be very useful in case of power outages or serious “blips”, etc. I know works for XP;haven’t tried on Vista yet. I use both with a tray system.

15, 2009 at 11:27 pm

Tech Blog Wanierke » Blog Archive » Useful Run Commands For Windows Vista/XP/2008 said:

[...] http://www.computertipsfree.com/computer-tips/shortcuts/useful-run-commands-for-windows-vista-and-xp/ [...]

24, 2009 at 12:00 am

nazrul islam said:

well sir … its very good and useful for everyone… like me i cant remember all the commands every time.. if i need i will come bak to u ..n i will prefer my friends to visit this site.
thank you…
nazrul islam
IT ENGINEER

20, 2009 at 9:37 am

Mr. Jade Cadelina said:

Thanks for compiling all these commands. Reminds me of MS DOS on a PC before Windows or using SCO Unix.

They are not really short cuts because the user has to type the commands compared to a GUI interface where you move & click a selection.

9, 2009 at 9:57 am

Christian Castelli said:

Good resource! Thx

9, 2009 at 4:50 pm

Espectacular Shell / Prompt / Command / CMD / DOS de Windows. | said:

[...] Tenes una lista de muchisimos comandos que se pueden tipear desde consola. La lista completisima aca [...]

9, 2009 at 11:01 pm

Alvin Nyau said:

All the above comments are very much appreciated!

26, 2010 at 3:11 am

Gordon Freeman said:

gpedit.msc – Group Policy Editor and secpol.msc – Local Security Policy Editor are certainly not just limited to Windows XP Pro. They are available in Vista Enterprise, Business and Ultimate as well as 7 Enterprise, Professional and Ultimate.

Great lists however.

5, 2010 at 1:45 am

sudeep said:

very nice [haha] [smiling]
lets ya know ol kinds of run commands
very impressive
I really appreciate the site
keep on doing the good work

18, 2010 at 1:39 am

Alvin Nyau (author) said:

@sudeep

It’s really sweet to hear that from you! Thank you for visitting!

19, 2010 at 9:15 am