WindowsXP: Useful and Categorized Run commands for daily tasks

If you are a WindowsXP user and want to get rid of the time taken to open utilities like “Add/Remove Programs”, “Remote Desktop” etc. then worry no more. I will be listing down a few but most useful Windows Run commands here which will simplify your tasks. It will also make you look cool when you will use your friends computers with all these commands at your fingertips.

To start the Run box, hold down the Windows key and hit R (or from the Start Menu, choose “Run.”) From there type any one of the keywords listed below to launch the corresponding application.

First, we will start with most widely known commands.

1. notepad : Starts windows notepad.
2. calc : Opens the calculator.
3. cmd : Opens the Command Prompt.
4. regedit : Opens the registry editor.
5. msconfig : System Configuration Utility (Open this to remove programs from your startup.)
6. dxdiag : DirectX Troubleshooter
7. mspaint : Opens Windows Paint.
8. pbrush : Also Opens Windows Paint. (Yeah! lesser known)
9. iexplore : Opens Internet explorer
10. iexplore <sitename> : Opens the location specified by sitename in IE (E.g iexplore http://gurus.wordpress.com)
11. firefox : Opens Firefox browser if it is installed.
12. firefox <sitename> : Opens the location specified by sitename in Firefox (E.g firefox http://gurus.wordpress.com)
13. explorer : Opens the Windows Explorer.

Now let us list down some lesser know but still useful Run commands.

1. desktop : Opens your desktop folder in Explorer.
2. charmap : Opens the Character Map.
3. chkdsk : Opens the Check Disk Utility.
4. clipbrd : Opens the Clipboard Viewer. (Use it to see the contents copied on your clipboard).
5. cleanmgr : Opens the Disk Cleanup Utility.
6. mstsc : For creating Remote Desktop connections.
7. mstsc /v <server_name> : For creating Remote Desktop connections with the machine specified by server_name.
8. winchat : Opens Microsoft Chat. (I didn’t know about this one earlier!)
9. sysedit : Opens System Configuration Editor.
10. taskmgr : Opens the Task Manager. (Ctrl + Alt + Del will be a better option)
11. magnify : Starts Windows Magnifier.
12. wab : Opens Windows Address Book.
13. wmplayer : Opens Windows Media Player.
14. msmsgs : Starts Windows Messenger.
15. helpctr : Starts Help and Support.
16. moviemk : Starts Microsoft Movie Maker
17. conf : Starts NetMeeting.
18. osk : Starts the On Screen Keyboard.
19. eudcedit : Starts Private Character Editor. (You will be amazed to try this!)
20. msinfo32 : Opens System Information.
21. winver : Displays information about windows version.

Followings are the ones which opens up in Microsoft Management Console (MMC). Note that all of them ends with “.msc”.

1. perfmon.msc : Opens Performance Monitor Utility (Really Cool!)
2. diskmgmt.msc : Opens Disk Management Utility.
3. gpedit.msc : Opens the Group Policy Editor on XP Prof
4. devmgmt.msc : Opens Device Manager Utility.
5. dfrg.msc : Opens Disk Defragment Utility.
6. services.msc : Opens the Services List.
7. fsmgmt.msc : Opens the Shared FoldersList.
8. eventvwr.msc : Opens the Windows Event Viewer.
9. lusrmgr.msc : Opens the Local Users and Groups

Followings are the ones which are used to open applications found in “Control Panel“. They are not hard to remember as all of them starts with the term “control“.

1. control : Opens the “Control Panel”.
2. control admintools : Opens the Administrative Tools section of Control Panel
3. control desktop : Opens the Display Properties panel.
4. control folders : Opens the Folders Properties panel.
5. control fonts : Opens the Fonts Folder. (just ‘fonts’ will also do he trick)
6. control keyboard : Opens Keyboard Properties panel.
7. control mouse : Opens Mouse Properties panel.
8. control netconnections : Opens the “Network Connections”.
9. control printers : Opens the “Printers and Faxes”.
10. control schedtasks : Opens “Scheduled Tasks”.

The followings are from Control Panel commands which ends with “.cpl”

1. appwiz.cpl : Opens Add/Remove Programs. (One of my favorite. Try it out now!)
2. hdwwiz.cpl : Opens Add Hardware Wizard.
3. access.cpl : Opens Accessibility Controls.
4. wuaucpl.cpl : Opens Automatic Updates.
5. inetcpl.cpl : Opens Internet Properties.
6. netsetup.cpl : Opens Network Setup Wizard.
7. wscui.cpl : Opens Windows Security Center.
8. mmsys.cpl : Opens Sounds and Audio.
9. sysdm.cpl : Opens System Properties.
10. nusrmgr.cp : Opens User Account Management.
11. firewall.cpl : Opens Windows Firewall Options.
12. timedate.cpl : Opens Date and Time Properties.

Followings are the shortcuts for the Windows games.

1. winmine : Starts Minesweeper Game.
2. mshearts : Starts the Hearts Card Game.
3. spider : Starts Spider Solitare Card Game.
4. freecell : Starts Free Cell Card Game.
5. pinball : Starts the Pinball Game.

Followings are the commands to start some of your favorite applications, which do not come pre-installed on windows. (Note: These commands will work only if you have the corresponding applications installed on your system.)

1. excel : Starts Microsoft Excel.
2. frontpg : Starts Microsoft Frontpage.
3. winword : Starts Microsoft Word.
4. powerpnt : Starts Microsoft Powerpoint
5. outlook : Starts Microsoft Outlook.
6. acrobat : Starts Adobe Acrobat.
7. imageready : Starts Adobe ImageReady.
8. photoshop : Starts Adobe Photoshop.
9. nero : Starts Nero Burning ROM.
10. msimn : Starts Outlook Express.
11. realplay : Starts Real Player.

NOTE 1: The commands I have listed here have been chosen and categorized based on their usefulness and frequency of use in a normal day to day use of WindowsXP by an average user. If you need a more exhaustive list of commands, please see Useful Run Commands for WindXP on FixMyXP.

NOTE 2: If you have Windows Vista then take a look at this.

NOTE 3: It took me more than 4 hours to categorize the commands and compile this post.

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