The “RUN” command, or as some purists say the “Command Line”, is a way to access features of your Windows operating system directly – without using the Start Menu, Control Panel, etc.. You can blaze right to “Mouse Settings” without going through the Control Panel for instance. But, if you don’t know the command you can’t do it. With that in mind here is a list of some of the command you can use in the “RUN” dialog to access Windows programs and features. Keep in mind this is not a complete list by any means, but it contains some that you might find useful.
In Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, you can get right to Run command by pressing the Windows Key plus the “R” key. When the Run command line opens, type in one of the following commands and press “Enter”. Keep in mind that most of these commands work in Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7; some however, will work in one but not the others. So try them no matter which version of Windows you’re using.
Accessibility Controls – access.cpl (Does not work on Windows 7)
Accessibility Wizard – accwiz
Add/Remove Programs – appwiz.cpl
Administrative Tools – control admintools
Automatic Updates – wuaucpl.cpl
Calculator – calc
Character Map – charmap
Check Disk Utility – chkdsk
Clipboard Viewer – clipbrd
Command Prompt – cmd
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 Defragment – dfrg.msc
Disk Management – diskmgmt.msc
Disk Partition Manager – diskpart
Display Properties – control desktop
Display Properties – desk.cpl
Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility – drwtsn32
Driver Verifier Utility – verifier
Event Viewer – eventvwr.msc
Files and Settings Transfer Tool – migwiz
Firefox – firefox
Folders Properties – control folders
Fonts – control fonts
Fonts Folder – fonts
Help and Support – helpctr
Internet Explorer – iexplore
Internet Properties – inetcpl.cpl
Keyboard Properties – control keyboard
Log Out Of Windows – logoff
Malicious Software Removal Tool – mrt
Microsoft Movie Maker – moviemk
Microsoft Paint – mspaint
Mouse Properties – control mouse
Mouse Properties – main.cpl
Network Connections – ncpa.cpl
Network Setup Wizard – netsetup.cpl
Notepad notepad
On Screen Keyboard – osk
Outlook Express – msimn
Paint – pbrush
Performance Monitor – perfmon
Power Configuration – powercfg.cpl
Printers and Faxes – control printers
Printers Folder – printers
Registry Editor – regedit
Scheduled Tasks – control schedtasks
Security Center – wscui.cpl
Shut Down Windows – shutdown
Sounds and Audio – mmsys.cpl
System Configuration Editor – sysedit
System Configuration Utility – msconfig
System Information – msinfo32
System Properties – sysdm.cpl
Task Manager – taskmgr
User Account Management – nusrmgr.cpl
Utility Manager – utilman
Windows Address Book – wab
Windows Explorer – explorer
Windows Firewall – firewall.cpl
Windows Magnifier – magnify
Windows Media Player – wmplayer
Windows System Security Tool – syskey
Windows Update Launcher – wupdmgr
Windows Version – winver
Wordpad – write
Remember some of these do not work on all versions of Windows – but many of them work on all versions of Windows. So try them and you’ll learn a new way of getting where you want to go.