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If you like to use shortcuts to get tasks done in the most efficient way, there is a large collection of commands you can run from the run dialog (XP/Vista/7) or the Start Menu (in Windows Vista/7.) In this guide, I’ll show you how to run the commands and what effect they have.
Where to Run Commands
Note: see below for an even quicker method for Windows Vista/7.
To run the commands, listed below, in Windows XP (can also be used in Windows Vista/7):
1. Click the Start button and click Run (or press Winkey+R):
2. Type the command in the Run dialog and click OK (or press Enter.)
To run the commands, listed below, in Windows Vista/7, you can also use the Start Menu search function:
Press the Start button (or press the Winkey), type the command, and press Enter.
Environment Variables
Environment variables can be used to open common folders in Windows. You can even append strings to the end of an environment variable to go directly to a folder i.e. %UserProfile%\Music
| Command | Launches |
| %ALLUSERSPROFlLE% | Open the All User’s Profile |
| %HomeDrive% | Opens your home drive e.g. C:\ |
| %UserProfile% | Opens your user profile |
| %temp% | Opens the temporary file folder |
| %systemroot% | Opens the Windows folder |
Commands to Run
Most of the commands, listed below, will work; however, some commands such as QuickTime.cpl (requires Quick Time) or gpedit.msc (requires Business, Professional, or Ultimate Windows versions) may not run depending on installed components, Windows versions, Windows editions etc.
| Command | Launches |
| access.cpl | Accessibility Controls |
| hdwwiz.cpl | Add Hardware Wizard |
| appwiz.cpl | Add/ Remove Programs |
| control admintools | Administrative Tools |
| wuaucpl.cpl | Automatic Updates |
| fsquirt | Bluetooth Transfer wizard |
| calc | Calculator |
| certmgr.msc | Certificate Manager |
| charmap | Character Map |
| chkdsk | Check Disk Utility |
| clipbrd | Clipboard Viewer |
| cmd | Command Prompt |
| dcomcnfg | Component Services |
| compmgmt.msc | Computer Management |
| control panel | Control Panel |
| timedate.cpl | Date and Time Properties |
| ddeshare | DDE Share |
| devmgmt.msc | Device Manager |
| directx.cpl | Direct X Control Panel |
| dxdiag | Direct X Troubleshooter |
| cleanmgr | Disk Cleanup Utility |
| dfrg.msc | Disk Defragment |
| diskmgmt.msc | Disk Management |
| diskpart | Disk Partition Manager |
| control desktop | Display Properties |
| desk.cpl | Display Properties |
| control color | Display Properties |
| dn/vtsn32 | Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility |
| verifier | Driver Verifier Utility |
| eventvwr.msc | Event Viewer |
| sigverif | File Signature Verification Tool |
| findfast.cpl | Findfast |
| control folders | Folders Properties |
| control fonts | Fonts |
| fonts | Fonts Folder |
| freecell | Free Cell Card Game |
| joy.cpl | Game Controllers |
| gpedit.msc | Group Policy Editor (XP Prof) |
| mshearts | Hearts Card Game |
| iexpress | Iexpress wizard |
| ciadv.msc | Indexing Service |
| inetcpl.cpl | Internet Properties |
| Iexplore | Internet Explorer |
| ipconfig / all | IP Configuration (Connection Configuration) |
| ipconfig/displaydns | IP Config (DNS Cache Contents) |
| ipconfig/flushdns | IP Config (Delete DNS Cache Contents) |
| ipconfig / release | IP Config (Release All Connections) |
| ipconfig / renew | IP Config(Renew All Connections) |
| ipconfig/registerdns | IP Config (Refresh DHCP & Re~Registers DNS) |
| ipconfig/showclassid | IP Config (Display DHCP Class ID) |
| ipconfig/setclassid | IP Config(Modifies DHCP Class ID) |
| jpicpl32.cpl | Java Control Panel (lflnstalled) |
| javaws | Java Control Panel (lflnstalled) |
| toy.cpl | Joystick Properties |
| control keyboard | Keyboard Properties |
| main.cpl keyboard | Keyboard Properties |
| secpol.msc | Local Security Settings |
| lusrmgr.msc | Local Users and Groups |
| logoff | Logs You Out Of Windows |
| winchat | Microsoft Chat |
| winmine | Minesweeper Game |
| control mouse | Mouse Properties |
| main.cpl | Mouse Properties |
| control netconnections | Network Connections |
| ncpa.cpl | Network Connections |
| netsetup.cpl | Network Setup Wizard |
| notepad | Notepad |
| nvtuicpl.cpl | Nview Desktop Manager(If Installed) |
| packager | Object Packager |
| odbccp32.cpl | ODBC Data Source Administrator |
| osk | On Screen Keyboard |
| ac3filter.cpl | OpensAC3 Filter(If Installed) |
| password.cpl | Password Properties |
| perfmon.msc | Performance Monitor |
| perfmon | Performance Monitor |
| telephon.cpl | Phone and Modem Options |
| powercfg.cpl | Power Management |
| control printers | Printers and Faxes |
| printers | Printers Folder |
| eudcedit | Private Character Editor |
| QuickTime.cpl | Quicktime (lf lnstalled) |
| intl.cpl | Regional Settings |
| regedit | Registry Editor |
| regedit32 | Registry Editor |
| mstsc | Remote Desktop |
| ntmsmgr.msc | Removable Storage |
| ntmsoprq.msc | Removable Storage Operator Requests |
| rsop.msc | Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof) |
| sticpl.cpl | Scanners and Cameras |
| control schedtasks | Scheduled Tasks |
| wscui.cpl | Security Center |
| services.msc | Services |
| fsmgmt.msc | Shared Folders |
| shutdown | Shuts Down Windows |
| mmsys.cpl | Sounds and Audio |
| spider | Spider Solitare Card Game |
| cliconfg | SQL Client Configuration |
| sysedit | System Configuration Editor |
| msconfig | System Configuration Utility |
| sfc/scannow | System File Checker(Scan Immediately) |
| sfc/scanonce | System FC (Scan Once At Next Boot) |
| sfc/scanboot | System FC (Scan On Every Boot) |
| sfc / revert | System FC (Return to Default Setting) |
| sfc/purgecache | System FC (Purge File Cache) |
| sfc/cachesize=x | System FC (Set Cache Size to size x) |
| sysdm.cpl | System Properties |
| Taskmgr | Task Manager |
| nusrmgr.cpl | User Account Management |
| utilman | Utility Manager |
| explorer | Windows Explorer |
| firewall.cpl | Windows Firewall |
| magnify | Windows Magnifier |
| wmimgmt.msc | Windows Management lnfrastructure |
| syskey | Windows System Security Tool |
| wupdmgr | Windows Update Launches |
| winver | Windows Version |
| tourstart | Windows XP Tour Wizard |
| Write | Wordpad |
Which commands did I miss? Let us know in the comments.
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