Skip to content

Fix My XP

Increase font size  Decrease font size  Default font size 
You are here:    Home arrow XP Fixes arrow 156 Useful Run Commands

Login

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
November 21, 2008, 12:59:34 PM
Username: Password:
Login with username, password and session length

Forgot your password?
forumhelpmodule.jpg

Translate

 

156 Useful Run Commands Print
Written by windowsxp550   
Monday, 11 April 2005
Please Enter New Tags Separated By Comma's
  Or Close

clearmem  cmd  Keyboard  msconfig  passwords  Regedit  run  run commands  run unde?  services  start up  start up menue  Windows Media Player 

Image About a year ago now, I wrote an article for FixMyXP, called 99 Useful Run Commands. Over the course of the year, this article has brought in an enormous amount of traffic and really put FixMyXP on the map, over 140,000 hits.  This article even has been plagerized numerous times (other websites copying and pasting into their websites, and claiming it as their own).   Because there was so much interest in this topic, I revisited it a few times (raising the total number of Run Commands from 99 to 113).  I felt it was time again, to update.  I was suprised that I was able to add an addtional 43 more Run Commands, bringing the total to 156!   I hope you enjoy!

Added on 02/23/07: With the release of Windows Vista, the Run Commands list has increased. If you have Windows Vista, take a look at my other site FixMyVista.com. Look for the article 177 Run Commands

Do you use the Run feature in Windows XP?  For most, this feature remains unused (or rarely used).  Why is that?   Well, First off nearly all of the Run Commands Correspond to a particular Control Panel Item or a Utility, Tool or Task that can be accessed through Windows.    There are, however, tools and utilities that I bet you never knew you had that can be accessed through the Run feature.   The main reason most people don't use the Run feature is because they don't know the Commands.  So, to solve that problem, I decided to put together the following listing, which lists 99 Run Commands and what they correspond too...

11/27/05
Added 16 Additional Run Command, Highlighted in Blue.
Removed 2 Duplicates.
Total :  113 Run Commands

3/18/06
Added 2 Additional Run Commands, Highlighted in Green.
Removed 1 Duplicate.
Total :  114 Run Commands

3/27/06
Added 42 Additional Run Commands, Highlighted in Yellow.
Total :  156 Run Commands

 

 newsletter.gif

 
To Access…. Run Command

Accessibility Controls  

access.cpl  

Accessibility Wizard  

accwiz  

Add Hardware Wizard

hdwwiz.cpl 

Add/Remove Programs 

appwiz.cpl 

Administrative Tools

control admintools 

Adobe Acrobat (if installed)  

acrobat  

Adobe Designer (if installed)  

acrodist  

Adobe Distiller (if installed)  

acrodist  

Adobe ImageReady (if installed)  

imageready  

Adobe Photoshop (if installed)  

photoshop  

Automatic Updates

wuaucpl.cpl

Bluetooth Transfer Wizard

fsquirt

Calculator

calc

Certificate Manager

certmgr.msc

Character Map

charmap

Check Disk Utility

chkdsk

Clipboard Viewer

clipbrd

Command Prompt

cmd

Component Services

dcomcnfg

Computer Management

compmgmt.msc

Control Panel  

control  

Date and Time Properties 

timedate.cpl 

DDE Shares

ddeshare

Device Manager

devmgmt.msc

Direct X Control Panel (If Installed)*

directx.cpl

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

Display Properties (w/Appearance Tab Preselected)

control color 

Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility

drwtsn32

Driver Verifier Utility

verifier

Event Viewer

eventvwr.msc

Files and Settings Transfer Tool  

migwiz  

File Signature Verification Tool

sigverif

Findfast

findfast.cpl

Firefox (if installed)  

firefox  

Folders Properties

control folders

Fonts

control fonts 

Fonts Folder

fonts

Free Cell Card Game

freecell

Game Controllers 

joy.cpl 

Group Policy Editor (XP Prof)

gpedit.msc

Hearts Card Game

mshearts

Help and Support  

helpctr  

HyperTerminal  

hypertrm  

Iexpress Wizard

iexpress

Indexing Service

ciadv.msc

Internet Connection Wizard  

icwconn1  

Internet Explorer  

iexplore  

Internet Properties 

inetcpl.cpl 

Internet Setup Wizard  

inetwiz  

IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration) ipconfig /all
IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents) ipconfig /displaydns
IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents) ipconfig /flushdns
IP Configuration (Release All Connections) ipconfig /release
IP Configuration (Renew All Connections) ipconfig /renew
IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS) ipconfig /registerdns
IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID) ipconfig /showclassid
IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID) ipconfig /setclassid

Java Control Panel (If Installed)

jpicpl32.cpl

Java Control Panel (If Installed)

javaws

Keyboard Properties

control keyboard 

Local Security Settings

secpol.msc

Local Users and Groups

lusrmgr.msc

Logs You Out Of Windows

logoff

Malicious Software Removal Tool  

mrt  

Microsoft Access (if installed)  

access.cpl  

Microsoft Chat

winchat

Microsoft Excel (if installed)  

excel  

Microsoft Frontpage (if installed)  

frontpg  

Microsoft Movie Maker  

moviemk  

Microsoft Paint  

mspaint  

Microsoft Powerpoint (if installed)  

powerpnt  

Microsoft Word (if installed)  

winword  

Microsoft Syncronization Tool  

mobsync  

Minesweeper Game

winmine

Mouse Properties

control mouse 

Mouse Properties

main.cpl

Nero (if installed)  

nero  

Netmeeting  

conf  

Network Connections

control netconnections 

Network Connections

ncpa.cpl 

Network Setup Wizard

netsetup.cpl

Notepad notepad

Nview Desktop Manager (If Installed)

nvtuicpl.cpl

Object Packager

packager

ODBC Data Source Administrator

odbccp32.cpl

On Screen Keyboard

osk

Opens AC3 Filter (If Installed)

ac3filter.cpl

Outlook Express  

msimn  

Paint  

pbrush  

Password Properties

password.cpl

Performance Monitor

perfmon.msc

Performance Monitor

perfmon

Phone and Modem Options 

telephon.cpl 

Phone Dialer  

dialer  

Pinball Game  

pinball  

Power Configuration 

powercfg.cpl 

Printers and Faxes

control printers 

Printers Folder

printers

Private Character Editor

eudcedit

Quicktime (If Installed)

QuickTime.cpl

Quicktime Player (if installed)  

quicktimeplayer  

Real Player (if installed)  

realplay  

Regional Settings 

intl.cpl 

Registry Editor

regedit

Registry Editor

regedit32

Remote Access Phonebook  

rasphone  

Remote Desktop mstsc

Removable Storage

ntmsmgr.msc

Removable Storage Operator Requests

ntmsoprq.msc

Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof)

rsop.msc

Scanners and Cameras

sticpl.cpl

Scheduled Tasks

control schedtasks 

Security Center

wscui.cpl

Services

services.msc

Shared Folders

fsmgmt.msc

Shuts Down Windows

shutdown

Sounds and Audio 

mmsys.cpl 

Spider Solitare Card Game

spider

SQL Client Configuration

cliconfg

System Configuration Editor

sysedit

System Configuration Utility

msconfig

System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately) sfc /scannow
System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot) sfc /scanonce
System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot) sfc /scanboot
System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Setting) sfc /revert
System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache) sfc /purgecache

System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to size x)

sfc /cachesize=x

System Information  

msinfo32  

System Properties 

sysdm.cpl 

Task Manager

taskmgr

TCP Tester  

tcptest  

Telnet Client

telnet

Tweak UI (if installed)  

tweakui  

User Account Management

nusrmgr.cpl

Utility Manager

utilman

Windows Address Book  

wab  

Windows Address Book Import Utility   

wabmig  

Windows Backup Utility (if installed)  

ntbackup  

Windows Explorer  

explorer  

Windows Firewall

firewall.cpl

Windows Magnifier

magnify

Windows Management Infrastructure

wmimgmt.msc

Windows Media Player  

wmplayer  

Windows Messenger  

msmsgs  

Windows Picture Import Wizard (need camera connected)  

wiaacmgr  

Windows System Security Tool

syskey

Windows Update Launches

wupdmgr

Windows Version (to show which version of windows)  

winver  

Windows XP Tour Wizard

tourstart

Wordpad

write

 









 
 

Comments (245)Add Comment
good
written by rahulzankar, April 03, 2008
this is good help. ppl should come with help like ths. smilies/smiley.gif
Got another one for you...
written by Guest, March 28, 2008
Type "outlook" to open Microsoft Outlook.
could u help me out
written by knocked up, March 24, 2008
i am developing a project and need to use the run commands. the list u have provided is great... but i wanna know if there is any command to run winamp????
Please help!!!!
Thanks for the list..
Wonderful
written by Moovendan, March 05, 2008
this is amazing stuff which can reduce the work time. Thank u so much.
Networking command error
written by U can't c me. My tym is up, February 03, 2008
Hi all,
Got probs with my networking command. MS-DoS is working fine even now but ipconfig /all, net view, tracert and other networking utilities cmd is not working both using wireless and wired connection. Internet connection is working fine and so is my windows vista home premium. Advice me plz what to do plz!!!! my email add: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thanks smilies/cool.gif
Love it!
written by Sadham Hussein, January 24, 2008
Nice job man! You don't get to see masterpieces like this everyday!
Really very usefull
written by Abhi, January 24, 2008
Hi,

your done a great job
Thanks for your team members


Abhi
Lan activities
written by Viswanathan sundararajan, January 24, 2008
I have a LAN connection,wherein I used to check LAN activity status every now and then. While "sent packet" numbers gradually increase , the "received packet" numbers do not register any progress. With the result downloading of mails in my outlook express and browsing are considerably affected. can you please guide me as to whether anything has to be done at my end.

Yours sincerely,
v.sundararajan
Wireless network connection status
written by Patchx, January 23, 2008
Hi,

I am trying to put together an autorun disk for where i work and i was wondering if you knew of a run command that would open the Wireless network connection status window only? not all network connections just for the wireless. Also is there a command to open the power meter? is there a way to run a command and not need to ok the process in vista? thank you for your time and this site.
TELECOMS
written by GRAEME, January 22, 2008
WINMSD TO CHECK YOUR PC SPEC
Nice
written by CraZy E, January 22, 2008
Good job, this will prove very useful smilies/cool.gif
Thanks
written by jeya, January 20, 2008
Thanks for help,
how to use a warnig command
written by ¿viro¿, January 16, 2008
how do i use the run cmd to let me type a warning command


plz help
I don't know how to use a run script, can you help
written by doug, January 14, 2008
I just started playing an online game called, "dark throne". It's nice, but requires I click a "recruit" army button 250 - 350 times a day (about 15 minutes) in order to play the game and grow your army. Am about to quit playing because of the boring & time consuming clicking of this button, which is required every day. I went on google and saw an auto click program someone had written (it's below). I don't know how to set it up to work (my computer had Vista). Can anyone advise? my e-mail is This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - thank you and best wishes in '08.

Run("C:Program FilesInternet Exploreriexplore.exe")
WinWait("Dark Throne (beta) Recruitloop - Microsoft Internet Explorer")
Global $Paused
HotKeySet("{ESC}", "Pause")


While 1
If PixelGetColor(600, 500) = 0 And StatusbarGetText("Dark Throne (beta) Recruitloop - Microsoft Internet Explorer") = "Done" Then
MouseClick("Left", 566, 388, 1)
EndIf
WEnd

While 2
If PixelGetColor(600, 500) = 0 And WinGetText("Dark Throne (beta) Recruitloop - Microsoft Internet Explorer", "Due to players using automated programs which hurt our site, refreshing has been disabled. Please use the recruit! button on the recruiter. Click here to continue") Then
MouseClick("Left", 577, 484, 1)
EndIf
WEnd

While 3
If PixelGetColor(600, 500) = 0 And WinGetText("Dark Throne (beta) Recruitloop - Microsoft Internet Explorer", "You have already clicked the maximum number of members for today") Then
MsgBox(48, "Done", "You have finished Clicking!")
EndIf
WEnd


Func Pause()
$Paused = Not $Paused
While $Paused
Sleep(100)
ToolTip('Paused', 0, 0)
WEnd
ToolTip("")
EndFunc ;==>Pause
Hello
written by Psomopoulos, January 14, 2008
good stuff.
Thank u!!!
User Agent
written by chrisman, January 13, 2008
Hey does anyone know a run command that will make it possible to switch between internet user agents?
keyboard history?
written by mig, January 10, 2008
im doing a science fair project on computers and innerworkings and was wondering if someone could give me the command to get into the keyboard history. my networking prof. said there is a command to see everything that has been typed into the computer

please help
Hey...Very Useful for everyone who r interested to learn.....
written by Samdinakar, January 10, 2008
I haven;t used commmands but these are very usefull for everyone..u know i learned all commands from this site..then, why r u late. learn from this site n enjoy the keys.....Bye Bye

Samdinakar.P
Incredible Site - XP Wont Shutdown....
written by Dannny the IT manny, January 08, 2008
I have done everything stated on MS KB but still no luck, does anyone have any other ideas?
...
written by question, January 07, 2008
Why CTRL F command isn't working on this site?
Written by guest 01/05/2007
written by HOHOHO, January 05, 2008
Great Site

Here's a run command to search active directory. rundll32 dsquery,OpenQueryWindow

ps is there a run command for mail, taskbar and startmenu in the control panel
Written by guest Jan 05,2008
written by HOHOHO, January 05, 2008
Great site, very helpfull

Here's a run command to open search active directory. rundll32 dsquery,OpenQueryWindow

ps I wonder if there is a run command for mail and taskbar start menu in the control panel.
doubt
written by K. Ravindra Reddy, January 05, 2008
I want to know all things that i have opened before in my system.
Please tell me is there any command to know all things that as i told before.
thanks
written by janine stones, January 02, 2008
Just to say thanks to eberyone who contributed to this list, useful stuff and no work required to compile the list
MS Access Keyword & Possible Duplicate
written by Jerren, December 27, 2007
Nice List!
Found 1 mis-match though..
Microsoft Access is launched by "msaccess". The listed command of "access.cpl" launches the Accessibility Options.

Also, I'm not sure if these are duplicates or a difference of operating systems versions:
Microsoft Paint - mspaint
Paint - pbrush
Which Run Command....?
written by Dee, December 27, 2007
Which run command is used to remove all the email addresses on the computer?
I dont remember.
Thank you
how to get your windows key cod # from run command
written by VIc, December 25, 2007
i am just trying to get my key code product from run command i know there is a way i used it before but i forgot the command
...
written by cALE, December 24, 2007
THIS COMMANDS IS VERY COOL
FixMyXp Is Great Man!
written by Kaizar, December 23, 2007
Ya Its Realy HelpFul To Open Anything Through Run....

Great Work...

Keep It Up.
startup slow
written by Elaine, December 19, 2007
When I startup my laptop it takes forever, is there any way of getting to the startup list to "uncheck" some of the programs?
Another one....
written by MrShed, December 17, 2007
Just another to add:

RunAs - allows you to run a program temporarily as another user
seb
written by cmd with no run, December 17, 2007
To open the cmd window without run goto my documents create a new text document and in that text document write this start command.com then save as and call it this command.bat then after you save a window will appear in your documents click on this and ou will have the cmd window
movie
written by mario, December 15, 2007
i see a lot of command but i can't see this one telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl you guys should check it out... it;s harmless... actually it's a great command... have a great time smilies/wink.gif
movie
written by mario, December 15, 2007
i was looking through the list and i didn't see the particular command i was looking for, it opens something that lets you edit what programs run on startup. i would like to get at this so quicktime and thrity other programs don't load every time i start my pc.

Steve

for that you can use msconfig
Thk
written by Thirupathi, December 12, 2007
smilies/smiley.gif smilies/smiley.gif smilies/smiley.gif smilies/smiley.gif smilies/smiley.gif smilies/smiley.gif
bios update
written by hanamichi, December 12, 2007
when do we need to update bios? is it okay if im not going to update after i assemble new PC?
good
written by venu, December 11, 2007
this site is really nice
Great work
written by Kiran, December 11, 2007
Thanks a lot for sharing this wonderful info
...
written by jon doe, December 09, 2007
more commands

. - C:Documents and Settings%username%
.. - C:Documents and Settings
Nice commands............
written by Darshana, December 07, 2007
thanks mate good work........... smilies/smiley.gif
Where did my Run Command go?
written by West Loewen, December 05, 2007
i tried making my start menu more simple by deleting some of its links... but i accidently deleted the run command , is there another way to locate it or bring it back?
run
written by marvin nubwaxer, December 03, 2007
when you see anything that has the word microsoft in it, the best thing to do at once is run.
Get to registery and add RUn to your start menu
written by Payless Technology, December 01, 2007
to get to registry (Windows XP):

Click on: Start
Click on RUN
type: regedit

if your RUN is missing do this:

1.Right click on "start" button
2. Click on "Properties"
3. on "Start Menu" tab check "Start Menu" and click on "Customise..."
4. Go to Advanced tab and Scrol down that box to almost the end and then:
5. CHECK "Run Commond" then Click "OK" Click "Apply" Click "OK"

Now you have Run Command on your start menu
SCREAMING IN MY HEAD!!!!!!
written by An Excited Person, November 21, 2007
I've allways wanted to write my own fonts!!!!!!!!!!! smilies/grin.gif
Min services
written by Services, November 21, 2007
How to start windows with minimum servies???
msconfig not in w2k
written by me, November 16, 2007
msconfig won't work for windows 2000 , just FYI
Curious...
written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , November 14, 2007
Great site, thanks so much for all the useful tips.
Is there any possible way to run "Run" when it is blocked on a computer?
If you could email me, if it is a yes that is, I'd very much so appreciate it.

Thanks. smilies/grin.gif
IF U DONT HAVE RUN
written by TF, November 14, 2007
OPEN WORDPAD AND TYPE COMMAND.COM and click save as and save it as .bat make sure u put it in a place where u can access it. then double click the wordpad saved as ".bat" and it will open run

YOUR WELCOME
cd
written by the one, November 12, 2007
hey y'all,

this looks like a great website for experts..., am only an novice but may be I'll find help here.
Can somebody tell how I can remotely open from PC my desk neighbours cd drive?
Have seen it before, but forgot it.

Cheers,
the one.
Pendejos
written by Grupo Marrano, November 08, 2007
y un saludo pa todos los ojetes que estan escuchando este disco aya en estaos unidos , manden lana pa'aca cabrones ....
...
written by Abrham, November 07, 2007
smilies/cheesy.gif The list I was looking for for so long.That is realy a very great work man! Keep it up. 10Q very much
System restore
written by John6191, November 06, 2007
How about rstrui for system restore point?
delete run command history
written by guest, November 01, 2007
may i know how to delete the run command history?
because after you key in it will save in there...
drive properties dialog box
written by geox, October 31, 2007
how would you open the C: properties dialog box?, or let say, the D: or the properties of whatever the folder from the command line or Run?
compmgmt.msc
written by Ronhova, October 31, 2007
compmgmt.msc is an awsome run command.A few years ago i bought a 250gb western digital hard drive for my old computer and it wasn't compatible. It only gave me 130gb of space. When i upgraded to a new computer and transfered the hard drive over it was still maxed out at 130gb. But thanks to the compmgmt.msc run command I saw on this list I was able to enter disk management and partition my hard drive and fully use all the storage space possible. Thanks, great list.

To open C: drive using Run command
written by Sathiya, October 22, 2007
Type (backslash) in Windows -> Start -> Run
It opens C: drive window
asdf
written by asdf, October 22, 2007
control userpasswords2

you don't have that one. you don't have s**t.
trace route
written by dconnor, October 22, 2007
How about adding the 'tracert' command for running trace routes?
Yes.....got it
written by Rajesh Nathani, October 21, 2007
hi,

this is really help full........
Command from Winkey R -- cmd /k then command.
written by Twizler, October 19, 2007
When you want to run a command such as ipconfig /all

you can run it as one statement from the run window. You dont need to open a command prompt and the typ it. Add a /k to cmd (cmd /k )swtich.
It tells cmd to add the command to the DOS window. Very much like a pipe |.

Example: (winkey R)-->Run window-->

cmd /k ipconfig /all
----------
Or try
------
cmd /k ipconfig /displaydns
MSConfig
written by Jason, October 16, 2007
Steve, you're referring to the MSCONFIG tool (start->run "msconfig")
thanks
written by JC, October 11, 2007
Thanks! this s**t is awesome!!! smilies/grin.gif
msconfig
written by brett, October 11, 2007
"msconfig" will open a new window, then click "startup" to control which programs start when your computer boots.
gud one
written by Nav, October 10, 2007
nice one !!! gud work i havn't seen some of these before
Need more help.....
written by guest, October 08, 2007
This is an absoloutley awsome list, but i need some more help. My school has blocked just about everything on my laptop, and i just need to know a way to get to my network places. They wont let us right click, or anything. I found a way to get to the command prompt, but the command to get to my network places has also been blocked. If you know a way around this, plz tell me
no screen
written by DK534, October 07, 2007
If I wanted to export video through an s-video cable, but my laptop screen isn't working, is there any command i could type that would work? Usually I have to plug in an external monitor and adjust all my settings with clicks.

Dan
This website is awesome
written by Davis, October 04, 2007
I appreciate you taking your time out to run this great website, im sure its costly too =[
Secretary
written by Felix C. Gabunales, Jr., September 29, 2007
This stuff is awesome!!!
I learned a lot from this..
fixmyxp.com rocks!!!
main
written by mohamad reza, September 27, 2007
hi
I was looking motherboard model by run command ?

smilies/cry.gif
To open a folder
written by ras, September 25, 2007
Type: explorer
Thus in a cmd window, or even in cygwin, you can type:
explorer .
to open the dir you're in
-r
Configure your Desktop in Vista
written by JohnVista, September 22, 2007
Most people's opinion of Windows Vista is that it's not worth the time or expense of the upgrade, except when it comes pre-loaded with a new system. I would agree with most people, however, one of the best things about Windows Vista is the customization features that's available throughout the entire software line (Basic, Business, Ultimate, etc.).

With Windows Vista, you can customize the theme and user interface with Vista desktops, skins, widgets, icons, and more. And many are available for free to download at websites like http://www.vista-skins.com or by typing in "vista skins" at Google.

For several years, Mac, Unix, and Linux users always bragged about how Mac OS X