Chapter 8 - Tutorial: Windows run part 3

How do you know what to type in the run utility to start specific applications? It is actually easily achieved by looking for the application you are after using the task manager. Note you do not need to include the .exe extension.

Run can also be used as a replacement for the command prompt. If you have tried/try command prompt utilities straight through run, you will most likely miss the output. As an example, you could try typing ipconfig into the run interface. The correct way to do this is by using:

cmd /k ipconfig

If you are somebody who uses a lot of desktop shortcuts perhaps these lessons are of no use, but if you like a clean desktop with all your favourite applications at quick distance, try the run tool.

Chapter 7 - Tutorial: Windows run part 2

After reading part 1, you will know how to run applications via the run tool. Unfortunately, applications need to be properly registered under Windows to be recognised by run (I am actually not too sure what the requirements for this are, and some applications don’t do this as part of their installation). Luckily, there is a way to bypass this issue. To make run recognise any application, all you need to do is add its directory to the system variable ‘path’.

This is accomplished by navigating to your system properties (right-click ‘my computer’ -> properties) -> click on the advanced tab ->environment variables -> edit the system variable ‘path’. You should already have a path variable to which you can add additional directories (use a ‘;’ character to separate each entry).

If for any reason there is no path variable already defined you will need to create it using the ‘new’ button. Once you have added additional directories, any applications within these directories will be available through the run tool.

So now you know how to start applications and make them available through run.