"Run" - Quickly launch any program or open a file

• Advantages: Fast, easy, eliminates the need to navigate to a program/file.

• Launching "run":
• The quick way - Windows key + r (Press "r" while holding down the "Windows key")
• The slow way - Windows 2000/XP: Start->run. Windows 7: Start->Type "run" in the search box->Enter.

• Launch any program or open any file using "run":
1. Create a shortcut to the program/file you want to launch/open. (You can do it by the "Create shortcut/Paste shortcut" in the context menu. If a dialog pops up saying - "Windows can't create it here..blah blah..create on the desktop instead?", select "yes". Our aim is just to obtain a shortcut to the program and you can do it in a variety of ways.)
2. Cut the shortcut link and paste it into the Windows folder. ("C:\Windows" by default) (You will have to confirm the operation in Windows 7.)
3. Rename the link to whatever you want - This is the name you will type in the run dialog. So, choose it wisely - preferably an easy to remember or a short one.

           Done..Now type the name in the run dialog and press Enter. Pretty cool hun?...

• Commands/programs that work by default:
• notepad - Open Notepad
• wordpad - Open Wordpad (not Microsoft Word)
• mspaint - Microsoft Paint
• calc - Calculator
• devmgmt.msc - Open Device manager
• msconfig - System configure utility
• regedit - Registry editor
• cmd - Launch the command window
• services.msc - Launch Service manager
• control.exe - Launch the Control panel
• Browsing PCs on the network by using the IP address(\\192.168.0.1) or the computer name (\\my-pc)
• Web URLs

            You don't need any special software for this, everything's right there.

Note:

• You can create a shortcut to anything - folders, batch files...use your imagination... 
• Any file in the "Windows" folder can be launched this way.