Tips: RUN commands

We all know that Windows logo key + R leads us to the RUN command box and we have been using quite a few commands like msconfig, cmd, notepad etc… as a shortcut to open the applications quickly without having to locate them in their respective directories. So, here is the list of all the commands you can execute in Run and access various applications:

A

Add/Remove Programs = appwiz.cpl

Administrative Tools = control admintools

Authorization Manager= azman.msc "New"

C

Calculator = calc

Certificate Manager = certmgr.msc

Character Map = charmap

Check Disk Utility = chkdsk

Control Panel = control "New"

Command Prompt = cmd.exe

Component Services = dcomcnfg

Computer Management = compmgmt.msc = CompMgmtLauncher "New"

D

Date and Time Properties = timedate.cpl

Downloads = Downloads "New"

Device Manager = devmgmt.msc

Direct X Troubleshooter = dxdiag

Disk Cleanup Utility = cleanmgr

Defragment User Interface = dfrgui "New"

Ditilizer Calibration Tool = tabcal "New"

Disk Management = diskmgmt.msc

Disk Parmelonion Manager = diskpart

Display Properties = control desktop or desk.cpl

DPI Scaling = dpiscaling "New"

Driver Package Installer = dpinst "New"

Driver Verifier Utility = verifier or /reset

DVD Player = dvdplay "New"

E

Encryption File System = rekeywiz "New"

Event Viewer = eventvwr.msc

F

Fax Cover Sheet Editor = fxscover "New"

File Signature Verification Tool = sigverif

Folders Properties = control folders

Fonts = control fonts

Free Cell Card Game = freecell

G

Group Policy Editor = gpedit.msc

I

Internet Explorer = iexplore

Iexpress Wizard = iexpress

Internet Properties = inetcpl.cpl

IP Configuration = ipconfig.exe

iSCSI Initiator = iscsicpl "New"

J

Keyboard Properties = control keyboard

L

Libraries = explorer or Windows key + E

Local Security Settings = secpol.msc

Local Users and Groups = lusrmgr.msc

Logs You Out Of Windows = logoff

M

Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool = msdt "New"

Microsoft Paint = mspaint.exe

Mouse Properties = control mouse

Mouse Properties = main.cpl

Mobility Center (only on mobile) = mblctr or Windows key + X

Network Connections = control netconnections

Network Connections = ncpa.cpl

Notepad = notepad

O

ODBC Data Source Administrator = odbcad32 "New"

Optional Features Manager = optionalfeatures "New"

On Screen Keyboard = osk or Windows key + U

P

Performance Monitor = perfmon.msc

Phone and Modem Options = telephon.cpl

Power Configuration = powercfg.cpl

Printers and Faxes = control printers

Printer Migration = PrintBrmUi "New"

Private Character Editor = eudcedit

R

Regional Settings = intl.cpl

Registry Editor = regedit.exe

Remote Assistance = msra "New"

Remote Desktop = mstsc

Resultant Set of Policy = rsop.msc

S

Scheduled Tasks = control schedtasks

Security Center = wscui.cpl

Services = services.msc

Shared Folders/MMC = fsmgmt.msc

Shuts Down Windows = shutdown

Snipping Tool = snippingtool "New"

Sounds and Audio = mmsys.cpl

Sound Recorder = soundrecorder "New"

Sound Volume = sndvol "New"

Spider Solitare Card Game = spider

SQL Client Configuration = cliconfg

Stored User Names and Passwords = credwiz "New"

Sticky Note = StikyNot "New"

System Configuration Editor = sysedit

System Configuration Utility = msconfig

System File Checker Utility = sfc

System Information = msinfo32

System Properties = sysdm.cpl or Windows key + Pause/Break

T

Task Manager = taskmgr

Trusted Platform Module = TpmInit "New"

U

Utility Manager = utilman

User Accounts = netplwiz or control userpasswords2

W

Windows Activation = slui "New"

Windows Backup Utility = sdclt "New"

Windows Fax and Scan = wfs "New"

Windows Firewall = firewall.cpl

Windows Firewall with Advanced Security = wf.msc "New"

Windows Image Acquisition = wiaacmgr "New"

Windows Media Player = wmplayer

Windows Magnifier = magnify

Windows Management Infrastructure = wmimgmt.msc

Windows Update App Manager = wuapp "New"

Windows Standalong Update Manager = wusa "New'

Windows System Security Tool = syskey

Windows Share Creation Wizard = shrpubw "New"

Wordpad = write

Install Windows 8 from USB Pen Drive

With the release of the Windows 8 Developer Preview, my curiosity could not let me wait and I rushed to install it right then. But not having an optical drive on my netbook could hinder my installation and hence I had to come up with this alternative of installing it via a pen drive. And to my surprise, when I tried to make a Windows 8 bootable pen drive using the  Microsoft’s very own Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.

System Requirements for Windows 8 are:

• 1 Gigahertz or faster 32-bit or 64-bit processor
• 1 Gigabyte of RAM for 32-bit, 2 Gigabytes of RAM for 64-bit minimum
• 16 Gigabyte hard drive for 32-bit systems, 20 Gigabyte for 64-bit systems
• Direct X 9 graphics card

The prerequisits for the installation are as follows:

• Firstly, you need to download the Microsoft Windows 8 Developer Preview Image from here.
• Next, you need to have with your self the  Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, which can be downloaded from here.
• You need an USB pen drive with at least four Gigabytes of free space. 

With both the softwares downloaded we are now ready to make our own bootable pen drive with Windows 8. Though it does require few tweaks other than making the pen drive bootable, you can follow the steps as given below:

Formating the Pen Drive

• Firstly, we need to format the pen drive to the FAT32 file system. This can be done by connecting the pen drive to the computer, right-clicking its drive icon and selecting Format from the drop down menu. The Format window pops up where you need to make sure that Fat32 is the selected file system. Other details need not be changed.
• Once this is done, open the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.
• Then just select the Windows 8 ISO when asked to pick an ISO image from the computer.
• Next, select to copy the contents to an USB drive. The program will copy all files to the drive and make that drive bootable at the same time.
•  Once this is done, restart your PC, get into the BIOS by pressing F8/F12 as per your manufacturer and goto the Boot Configuration section and enable the USB Booting as well as make USB Booting primary in the booting preference.
• Save the settings and exit the BIOS.
• On restart, the computer should now automatically boot through the pen drive and begin the installation.