How to access files and programs in windows

Let me ask you a question first. If you have to open a new word document or create a new spreadsheet, what do you do?

Most of us go to the installed software location and click on the respective icon to open a new document. There is another much simpler way to perform these kinds of task by using run command in Windows XP and other prior versions. In Windows 7, Microsoft have gone one step further towards the Macintosh way and introduced a really cool feature. So we will discuss Windows XP and Window 7 separately.

Window XP

For windows XP, open run command. This can be done either by pressing windows key + R or by going into start menu and then clicking ‘Run’. Now in the command menu type the following commands and press enter for different results. Please note that there is zillions of run command possible. We are not going to list all of them, just for the sake of listing. The list here covers only the most basic features that a normal computer user employs.

Microsoft  Word	winword
Microsoft Excel	excel
Add/Remove Programs	appwiz.cpl
Administrative Tools	control admintools
Adobe Acrobat (if installed)	acrobat
Adobe Designer (if installed)	formdesigner
Adobe Photoshop (if installed)	photoshop
Calculator	calc
command prompt	cmd
check disk utility	chkdsk
Bluetooth transfer Wizard	fsquirt
Clipboard Viewer	clipbrd
control panel	control
date and time properties	timedate.cpl
Disk Cleanup Utility	cleanmgr
Disk Defragment	dfrg.msc
Display Properties	control desktop
Display Properties	desk.cpl
Display Properties (w/Appearance Tab Preselected)	control color
Firefox (if installed)	firefox
Folders Properties	folders
Fonts	control fonts
Fonts Folder	fonts
Free Cell Card Game	freecell
Hearts Card Game	mshearts
Internet Connection Wizard	icwconn1
Internet Explorer	iexplore
Internet Properties	inetcpl.cpl
Internet Setup Wizard	inetwiz
IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration)	ipconfig /all
Keyboard Properties	control keyboard
Logs You Out Of Windows	logoff
Microsoft Access (if installed)	msaccess
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 Setup Wizard	netsetup.cpl
Notepad	notepad
On Screen Keyboard	osk
Outlook Express	msimn
Paint	pbrush
Pinball Game	pinball
Printers and Faxes	control printers
Real Player (if installed)	realplay
Remote Desktop	mstsc
Scheduled Tasks	control schedtasks
Shared Folders	fsmgmt.msc
Shuts Down Windows	shutdown
Sounds and Audio	mmsys.cpl
Spider Solitare Card Game	spider
System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately)	sfc /scannow
System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At The Next Boot)	sfc /scanonce
System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot)	sfc /scanboot
System File Checker Utility (Return Scan Setting To Default)	sfc /revert
Task Manager	taskmgr
User Account Management	nusrmgr.cpl
Utility Manager	utilman
Windows Address Book	wab
Windows Explorer	explorer
Windows Firewall	firewall.cpl
Windows Magnifier	magnify
Windows Media Player	wmplayer
Windows Messenger	msmsgs
Windows Picture Import Wizard (need camera connected)	wiaacmgr
Windows System Security Tool	syskey
Windows Version (to show which version of windows)	winver
Windows XP Tour Wizard	tourstart
Wordpad	write

Windows 7

Accessing different programs and files on a windows platform was never so easy. Just press the windows key and start typing whatever program you want to access. The search feature in the windows very quickly indexes the content on the system and starts returning the results. Now there is no need to remember the commands for each and every program. Simply type the name of the program and choose from the available menu. Moreover it will also show all the files that have the string you are searching in their content. So if you have you resume or CV in your system drive and you forgot where you saved it. Simply type in your name in the search menu and the file will be returned in the search results. (Assuming you have written your name in your own resume!)