How to add an enhanced Run utility in Windows [Tip]

Run is a handy system tool that you can open in Windows by pressing Win + R. Then you can open other system tools by entering some text into Run such as cmd. However, it could still have more options; and there are enhanced Run utility alternatives.

Windows Run-Command is a Run utility with extra options, which you can add to Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 from this page. There click the Download option to save the Run-Command Zip file. Then right-click the file, select Extract All and a location for the extracted folder. Then open the extracted folder, and launch Run-Command in the shot below.

Windows Run-Command

The main difference between Run-Command and the Run utility in Windows is that it includes shortcuts to system tools. On the Run-Command window there are shortcuts to the Task Manager, registry, System Properties window and more besides. In addition, you can open a menu of shortcuts by selecting Favorites at the top left of the window.

Windows Run-Command2

To add more shortcuts to the menu, click the Add to Favorites button. That will open the window in the shot below. Then enter a system tool such as Notepad or WordPad in the text box, and click OK to close the window.

Windows Run-Command4

You can delete shortcuts from the menu by selecting Manage Favorites to open the window below. Then select a shortcut listed there, and click the X delete button at the top left. There you can also add folders to the menu by clicking the folder icon.

Windows Run-Command3

To select further software settings, click Options at the top right of the window. That opens the menu below, which includes various Run-Command settings. For example, you can select alternative Run-Command hotkeys by selecting Hot-Key. You can add the software to the startup by selecting the Start with Windows option.

Windows Run-Command5

So with this enhanced Run-Command utility we can open a variety of system tools without entering any text. As it’s a portable utility you can also run it from a USB stick.

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