If you are like me, you love to find new ways to navigate around your computer. I've been using the run box on windows for awhile now, and I had a thought. I wonder if I can use the run box to run custom commands, or even changing existing ones? After some web searching, I found exactly what I was looking for.
Hold down the Windows key and press the 'R' key.
This will open your run box.
Next type in 'regedit' and press Enter.
Now you have opened the windows registry editor.
Whenever you are going to change the registry, I would suggest backing it up first. In case you screw things up accidentally.
Highlight My Computer in the registry.
Click File and select Export.
Save the reg file somewhere.
Now you have a back up of your entire registry.
OK, on to the fun stuff.
Follow this path
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths"
Right Click the "App Paths" folder.
Select New -> Key
Name the key what you want the command to be and add '.exe' to the end.
Example: chrome.exe
Now select the key you just added.
There will be one item in it named Default.
Double click the item.
A window will open asking for a new data value.
Enter in the path of the executable you are trying to create the command for.
Example: "C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"
Click OK or press enter.
You are now ready to try the run command.
Open the run box and type the command you chose.
Example: chrome
Click OK, or press enter and the application should run.
Exit out of the registry.
This simple registry change can add many possibilities for opening up items quickly.
NOTE: This will even work with multiple words. The run command "control netconnections" will open up your network connections. If you create a registry for control panel (call it 'C.exe' for example) you can shorten it to "c netconnections".
Some might call this useless, but I like to call it exploring your options.
