Windows Run Command for Starting Programs and Moving Between Those Programs

Windows has a number of methods for opening programs and moving between them. There is the mouse click method which has you left clicking at the bottom center of the Windows screen (Task Manager) any items displaying a running program. There is the "Run" and "Search" methods to open the programs, and then Alt Tab to move between those programs. Following are exercises which use the Windows "Run" command along with the Alt Tab key command to open and move between running programs. It finishes with the Alt F4 key command to close a running program. There are headings on this page. Use the letter h to move forward through the headings, and Shift h to move backward through the headings. When you get to the heading you want, down arrow through the content for that heading, or use your screen reader "read all" key command. There is an audio demonstration (MP3 format) link for you to open and listen to, or download to put on another device. When you are finished move to the back link at the bottom of this page titled "BACK" to move to the "Simple Windows Lessons" web page.

NOTE: Windows XP and the Windows 8 Desktop do not have a true Windows Start menu "Search" box. The "Run" command is an old command that does work well in Windows 8.

Windows "Run" (command line) Activity

  1. Press and hold down the Windows key and tap the letter r.
  2. Release both keys.
  3. Type winword
  4. Tap enter.
  5. Press and hold down the Windows key and tap the letter r.
  6. Release both keys.
  7. Type excel
  8. Tap enter.
  9. Press and hold down the Windows key and tap the letter r.
  10. Release both keys.
  11. Type www.google.com
  12. Tap enter.
  13. Press and hold down the Windows key and tap the letter r.
  14. Release both keys.
  15. Type notepad
  16. Tap enter.
  17. Press and hold the alt key and tap the tab key until you hear “word.”
  18. Release both keys and Microsoft Word opens.
  19. Press and hold the alt key and tap the tab key until you hear “excel.”
  20. Release both keys and Microsoft Excel opens.
  21. Press and hold the alt key and tap the tab key until you hear “Google.”
  22. Release both keys and the www.google.com web page will open.
  23. Press and hold the alt key and tap the tab key until you hear “notepad.”
  24. Release both keys and Microsoft Notepad will be open.
  25. Press and hold down the Windows key and tap the letter m—all of your programs will still be running, but will be minimized to the bottom of the computer screen in the Task Manager area.
  26. Press and hold the alt key and tap the tab key until you hear “word.”
  27. Release both keys.
  28. Press and hold the alt key and tap the F4 key—Word will close.
  29. Press and hold the alt key and tap the tab key until you hear “excel.”
  30. Release both keys.
  31. Press and hold the alt key and tap the F4 key—Excel will close.
  32. Press and hold the alt key and tap the tab key until you hear “www.google.com.”
  33. Release both keys.
  34. Press and hold the alt key and tap the F4 key—Google will close.
  35. Press and hold the alt key and tap the tab key until you hear “notepad.”
  36. Release both keys.
  37. Press and hold the alt key and tap the F4 key—notepad will close.
  38. Practice the above steps until you are quick and accurate.

 

Audio Demonstration of the Windows "Run" Command

Audio Demonstration of the Windows "Run" Command Link

 

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