Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.

Depending on your configuration and customization the Run command may not be visible on the Start menu. It's easy to make it show up.

When I go to Start menu I have no Run option?

One of the "problems", if you want to call it that, with computer systems is that almost nothing is standard. There are defaults, there are common settings, and there are recommended tweaks and personalizations.

The net result is that often for something as "standard" as Windows XP, it's very easy for one person's Start Menu to be quite different from another's.

And so it is with respect to the Run... command. Let's find and enable it for you.

Right click on the Start button and click on Properties:

Windows Start Menu Properties

Right away we can see that choice to be made: "Start Menu" or "Classic Start Menu". The good news is that the one you're currently using will already be selected, and I'm going to assume you don't want to change this right now.

"As you can see the Start menu is extremely customizable."

But, the options are a little different depending on which you're using, so I'll show you both.

Classic Start Menu

Click the Customize button:

Classic Start Menu Customize Dialog, Featureing the Display Run setting

Make sure that the Display Run option is checked. (If you don't see a Display Run option, then check out Why can't I enable the Run command?)

OK your way back out, and the Run... command should be visible on your start menu.

Start Menu

For the not-Classic version, once again click the Customize button. Then click the Advanced tab, and in the Start Menu Items list, and scroll down until you see the item Run command:

Start Menu Customize Dialog, Featureing the Display Run setting

Make sure that's checked. (If you don't see a Run Command option, then check out Why can't I enable the Run command?)

OK your way back out, and the Run... command should be visible on your start menu.

As you can see the Start menu is extremely customizable. Go ahead and have a look at the various options - it's one of the places that I actually spend a few minutes each time I set up a new machine, customizing the start menu to my liking.

Article C3030 - May 19, 2007 « »

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Leo Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed. After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.

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Recent Comments
50 Comments
Manu
July 24, 2011 9:30 PM

Hi, The option of 'run command' is not there in my system. That is probably because the IT has disabled it. Can you please tell me the way to crack it?

Nope. You need to speak with your IT department.

Leo
25-Jul-2011
Joe
March 27, 2012 11:58 AM

Thanks, your solution was fast and accurate...no messing around, just straight to the fix. I looked at numerous other sites (that were needlessly complicated) before I came across your solution. Thanks again.

Karl
September 19, 2012 1:39 PM

Thank you for you info on fixing a problem after uninstalling chrome. Simple instruction that I could even follow--adding you to my favorites

SirDavid-Andrew:
December 16, 2012 4:49 PM

Thank you, Leo. It was nice to read something that was straight forward and precise, without lots of techie nonsense. I have used XP for nines years and did not know that these switches were there. I was looking for solutions on fixing worthless Microsoft 7. I will see if this info will work on it, as well, since Run Command is no where to be found on Desk Top. While exploring the options on XP, I was able to make another change that I had been wanting to do. Thanks.

aloke roy
March 5, 2013 4:39 AM

good it worked from sys 32 keep it up