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Where is the Run command on Windows Start Menu?

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Summary: 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.

Related:

Article 11507 | Posted May 19, 2007

Recent Comments
26 Comments

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For everyone who doesn't see the options to enable the run command, I've added
a new article that hopefully addresses what you're experiencing:

http://ask-leo.com/why_cant_i_enable_the_run_command.html

Leo

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Posted by: Leo A. Notenboom at July 17, 2007 1:38 PM

i am still don't see the 'display run' list. Can you help me?

Posted by: brace at August 15, 2007 6:15 PM

Still i follow these steps but i can't able to get the run command. When i try to open by pressing Win logo button + R it says it was disabled by system administrator. but i was logging as an administrator only please help............................... and give solution for me.... and one more thing even regedit was impossible to access..............

Posted by: Mohan.R at August 29, 2007 5:25 AM

Hi,
i have a similar problem, however when i open start,help and support is missing,even though it is ticked in the advanced tab of start properties,and when i click on start/run the following message appears "windows cannot create a shortcut here.do you want the shortcut to be placed on the desktop instead?" i have tried everything,please help! thanks a lot in advance!

Posted by: Liam at November 20, 2007 8:29 AM

hey guys!....the simplest way to repair this RUN command and TASK MANAGER thingy is to create a new user and copy all your files from the Doc&Sett into the new users Doc&Sett folder. Worked fine for me:)).

Posted by: DaNyElL at February 2, 2008 1:38 AM

Hi,
I have tried to late run on the customise startup as well as customise classic however, the option to activate "run" is not in the list. What do you suggest i should do to get it back

Thanks

Posted by: vini at February 6, 2008 2:47 AM

My administrator has locked registry editors,in start menu run option, properties of task bar and start menu, add remove programme option. how to enabled this? what is the problem? pl reply me i m very confused

Posted by: ptank0 at February 19, 2008 5:02 AM

Still i follow these steps but i can't able to get the run command. When i try to open by pressing Win logo button + R it says it was disabled by system administrator. but i was logging as an administrator only please help...and give solution for me.... and one more thing even regedit was impossible to access

Posted by: lynn at May 27, 2008 11:26 AM

I have this problem. I do not see "display run" in customize classic start menu, and also to the Start Menu/Advance. When I press Window and R key together, run does not come. Instead it tells me "this operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. What will i do? Thanks...

Posted by: suraj mathur at October 10, 2008 9:43 PM

Thanks Leo, i thought theres no way to fix since i have religiously followed the instruction and it doesnt work, but when i tried it out again, its really working.. Leo is such a great fixer.. thanks man!

Posted by: Carrie Malabanan at October 28, 2008 9:28 PM

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