hi! when i choose run from start menu and type in iexplore or explorer or nero for burning cds it always opens those apps, but when i type netscape it`s not, although, netscape is installed. the question here is, where are the commands stored and how can i modify them. are they in registry or in a file??

I do not understand why you use RUN to open programs ??? I use Netscape version 6.2 And checked the exe file name. It is--- Netscape6.exe

The commands you are typing are all exe files. XP just knows where those files are and is able to run them as needed, but as for netscape it is buried in the Program Files directory somewhere, you whould have to do a browse -- go to the needed direcoty - then click on netscape. Quick question -- Why use the run command? Just make shortcuts on your desktop.

i am just interested how the pc knows where is the exe, because nero.exe is located in c:\program files\ahead\blablabla so how does it know, when i type nero, to run nero exe?? i just want to modify this, because it could be useful. f.i., ping is a tool which can`t be made as a shortcut if you`re pinging different adresess. you have to type any time ping 159.x.x.x so does anybody know, where the paths to these files are stored??? thats my question!

What XP does, is do a quick search of the exe files on you drive and then runs that file when it finds a match. My guess is that XP searches, in order .exe, .com, . bat but I could be wrong on that. There are certain programs that have to be run at the prompt like ping, tracert, tftp, ... But the ones like iexplore, explorer, and a host of others do not have to be start with the run, you can create shortcuts for them.

Hi Maris, I guess I was curious too why you were trying to use the Run command to start programs, but I'm glad you posted that you are just trying to learn how the OS processes commands. I just tried using the run command on my machine; I have Netscape 4.6 and Netscape 7.x installed. Typing "Netscape" in the run command opens 4.6; you have to type "netscp" to start version 7.x though. You didn't mention what version of Netscape you're trying to start but with the other post pointing out that you have to type netscape6 to get that version running, it appears that Netscape didn't start for you because you didn't offer a valid start command. Check the .exe name and try it again. To answer your other question; there is a path command that you could add to your autoexec.bat file to give your OS an idea of where some programs reside. For example, I just tried a small older program that gets weather from the internet, it would not run by typeing "weather" at the run command line. If I added this to my autoexec.bat file: PATH=c:\progra~1\weather\ (note that I used the 8 character rule in the autoexec.bat file) Now that folder is in my search path. I can now type just "weather" and it will open. I have taught Windows where this folder is. Another method is to make a .bat file as a shortcut in your Windows folder. Since this folder is definately in that path statement, these files will run. Hmmmm..... another way. Hold the Windows Key and hit Pause Break; Choose Advanced | Environment Variables. Under System Variables, click on Path, then choose edit. Add the path to a folder you want to run commands from. Be careful what you change or edit here. This is what is controlling your computer (to answer your other question).

start->run then type: set you'll get a list of variables. one of them is "Path". The path is a list of directories that Windows searches to find the commands you entered. If the directory isn't on that list, then you need to browse to the specific directory and execute the command there. Each executable file is stored wherever it was installed...nero is in c:\program files\ahead...aol is in c:\program files\america online, etc. So for netscape, you have to navigate to the directory where you installed netscape. the dos default commands (ping, tracert, etc) are already installed in the path. You can create a shortcut to anything. Download a 3rd party ping program if you want, so you can create a shortcut to it and type the ip address in. I have a 3dping program on my desktop that allows me to ping anyone and get a graphical representation of it. create a shortcut, and edit its properties to modify how it is called. It isn't some sort of special magic where you type the name and it searches your entire computer for it and runs it. It simply searches the path...adding more directories to the path will slow your computer down. And how do you expect to ping an address without typing? It's easier just to ping the address, rather than creating a shortcut and editing its properties every time.