Friendly Computers Windows 7 Blog: So how do you start your favorite program?

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All versions of Windows provided alternate ways to open programs. The most common method was through the Start menu where you selected All Programs, scrolled to the Program command and then clicked it. Sounds straight forward but finding a program command from a long list was confusing for some.

However, smart operators used other methods which were more efficient as well as quicker. They pinned their favorite program shortcut icon onto the Start menu or created a Desktop shortcut for it.

I’m no longer a fan of adding shortcuts to the Start menu or to the Desktop for that matter as there are better options available.

Personally, I dislike Desktop Clutter so I generally keep my Desktop icons to essentials only – User Files, Computer, Network and Recycle Bin. My screen is lean and mean!

Clutter Free Desktop with Taskbar fully utilized

Alternatively, you could use the Run dialog box to open a program. You’ll find this on the Start menu. Providing you know the Start Up command (this must be exact), typing it in the box and clicking Ok opens the program.

Under Windows XP, many users found the Quick Launch Toolbar a useful tool. It was a simple matter to drag important Desktop shortcut icons onto it, adding to the regular icons already there, Internet Explorer, Show Desktop and Media Player.

So having decried all of the common ways to access Programs under the previous versions of Windows, what did I do?

Windows 7 provides better, and quicker access to that favorite program. I add program shortcuts to the Taskbar.

Adding Program Shortcuts to the Taskbar

Click the Start button.

Select All Programs.

In the menu, right click on the program you want.

In the context menu, select Pin to Taskbar.

Pining a Shortcut

Removing Program Shortcuts from the Taskbar

Just as you can add shortcuts to the Taskbar, you can also remove unwanted ones.

Right click on the shortcut you want to remove.

In the context menu, select Unpin.

Unpinning Shortcut

Super Quick Access

An added bonus is that the first ten program shortcuts added to the Taskbar are numbered from 1 – 10. So, if Internet Explorer is in the No 1 position, press the Windows key and numeral 1 and it opens.

Now this is fine for those programs you use on a regular basis, but what happens if you want to use one you haven’t accessed for a long time?

Here’s a different approach! It involves using Search!

Putting Search through its Paces!

Open the Start menu.

In the Search box, type the name of the program (even a part name will do!).

Search goes to work finding any reference to the name.

Double-click on its name and the program opens.

Using Search to access a Program

Opening a File Using Search

An added bonus of this method is providing you know the name of the file (again even part of its name), you can open a file directly by double-clicking on it.

Opening a File via Search