Introduction 

  
    Vista, since its arrival, has had mixed views to whether it is good or bad. One gripe is that the run option, that has normally sat on the Start Menu since Windows 95, has disappeared. Those of us who are used to this being there, have found this an irritating move by Microsoft and more so when trying to help someone over the phone with the instructions "please click on Start then Run" to only be told "there is no Run option here" to then realise they are running Vista or Windows 7.

First option: how to find and use the Run option

    On the standard Vista/Windows 7 Start Menu , the normal Run option has been replaced with a Start Search box. Click into this box and type run, there should be two results that appear. Click on the top result and Hey! presto the Run box appears!.

Second option: have the Run option always on the Standard Vista/Windows 7 Start Menu 

   
    Right Click on the Vista/Windows 7 Start Menu symbol (the Windows Flag) and left click on the Properties option. Choose the Customize button and in the next window, scroll down until you find the Run Command option, tick the box next to this and click OK. Then click apply and OK on the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties box. Click on the Start Menu now and the Run option will be on the right hand side of the Start Menu.

Third option: shortcut to accessing the Run option 

     A quick way of accessing the Run option is to hold down the Windows Flag key on the keyboard and tap the letter R.