How to add Win+R RUN box to the Windows right click context menu

[Bill Powell]

I use the Win+R "run" box a thousand times a day (mostly because I
create dozens of one-word commands using the Windows Registry AppPaths key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\

As you know, the shortcut link to the RUN box is located here by default.
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\
Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\Run.lnk

I already have that RUN box shortcut pinned to the taskbar, but what I'd
like to add is a RUN box option to the right-click context menu.

I already have something similar in the context menu, which is the "open
command window here" option - so all I want to do is add another line to
the rightclick context menu of something like "Open RUN box here".

Here's a way to add the "Open command window here" to the rightclick menu.
https://www.windowscentral.com/add-open-command-window-here-back-context-menu-windows-10

In that method, they change HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd key value
of "HideBasedOnVelocityId" to "ShowBasedOnVelocityId" (which magically adds
"Open command window here" option to the shift-rightclick context menu).

The value of the DWORD is set to 639bc8 which is what gives it the magic.
https://www.askvg.com/windows-10-tip-restore-open-command-window-here-option-in-shiftright-click-menu/

I tried that, and it works perfectly, but what I want to do is modify that,
somehow, so that it will "Open RUN box here" (or something to that effect).

Does anyone on this newsgroup know Windows well enough to modify that
sequence to instead of adding "open command window here" to the context
menu, but to add the RUN box to the rightclick context menu instead?

[Bill Powell]

Post by Bill Powell
I use the Win+R "run" box a thousand times a day (mostly because I
create dozens of one-word commands using the Windows Registry AppPaths key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
As you know, the shortcut link to the RUN box is located here by default.
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\
Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\Run.lnk
I already have that RUN box shortcut pinned to the taskbar, but what I'd
like to add is a RUN box option to the right-click context menu.
I already have something similar in the context menu, which is the "open
command window here" option - so all I want to do is add another line to
the rightclick context menu of something like "Open RUN box here".
Here's a way to add the "Open command window here" to the rightclick menu.
https://www.windowscentral.com/add-open-command-window-here-back-context-menu-windows-10
In that method, they change HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd key value
of "HideBasedOnVelocityId" to "ShowBasedOnVelocityId" (which magically adds
"Open command window here" option to the shift-rightclick context menu).
The value of the DWORD is set to 639bc8 which is what gives it the magic.
https://www.askvg.com/windows-10-tip-restore-open-command-window-here-option-in-shiftright-click-menu/
I tried that, and it works perfectly, but what I want to do is modify that,
somehow, so that it will "Open RUN box here" (or something to that effect).
Does anyone on this newsgroup know Windows well enough to modify that
sequence to instead of adding "open command window here" to the context
menu, but to add the RUN box to the rightclick context menu instead?

Not sure how having to right-click the mouse to move the pointer to a
Run Box entry (similar to right-clicking on the Start Menu button to
pick Run) is easier or faster than using Win+R to open the Run box.

For commands you run a thousand times a day, efficiency starts to matter.

Mainly, for commands that you run a thousand times a day, you want to be
able to run them no matter what situation your hands, keyboard, and mouse
are in at that very moment. The RUN command is used a thousand times daily.

Typing Win+R requires two hands (at least for me to do it, it does).
Rightclicking on any screen to select a context menu item only needs one.

To make matters worse, on a typical dual-screen setup, the taskbar
is different for each screen (don't ask me why - ask Microsoft why).

On the "main" screen, you're right that clicking on the RUN icon pinned to
the taskbar is a single left click with one hand, but on the second screen,
the pinned shortcuts (such as the pinned RUN icon) don't typically show up.

So you either need to use your keyboard and both hands (to get to the
Win+R command) or you have to hunt around with your mouse to left click
on the main screen taskbar pinned RUN box icon.

Just being able to rightclick, no matter where your mouse is, is nice.

Besides, I bring up the RUN box so often, it's nice to be able to do it any
way I want, including being able to do it with a rightclick context menu.

However, since you know how to add a context menu entry for Command
explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}
That opens the Run box dialog.

Hey! I didn't know that special secret command brings up the RUN box!
c:\> explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}
How did you know that magical command?

I was at this very moment writing a batch file to bring up the RUN box.
@echo off
REM: c:\batch\runbox.bat (brings up the RUN box GUI in Windows)
%comspec% /c "C:\Users\me\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\Run.lnk"
exit

Then I was adding that batch file to the rightclick context menu.
1. Win+R > regedit
2. Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\
3. Optionally save that as a registry favorite with the name of:
https://www.techspot.com/guides/1670-windows-right-click-menu/
4. Create a new key under shell... let's call it "runbox"
5. Create a new key under 'runbox' called "command"
6. Set the 'command' value to be the batch file that you want run
@Default=c:\batch\runbox.bat
But that requires me to forevermore maintain a runbox.bat batch file.

I just now changed that last step to the command you just gave me!
6. Set the command value to be the exact command that you want run
@Default=explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}

Which worked without needing to maintain a separate batch file!

I then exported that registry key to "runbox.reg" as shown below.
.... [ cut here for the start of runbox.reg ]....
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\runbox]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\runbox\command]
@="explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}"

.... [ cut here for the end of runbox.reg ]....

Now anyone can add a "runbox" command to their rightclick context menus!

Thank you for making it even easier to bring up a RUN box in Windows
without having to type anything nor to maintain a separate batch file!

[VanguardLH]

Post by Bill Powell
Typing Win+R requires two hands (at least for me to do it, it does).

On my QWERTY keyboard, only 1 hand is needed. Win and R keys are within
the span of my left hand. Left pinky and left index finger. Same hand.

Post by Bill Powell
Rightclicking on any screen to select a context menu item only needs one.

Depends on WHAT you intended to right click upon. Content menu entries
can be dependent on the object on which you click. In File Explorer,
you'd want to add a right-click entry for folder/directory objects
(HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell). explorer.exe is both
the File Explorer and desktop manager. Your desktop, however, is a
special folder that gets different context menu entries. Adding the
entry to the Directory\Background\shell might still work to get a
context menu entry when right-clicking on the desktop folder. In case
you happen to right-click on a file, you'd want to add a content menu
entry for file objects, but I'd have to hunt on how to do that for file
objects. That might be under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell.

Rather than define a bunch of shell extensions under various object
types in the registry, I think Win+R (and, for me, using just 1 hand) is
probably easier than trying to figure out why the Run entry doesn't show
in a particular object's context menu. Besides, if you don't like using
Win+R, there are plenty of key macro tools (e.g., Autohotkey, AutoIt)
that let you define your own hotkeys (be careful not to step on any
already defined that you rely on).

Post by Bill Powell
To make matters worse, on a typical dual-screen setup, the taskbar
is different for each screen (don't ask me why - ask Microsoft why).

I wasn't looking for a Windows taskbar solution, like adding a toolbar
with common shortcuts, or pinning the given explorer.exe command to the
taskbar.

Did you right-click on the Taskbar, choose Settings, and enable the
"Show taskbar on all displays" option? If so, is the dependent option
"Show taskbar buttons on" set to "All taskbars"?

Post by Bill Powell
Just being able to rightclick, no matter where your mouse is, is nice.

The context menu varies depending on what type of object on which you
right-clicked. You would need to add a context menu entry for both
directory and file objects for the Run entry to always appear. There
might be other objects types where you need to add the content menu
entry.

Post by Bill Powell
Hey! I didn't know that special secret command brings up the RUN box!
c:\> explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}
How did you know that magical command?

Online search on "windows run box command line" which found:

https://www.digitalcitizen.life/run-window-windows-7-why-use-it-anymore/

That list is probably not exhaustive. There are also shell commands
that you enter, like shell:appsfolder, to open special folders. I saved
a list from some online article, but there are others, like:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3109-shell-commands-list-windows-10-a.html

I've used shell:appsfolder which makes it easy to create a shortcut (on
the desktop that you move to wherever else you want it) instead of
having to find the executable to define a new shortcut, and some apps
are addressed by their AppID instead of a program file name (and a
shortcut thus created won't have a path to the executable). If you use
shell:desktop, you'll see the desktop is just another folder. Since I
use OneDrive which usurps several special profile folders, navigating
to, say, My Pictures is a pain since I have to remember to drill under
the OneDrive folder instead of directly under my profile folder, so I
use shell:my pictures (space included).

However, shell:<string> directives point to folders. They do not run
commands or initiate actions. So, there is no shell:run directive.

Post by Bill Powell
I was at this very moment writing a batch file to bring up the RUN box.
@echo off
REM: c:\batch\runbox.bat (brings up the RUN box GUI in Windows)
%comspec% /c "C:\Users\me\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\Run.lnk"
exit
Then I was adding that batch file to the rightclick context menu.
1. Win+R > regedit
2. Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\
https://www.techspot.com/guides/1670-windows-right-click-menu/
4. Create a new key under shell... let's call it "runbox"
5. Create a new key under 'runbox' called "command"
6. Set the 'command' value to be the batch file that you want run
@Default=c:\batch\runbox.bat
But that requires me to forevermore maintain a runbox.bat batch file.

Doesn't that also open a command shell? Batch commands are interpreted
by the command interpreter which usually opens a console window.

Post by Bill Powell
I just now changed that last step to the command you just gave me!
6. Set the command value to be the exact command that you want run
@Default=explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}
Which worked without needing to maintain a separate batch file!
I then exported that registry key to "runbox.reg" as shown below.
.... [ cut here for the start of runbox.reg ]....
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\runbox]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\runbox\command]
@="explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}"
.... [ cut here for the end of runbox.reg ]....

That should work when you right-click on a folder of which the desktop
is one. However, it might not show in the context menu when you
right-click on a file object, or network object, or other object type.

Post by Bill Powell
Now anyone can add a "runbox" command to their rightclick context menus!
Thank you for making it even easier to bring up a RUN box in Windows
without having to type anything nor to maintain a separate batch file!

You're welcome. I'm old school, so typing is faster than mousing
around, and why Win+R is faster for me, especially since I only need one
hand, and my eyes don't have to wander through a context menu to find an
entry there. Different strokes for different folks.

[VanguardLH]

Post by Bill Powell
Hey! I didn't know that special secret command brings up the RUN box!
c:\> explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}

explorer.exe is the parent process which then calls the FileRun method
in the shell32.dll library. {2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0} is
the class ID for the context menu handler defined in the registry.
Using explorer.exe to call a method in a DLL is similar to how functions
in a .dll file are called by rundll32.exe.

[Oscar Mayer]

Post by VanguardLH

Post by Bill Powell
Hey! I didn't know that special secret command brings up the RUN box!
c:\> explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}

explorer.exe is the parent process which then calls the FileRun method
in the shell32.dll library. {2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0} is
the class ID for the context menu handler defined in the registry.
Using explorer.exe to call a method in a DLL is similar to how functions
in a .dll file are called by rundll32.exe.

http://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Microsoft/Run-Command

https://www.techspot.com/guides/1670-windows-right-click-menu/

https://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-11/how-to-customize-the-right-click-context-menu-in-windows-11/

[VanguardLH]

Post by Oscar Mayer

Post by VanguardLH

Post by Bill Powell
Hey! I didn't know that special secret command brings up the RUN box!
c:\> explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}

explorer.exe is the parent process which then calls the FileRun method
in the shell32.dll library. {2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0} is
the class ID for the context menu handler defined in the registry.
Using explorer.exe to call a method in a DLL is similar to how functions
in a .dll file are called by rundll32.exe.

http://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Microsoft/Run-Command

No mention of adding a context menu entry for Run.

Post by Oscar Mayer
https://www.techspot.com/guides/1670-windows-right-click-menu/

OP already knew how to add context menu entries although a content menu
editor might facilitate the registry editing. The OP needed to know
WHAT to run (the handler for the content menu entry). Looks like this
editor includes a Run entry.

Post by Oscar Mayer
https://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-11/how-to-customize-the-right-click-context-menu-in-windows-11/

Page didn't fully display. Got "This page is slowing down Firefox"
message. That is, its scripts are fucked up. Could only scroll a
portion down the page until it stopped painting again.

Could be caused by use of an adblocker (I use uBlock Origin) which
blocked several resources, like btloader.com, getlasso.com, sniggleweb,
and other tracking resources. Lots of other places to get info on how
to edit the context menu without having to bother with this nuisance.

[Bill Powell]

Post by VanguardLH

Post by Bill Powell
Rightclicking on any screen to select a context menu item only needs one.

Depends on WHAT you intended to right click upon. Content menu entries
can be dependent on the object on which you click. In File Explorer,
you'd want to add a right-click entry for folder/directory objects
(HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell). explorer.exe is both
the File Explorer and desktop manager. Your desktop, however, is a
special folder that gets different context menu entries. Adding the
entry to the Directory\Background\shell might still work to get a
context menu entry when right-clicking on the desktop folder. In case
you happen to right-click on a file, you'd want to add a content menu
entry for file objects, but I'd have to hunt on how to do that for file
objects. That might be under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell.

All I know is the method I found here is what I used, and it created the
desired runbox rightclick context menu item for both the desktop & folders.
https://www.techspot.com/guides/1670-windows-right-click-menu/

Post by VanguardLH
Rather than define a bunch of shell extensions under various object
types in the registry, I think Win+R (and, for me, using just 1 hand) is
probably easier than trying to figure out why the Run entry doesn't show
in a particular object's context menu.

Luckily the runbox seems to show up in all the desired context menus now.
It shows up on the desktop. And in a folder. That's all I really wanted.

Post by VanguardLH

Post by Bill Powell
To make matters worse, on a typical dual-screen setup, the taskbar
is different for each screen (don't ask me why - ask Microsoft why).

I wasn't looking for a Windows taskbar solution, like adding a toolbar
with common shortcuts, or pinning the given explorer.exe command to the
taskbar.

If you don't have the RUN box pinned to the taskbar, you're not efficient.
:)

Post by VanguardLH
Did you right-click on the Taskbar, choose Settings, and enable the
"Show taskbar on all displays" option? If so, is the dependent option
"Show taskbar buttons on" set to "All taskbars"?

There's a taskbar on both monitors but it does different things on each.

I have the taskbar set up so I can move open windows to another screen so
that their icons in the other taskbar don't clutter up the main taskbar.

Post by VanguardLH

Post by Bill Powell
I was at this very moment writing a batch file to bring up the RUN box.
@echo off
REM: c:\batch\runbox.bat (brings up the RUN box GUI in Windows)
%comspec% /c "C:\Users\me\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\Run.lnk"
exit
Then I was adding that batch file to the rightclick context menu.
1. Win+R > regedit
2. Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\
https://www.techspot.com/guides/1670-windows-right-click-menu/
4. Create a new key under shell... let's call it "runbox"
5. Create a new key under 'runbox' called "command"
6. Set the 'command' value to be the batch file that you want run
@Default=c:\batch\runbox.bat
But that requires me to forevermore maintain a runbox.bat batch file.

Doesn't that also open a command shell? Batch commands are interpreted
by the command interpreter which usually opens a console window.

I am not using it anymore now that I added your "explorer" command, but
yes, it momentarily opened a shell and then it killed the shell (/c).

The (/c) & exit kills the command window just after the command is run.
Had I used the (/k) option instead, it would have kept the command window.

Post by VanguardLH
That should work when you right-click on a folder of which the desktop
is one. However, it might not show in the context menu when you
right-click on a file object, or network object, or other object type.

Understood. It works on the desktop and in folders, which is what I want.

Post by VanguardLH

Post by Bill Powell
Now anyone can add a "runbox" command to their rightclick context menus!
Thank you for making it even easier to bring up a RUN box in Windows
without having to type anything nor to maintain a separate batch file!

You're welcome. I'm old school, so typing is faster than mousing
around, and why Win+R is faster for me, especially since I only need one
hand, and my eyes don't have to wander through a context menu to find an
entry there. Different strokes for different folks.

Since I open a RUN box many times a day, I have many ways to open it.

Win+R works.
So does clicking the RUN icon which is pinned in the main taskbar.
Now I can rightclick on the desktop (or in a folder) to bring it up too.

Thanks!

[Wolf Greenblatt]

Post by Bill Powell
All I know is the method I found here is what I used, and it created the
desired runbox rightclick context menu item for both the desktop & folders.
https://www.techspot.com/guides/1670-windows-right-click-menu/

Thanks for that cite where I will add it to my spooler command setup.
https://www.techspot.com/guides/1670-windows-right-click-menu/

Currently I have a command called "spooler" which will check if the print
spooler service is running. It will ask if I want to turn it on or off.

I already had that set up as a taskbar icon and as an AppPaths run command.
But with your link above, I added it to my right click context menu also.

Right click -> spooler -> (asks if you want to turn it on or off)
Here's the setup if you want to do the same thing with any Windows service.

First, create this spooler.bat file and put it in your batch directory.
@echo off
REM 20231223 spooler.bat v0.1 starts & stops the Windows print spooler
REM using admin-only commands suggested by Andy Burns & VanguardLH
REM in Usenet thread Message-ID: <um4j5t$1vls9$***@news.samoylyk.net>
REM A taskbar bat shortcut will be more complex as it will likely require
REM creating a new scheduled task as suggested by Zaidy036 in that thread
REM
call sc query | findstr /i spooler
if %ERRORLEVEL% == 0 goto :Stop?
:Start?
set /p user_input=Spooler is not running. Start it?"
if %user_input%==y net start spooler
goto :Icon
:Stop?
set /p user_input=Spooler is running. Stop it?"
if %user_input%==y net stop spooler
:Icon
echo "Change shortcut icon color (red/green) depending on outcome"
exit 0

Second, create a scheduled task that points to that spooler.bat file.
Win+R > taskschd.msc -> Task Scheduler Library -> Create Task
General -> Name=task spooler
Actions -> New ->
Action=Start a program
Program/script=%comspec%
Add arguments=/c start "" C:\yourbatchfolder\spooler.bat
Start in=C:\Windows\System32

Third, create a shortcut whose target is that scheduled task.
Content of C:\yourshortcutfolder\spooler.lnk
Target=C:\Windows\System32\schtasks.exe /run /TN "task spooler"

Fourth, create a run box command of the name "spooler" in the registry.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\spooler.exe
spooler.exe=C:\yourshortcutfolder\spooler.lnk

Fifth, assign a recognizable icon to that spooler.lnk shortcut, and then
pin that spooler.lnk shortcut to your taskbar for one click execution.

Sixth, add the spooler.bat command to your rightclick context menu by
going to this registry key as described in the original link provided.
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\
Create a new key called "spooler" & create a "command" subkey under that
which points to the scheduled task that you previously created.
@Default=C:\Windows\System32\schtasks.exe /run /TN "task spooler"

Now you can run the spooler command any number of ways.

(1) Win+R -> spooler
(2) Left click on the spooler.lnk shortcut pinned to the taskbar
(3) Right click on the desktop or in a folder & select the "spooler" choice

Thank you for making it easier to add commands to the context menu.

[Herbert Kleebauer]

Post by Bill Powell
For commands you run a thousand times a day, efficiency starts to matter.
Mainly, for commands that you run a thousand times a day, you want to be
able to run them no matter what situation your hands, keyboard, and mouse
are in at that very moment. The RUN command is used a thousand times daily.
Typing Win+R requires two hands (at least for me to do it, it does).
Rightclicking on any screen to select a context menu item only needs one.

And why not remapping a key which you don't use to <WIN>-R?

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/keyboard-manager

[T]

Post by Bill Powell
For commands you run a thousand times a day, efficiency starts to matter.

Hi Bill,

I have this functionality on Linux. I have actually
configured several command windows to open at various
places on my drive. It is super convenient.

I would love to have that capability in Windows too.
Did you ever figure it out?

-T

[Herbert Kleebauer]

Post by T
I have this functionality on Linux. I have actually
configured several command windows to open at various
places on my drive. It is super convenient.
I would love to have that capability in Windows too.
Did you ever figure it out?

This batch opens 1 of 4 or all 4 CMD windows (or add some more).
For each window you can specify the directory, the size and position:


@echo off
:: winpos.exe: specify the position for the Command Window
::
:: usage: winpos [T] xpos ypos
:: if T is given, the window becomes TOPMOST
:: example: winpos -> new position 0,0
:: winpos 100 200 -> new position 100,200
:: winpos T 200 -> new position 200,0 TOPMOST

certutil -f -decode %~f0 %temp%\winpos.exe>nul

set d1=D:\tmp1
set s1=MODE CON: COLS=60 LINES=15
set p1=%temp%\winpos.exe 100 10

set d2=D:\tmp2
set s2=MODE CON: COLS=60 LINES=15
set p2=%temp%\winpos.exe 600 10

set d3=D:\tmp3
set s3=MODE CON: COLS=60 LINES=20
set p3=%temp%\winpos.exe 100 300

set d4=D:\tmp4
set s4=MODE CON: COLS=60 LINES=20
set p4=%temp%\winpos.exe 600 300

for /l %%i in (1,1,4) do call echo [%%i] %%d%%i%%
echo [0] all

choice /c 12340 /d 1 /t 5
set e=%errorlevel%
set f=%e%
if %e%==5 set e=1&set f=4

for /l %%i in (%e%,1,%f%) do call :sub %%i
goto :eof

:sub
call set d=%%d%1%%
call set s=%%s%1%%
call set p=%%p%1%%
start "%d%" cmd.exe /k doskey cd=cd $* ^^^&call title %%c^^^^d%% ^&cd /d "%d%" ^&%s% ^&%p%
goto :eof


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[JJ]

Post by Bill Powell
I use the Win+R "run" box a thousand times a day (mostly because I
create dozens of one-word commands using the Windows Registry AppPaths key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\
As you know, the shortcut link to the RUN box is located here by default.
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\
Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\Run.lnk
I already have that RUN box shortcut pinned to the taskbar, but what I'd
like to add is a RUN box option to the right-click context menu.
I already have something similar in the context menu, which is the "open
command window here" option - so all I want to do is add another line to
the rightclick context menu of something like "Open RUN box here".
Here's a way to add the "Open command window here" to the rightclick menu.
https://www.windowscentral.com/add-open-command-window-here-back-context-menu-windows-10
In that method, they change HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd key value
of "HideBasedOnVelocityId" to "ShowBasedOnVelocityId" (which magically adds
"Open command window here" option to the shift-rightclick context menu).
The value of the DWORD is set to 639bc8 which is what gives it the magic.
https://www.askvg.com/windows-10-tip-restore-open-command-window-here-option-in-shiftright-click-menu/
I tried that, and it works perfectly, but what I want to do is modify that,
somehow, so that it will "Open RUN box here" (or something to that effect).
Does anyone on this newsgroup know Windows well enough to modify that
sequence to instead of adding "open command window here" to the context
menu, but to add the RUN box to the rightclick context menu instead?

I'd use Windows Script Host for that. The script would be e.g. `runbox.js`
which contains below code. Note: exclude the `[code]`/`[/code]` wrapper
text.

[code]
cl = WSH.arguments.length ? WSH.arguments(0) : "";
(new ActiveXObject("shell.application")).fileRun();
ws = new ActiveXObject("wscript.shell");
t = (new Date).getTime();
while (!(r = ws.appActivate("Run")) && ((new Date).getTime() - t) < 3000) {
WSH.sleep(100)
}
if (r) {
ws.sendKeys(cl.replace(/''/g, '"').replace(/([+^%~[\]{}()])/g, "{$1}"))
}
[/code]

Run it using `wscript.exe`. e.g.

[code]
wscript.exe "d:\my scripts\runbox.js"
[/code]

Use that command line for the registry context menu commands.

The script accepts one (and only one) optional command line argument which
is used to prefill the runbox's editbox by generating key presses. e.g.

[code]
wscript.exe "d:\my scripts\runbox.js" "%1"
[/code]

That will use the selected file/folder (the `%1`) to prefill the runbox's
editbox. Note: to include literal double-quote character ("), use two
single-quotes.

The `%1` can be used as part of a command line argument of a specific
application. e.g.

[code]
wscript.exe "d:\my scripts\runbox.js" "''d:\programs\the app\main.exe'' /v
''%1'' ''param 'with' single-quotes''"
[/code]

That will prefill the editbox with:

[code]
"d:\programs\the app\main.exe" /v "%1" "param 'with' single-quotes"
[/code]

The script will wait up to 3000ms (3 seconds) for the runbox to appear
before generating key presses. It timed out, the keys won't be generated.