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Productivity - Program Launchers (60)

AutoRun LWMenu v1.5.4 Updated

lwc on 13 Mar 2024
  • 2MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 13 Mar 2024
  • Suggested by lwc

AutoRun LWMenu is a control menu that can launch applications, URLs, system commands, etc.
It's not only portable itself, but acts as a portabilizer so the launched apps will become portable too. In fact, it can back up and restore whole registry values/folders/files of the programs it launches (or just use symlinks to run folders/files portably), including a simulator to test everything.

Category:
Runs on:Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10 / Win11
Writes settings to: Application folder
Stealth: ? Yes
Unicode support: Yes
Path portability: Automatic relative path (eg. ..\..\personal\work.doc)
License: GPL
How to extract:
  1. Download the ZIP package.
  2. Extract to a folder of your choice.
  3. Launch either the 64-bit (if your system supports it) or 32-bit EXE.
Similar/alternative apps: PortableApps.com Platform
What's new? See here
Latest comments
-ElCoyot- on 2024-03-14 08:11

If you understand the program well, you can create portable software that leaves no traces in the system.

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PhraseExpress v16.2.30 Updated

Ennovy on 9 Mar 2024
  • 171MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 9 Mar 2024
  • Suggested by JohnW

PhraseExpress is a keyboard macro utility that manages all your frequently used text phrases from a taskbar icon and allows you to paste them into any application with a single mouse click, a keyboard shortcut, or a text macro command. The program is ideal for email reply templates, signatures, addresses and any other information that you find yourself typing repeatedly.

PhraseExpress also includes powerful macro functions to launch programs, files or email messages, offers support for dynamic macro commands and comes with a unique text-prediction feature.

Category:
Runs on:Win8 / Win10 / Win11
Writes settings to: Application folder
Stealth: ? Yes
License: Free for personal use
How to extract: Download the "Portable Edition" ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch phraseexpress.exe -portable.
Similar/alternative apps: Texter
What's new? See: https://www.phraseexpress.com/download/changelog/#client
Latest comments
AndTheWolf on 2017-01-10 18:00

Most recent version is 12.0.124

Ennovy on 2017-01-10 18:30

@AndTheWolf: Thanks. The version history however is not updated

bartelsmedia on 2020-08-17 04:38

You can find the version history here:
Windows version:
https://www.phraseexpress.com/download/changelog/

Mac version:
https://www.phraseexpress.com/mac/download/changelog/

Enjoy!

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PortableApps.com Platform v29.2 Updated

Ennovy on 15 Mar 2024
  • 11MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 14 Mar 2024
  • Suggested by gp_hbk

PortableApps.com Platform is an all-in-one tool for portable software download, management and updating. An included launcher shows nested folders organized automatically by function or favorite status, as well as a cascading app view on right-click of the tray icon. The program's appearance can be customized with transparency and several color, texture, and background options.

Other tools include a find-as-you-type search functionality, available cloud installation, drive error checker, backup/restore utility, portable fonts, automatic application closing on shutdown and more. The program can also work with portable software outside of the PortableApps format (see Extract instructions).

Functional in 64-bit and WINE, includes broad language support and proxy support.

Category:
Runs on:Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10 / Win11 / Wine
Writes settings to: Application folder
Stealth: ? Yes
Unicode support: Yes
Path portability: Automatic relative path (eg. ..\..\personal\work.doc)
License: Freeware/Open Source
How to extract:
  1. Download and run the portable installer
  2. Options are provided to extract to the local PC, connected portable drives, cloud drives, and custom directories
  3. Launch Start.exe

To add non-PortableApps applications place the program in its own subfolder under the \PortableApps subfolder and press F5 or restart. The new app will appear in the launcher menu under Other.
Similar/alternative apps: AutoRun LWMenu
What's new? See: https://portableapps.com/platform/changelog
Latest comments
ihateyou on 2013-03-15 21:39

The PortableApps Platform has been updated (a few times) since this was last updated.
I believe the current version is 11.2 (also there is a version 12 beta, I think its Beta 2)

Please update this listing!

webfork on 2013-03-16 15:13

ihateu: checker got it

shnbwmn on 2018-05-10 03:26

Latest version (v15.0) now supports .NET programs, the first of which appears to be KeePass Professional (or 2.x).

https://portableapps.com/news/2018-05-09--keepass-professional-portable-2.39-released

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Portable Start Menu v3.8 Updated

Ennovy on 6 Feb 2024
  • 6MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 5 Feb 2024
  • Suggested by USB_Kx

Portable Start Menu is a program launcher that allows you to organize your programs via a simple menu system and launch them through a tray icon. If you are running from an USB memory stick, Portable Start Menu can be configured to automatically close all launched applications when it terminates.

Category:
Runs on:Win7 / Win8 / Win10 / Win11
Writes settings to: Application folder
Stealth: ? Yes
Unicode support: Yes
Path portability: Automatic compensation for dynamic drive letter in removable storage devices
License: Freeware
How to extract:
  1. Download the installer and extract to a folder of your choice
  2. The application is in the {app} folder
  3. Launch psmenu.exe
Similar/alternative apps: ASuite, PStart, SyMenu
What's new?
  • Automatic closing of programs improved
  • Smaller fixes and improvements
Latest comments
starshakur on 2017-04-06 16:56

psmstart.exe may be essential to launch 64-bit applications (psmenu.exe doesn't start with either missing), but that doesn't change the fact that psmenu.exe is a 32-bit application.

hamasaki on 2020-10-21 21:18

Download links go to the wrong page.

hamasaki on 2020-10-21 21:31

Also, on extraction, there is no {app} folder. Files are in the root.

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SideSlide v5.81

Ennovy on 24 Nov 2023
  • 3MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 11 Nov 2023
  • Suggested by risk

SideSlide is a desktop extension that docks to any screen edge. It allows you to store your favorite RSS feeds, shortcuts to files/folders/URLs, notes, reminders etc. in "containers" that you can arrange, shrink and fold in the workspace. You can also drag-and-drop text/images from your web browser to the workspace to create web snippets.

Category:
Runs on:WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10 / Win11
Writes settings to: Application folder
Dependencies: To display RSS feeds on the systems earlier then Windows XP SP3, you must have Microsoft Core XML Services (MSXML) 6.0 installed.
Stealth: ? Yes
Path portability: Automatic compensation for dynamic drive letter in removable storage devices
License: Freeware
How to extract: Download the "Portable version" ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch SideSlide.exe.
What's new? See: https://northglide.com/sideslide_changelog.html
Latest comments
hamasaki on 2021-12-21 06:21

The latest update has killed it. At least on Win 11. It just crashes on start.

pkl9kpl on 2022-02-24 09:23

the same -it crashes on W7

"The latest update has killed it. It just crashes on start."

normeus on 2022-03-28 00:47

New version fixes problem of crashing on startup when you have an odd text zoom; I had 110% and now it does not crash.

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SlickRun v4.5.1.0

Andrew Lee on 8 Nov 2023
  • 3MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 6 Nov 2023
  • Suggested by tproli

SlickRun is a floating keyword utility that allows you to create command aliases, or "MagicWords" that launch applications or URLs. For example, "browse" can be set to open Firefox, "note" to open Notepad, and more. You can type an application's path or location as well.

The program includes its own notepad program opened by typing "jot", but major applications such as MS Office and Online Shopping resources can be added using add-on packs available on the website.

SlickRun supports auto-completion, relative paths and drive letter macro for improved portability.

Category:
Runs on:WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10
Writes settings to: Application folder
Stealth: ? No. It creates a lone working registry entry that does not impact portability of settings at all.
Unicode support: Yes. for Jot, history, autocomplete, $W$, etc.
Path portability: Requires manual entry of relative path (eg. ..\..\personal\work.doc)
License: Freeware
How to extract:
  1. Download the installer and extract sr.exe and DefaultMagic.qrs to a folder of your choice
  2. Create an empty text file in the folder and name it slickrun.local
  3. Launch sr.exe
What's new? See: https://bayden.com/SlickRun/updates.asp
Latest comments
Ennovy on 2023-11-06 14:52

Softpedia reports an update to v4.5.1.0 but the homepage is not available at the moment

Andrew Lee on 2023-11-08 00:20

@Ennovy: I was able to access the home page and verified that it was updated to v4.5.1.0 on 6 Nov 2023.

Ennovy on 2023-11-08 01:22

Thanks Andrew!

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Run-Command v6.06

Andrew Lee on 30 Sep 2023
  • 200KB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 28 Sep 2023
  • Suggested by Checker

Run-Command improves on the standard Windows "Run" tool with the ability to run programs as administrator, command favorites and more. Favorites can be managed by grouping by command categories.

Category:
Runs on:Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10 / Win11
Writes settings to: Application folder
Stealth: ? Yes
Unicode support: Yes
License: Freeware
How to extract: Download the "Portable" ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Lauch Run-Command_p.exe or Run-Command_x64_p.exe (for 64-bit OS).
Similar/alternative apps: Famulus
What's new? See: https://softwareok.com/?seite=Microsoft/Run-Command/History
Latest comments
timtimtim on 2013-11-21 16:10

I couldn't run this on win2k; it hides in the system tray without a way to display it. I even tried using Process Explorer's Properties.Image.Bring to Front resulting in the msgbox: No visible windows found for this process

MIKLO on 2016-02-28 20:45

Tim I know this is an old post but I hope by now you have upgraded from Win2K after all it is the twenty first century. For me this software works as advertised!
MIKLO

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QuickWayToFolders v1.3.11

Andrew Lee on 8 Sep 2023
  • 2MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 4 Sep 2023
  • Suggested by crownixx

QuickWayToFolders provides quick and easy access to a folder on your computer via a taskbar icon. The program window disappears when you click outside the window. Display modes include:

  • Desktop: Act like a mini-desktop, with small icons
  • Small Browser: very similar to Windows explorer in "details" view
  • Menu: Display folder content in a menu
  • Multiple Folders Menu: Display multiple folders content in a single menu (note that you must manually add them or nothing will appear when you click the icon)
In the "Menu" and "Multiple Folders Menu" settings, the program can act like a Program Launcher. Multiple instances of the program can be run with customizable icons and each entry is added to the taskbar.

To use the program as a root folder of a portable folder choose Options - Local path, then use a forward slash: "\". To set an image as a background place it in the application folder and set path as "image name.jpg" etc.

Category:
Runs on:WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10
Writes settings to: Application folder
Unicode support: No
Path portability: Requires manual entry of relative path (eg. ..\..\personal\work.doc)
License: GNU GPLv2
How to extract:
  1. Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice
  2. Launch QuickWayToFolders.exe
  3. Right-click the taskbar icon, select Options and uncheck "Launch at Windows Startup"
What's new?
  • Add support for multiple monitors
  • Handle mouse media buttons to browse forward and backward
  • Small GUI improvements and bugs solved
Latest comments
TP109 on 2016-03-21 12:48

@thehop

Thanks, those are interesting apps. I really find ShortPopUp especially useful.

smaragdus on 2016-03-21 21:28

@billon
Better trust the executable. Softpedia also corrected the version number:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Launchers-Shutdown-Tools/QuickWayToFolders.shtml

Midas on 2016-05-24 11:17

The version discrepancy should be noted -- the changelog at http://jacquelin.potier.free.fr/QuickWayToFolders/history.php stops at v1.3.4 ...

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True Launch Bar v8.0

webfork on 17 Jul 2023
  • 17MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 1 Dec 2022
  • Suggested by Ennovy

True Launch Bar is an easy and fast program launcher alternative for the standard Quick Launch bar. True Launch Bar allows combining your shortcuts into groups, which appear as popup menus. It includes standard Quick Launch items to improve your shortcut management capabilities and save work space on your desktop.

Supports drag-and-drop and lets you create new menus by right-clicking and selecting "Create menu." Supports quick links to Control Panel, Printers, Network, etc. via Virtual Folders.

Other features include:

  • Grouping links into popup menus
  • Full support of Windows XP Visual Styles
  • Virtual Folders
  • Separators
  • The Recently accessed button
  • Thumbnails View
  • Hot keys
  • Running shortcuts without a click
  • Skins and plug-in support
  • Fast switching of toolbars
  • Related Links
  • Changing appearance of buttons, including support for Windows XP-style icons

Category:
Runs on:Win8 / Win10 / Win11
Writes settings to: Application folder
Stealth: ? Yes
Unicode support: Yes
Path portability: Automatic relative path (eg. ..\..\personal\work.doc)
License: Freeware
How to extract: Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch tlbHost.exe.
Similar/alternative apps: SideSlide SyMenu RocketDock WinBar

Launcher v2.3.3

lintalist on 7 Jul 2023
  • 17MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 16 Dec 2020
  • Suggested by Andrew Lee

Launcher is a personal shortcut manager that can launch files and programs. In "Manage Items" mode, it is possible to configure shortcuts by dragging files from an Explorer window and then dropping them into Launcher. Supports an unlimited number of user-defined subfolders and item shortcuts.

A 64-bit version is available (within the folder).

Category:
Runs on:Win95 / Win98 / WinME / WinNT / Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8
Writes settings to: Application folder
License: Freeware
How to extract:
  1. Download the installer and extract to a folder of your choice
  2. The application is in the {app} folder
  3. Edit muc.ini to read:

    [Misc]
    DataAccess=app

  4. Launch one of the following based on your OS:
Win9x - NT: Launcher_32b_W9xNT4.exe
Win2000 and above (32-bit): Launcher_32b_W2K.exe
Any 64-bit: Launcher_64b_W2K.exe
What's new? See
https://www.microsystools.com/products/launcher/history.php
Latest comments
mehtuus on 2008-06-02 01:55

It should be noted that if you do not change the *default* settings for "Always show in system tray" (Preferences...>Miscellaneous), the program will add to your registry:
============================================================
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"MicroSys-Launcher"="***your path here***\Launcher.exe"

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-981525854-1381673208-3913934247-1000\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"MicroSys-Launcher"="***your path here***\Launcher.exe"
============================================================

Upon closing, Launcher seems to always check your registry. If the box IS checked it will make sure that the above is in your registry. If the box is NOT checked it will make sure that the above is not in your registry.

P2011 on 2011-08-28 16:08

PStart is so much more portable, simple and focused to the task.

prizm1 on 2011-11-12 17:38

Portable Application Launcher includes all the features this launcher has plus many, many more.

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