For a long time I have been against launchers like Launchy not because I thought they were bad, but because I thought they were useless.  Anyway I decided on day that I would give it a shot.  After figuring out how to use it and using it for a couple of months now I can honestly say.  I like it.  I also miss it when I am on another computer without it.  It has become and main part of how I use the computer without me realizing it.  When I had to redo my computer I didn't have Launchy installed and constantly kept hitting the buttons to use it.  I also realized how much time I save using it.  It is definitely a tool that increases productivity.

So, since I was wrong and I admit it I will do a walk through on setting it up and configuring it for you to use.  Please, download the app and give it a shot it really is a good product.  Best of all it is free.

Install Steps (most are just visual with my config options please read what is typed)

Visit http://www.launchy.net

 

When going to download area you will be forwarded to SourceForge to finish the download.

 

Next is the Install it is just a typical next next next install please these are the screens for it.

 

Now we are done so lets configure and use it.

 

Configure

I am just going to show a couple of screenshots and am going to explain basically what they are and what to do.  I'll let you explore the rest.

At this point Launchy should be running.  To use launch all you need to do is:

ALT + SPACE

That will bring up something like this: (could be different as there are different skins)

At this point just right click with your mouse and choose options.

A new window should appear and looking like this:

Basically to configure this to launch you applications in the directories area you need to add all the directories you have have applications you want to use.  I personally do:

• C:\Program Files\
• C:\Documents and Settings\Buddy\My Documents\Programs
• C:\Windows\System32\

Once you are done with that you should go back and on each direcotry you have chosen go to the left and choose file types you want to launch in each.  I usually chose for each.

• *.exe
• *.lnk
• *.pdf

Once you have those done hit the Rescan Catalog button and it will scan all the folders and sub-folders making an index of you applications to launch.  After that just hit ok and you are good to start using Launchy.

Once you get done go ahead and to ALT + SPACE and start typing the application name.  It should look like.

 

If you decide to download and install it please leave a comment with what you think.