Windows Vista has numerous ways to launch an application. Here are some of the ways to launch an application in Vista:-

• Double-click on a program icon in Explorer, on the Desktop.
• Double-click on a file associated with an application to launch that application and open the file.
• Pick the name of a program from the Start menu.
• Click on a program’s icon in the Quick Launch Toolbar to start it
• Right-click on a file, executable, or application icon and choose Open.
• Select (highlight) an icon and press the Enter key.
• Type the filename of a program in the Address Bar, which is displayed above the toolbar in any folder window, in Explorer, in Internet Explorer, or even as part of the Taskbar. You may also have to include the path (the folder and drive names) for some items.
• Type in the filename of a program from the Start Search box and press Enter. You may also have to include the path (the folder and drive names) for some items.
• Type in the first few letters or the entire name of a program (not necessarily the filename) in the Start Search box, choose the program you want to run from the list that appears, and press Enter. For example, if you wanted to run Microsoft Word, you could type Word, then select the Microsoft Word icon and press Enter.
• Open a Command Prompt window and type the name of the program at the prompt.
• Create shortcuts to files or applications. A shortcut is a kind of pointer or linka small file and associated icon that point to a file or program in another location. You can put these shortcuts on the Desktop, in the Start menu, or anywhere else you find convenient. Double-click on a shortcut to launch the program. To launch programs automatically at startup, just place a shortcut in your Startup folder (C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp).

For most of the programs after the installation happens it creates a shortcut icon in the desktop, in the quick launch toolbar or in the Programs Menu. But some less obtrusive programs are difficult to find and hence these tips may come in quite handy when you want to launch an application in Windows Vista.