> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mahmoud-shaker.gitbook.io/dfir-notes/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mahmoud-shaker.gitbook.io/dfir-notes/start-menu-run-mrus.md).
# Start Menu Run MRUs
### **Overview:**
* **Purpose**: Tracks entries typed into the Windows Run dialog (`Win + R`).
* **Registry Location**:
* `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU`
* **Structure**:
* Stores commands executed through the Run dialog.
### **Benefits for DFIR:**
* **Command History**: Reveals applications, files, or scripts executed by the user.
* **Timeline Construction**: Establishes what commands were run and their sequence
* **Application Tracking:** Stores a list of applications that have been run via the Start menu's Run dialog, helping to reconstruct user activities.
* **Execution Order:** Maintains the order in which the applications were executed, providing insight into user actions and behaviors.
* **Command History:** Useful for analyzing past commands and scripts executed by the user
### **How It Works:**
* Each key stores:
* **Command**: Full path or name of the file or program executed.
* **Order**: Sequential order of execution for correlation.
### **Tools:**
* **Registry Explorer**: Extracts and deciphers Run MRU entries.
* **Autoruns**: Checks for anomalous entries in startup commands
for example :
#### MRU Folder Access
The MRU Folder Access artifact category details information concerning folders accessed by a Windows application using the Open / Save file dialog. This functionality is often accessed by third-party applications which means as an examiner, you may find evidence of access to folders which were browsed during file open or save operations associated with a variety of programs on the system. Windows Vista and later may include entries that reference a PIDL path, which contain GUID values, instead of relative path strings
For Windows Vista and later, this data is stored at:
**NTUSER.DAT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32**
#### MRU Opened-Saved Files
The MRU Opened/Saved Files artifact category details information about the last files accessed by an application using the *Open File* or *Save File* dialog window. As with the MRU Folder Access artifact category, Windows Vista and later may include entries that reference a PIDL path, which contain GUID values, instead of relative path strings.
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