The shell: command can be used to open a special folder directly from the Start, Search menu. For example, the command shell:sendto opens the SendTo folder (%userprofile%\sendto) of your user profile. To launch the Documents folder of your user profile, you’d type shell:Personal. Below is a complete shell: commands listing for Windows Vista. The entire listing is stored in the following registry key in Windows Vista:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ explorer \ FolderDescriptions

Credits to MS-MVP Keith Miller for this tip.

shell: commands for Windows Vista

• shell:Common Programs
• shell:GameTasks
• shell:UserProfiles
• shell:MyComputerFolder
• shell:SyncSetupFolder
• shell:DpapiKeys
• shell:SamplePlaylists
• shell:Favorites
• shell:My Video
• shell:SearchHomeFolder
• shell:System
• shell:CommonVideo
• shell:SyncResultsFolder
• shell:LocalizedResourcesDir
• shell:Cookies
• shell:Original Images
• shell:CommonMusic
• shell:My Pictures
• shell:Cache
• shell:Downloads
• shell:CommonDownloads
• shell:AppData
• shell:SyncCenterFolder
• shell:My Music
• shell:ConflictFolder
• shell:SavedGames
• shell:InternetFolder
• shell:Quick Launch
• shell:SystemCertificates
• shell:Contacts
• shell:TreePropertiesFolder
• shell:Profile
• shell:Start Menu
• shell:Common AppData
• shell:PhotoAlbums
• shell:ConnectionsFolder
• shell:Administrative Tools
• shell:PrintersFolder
• shell:Default Gadgets
• shell:ProgramFilesX86
• shell:Searches
• shell:Common Startup
• shell:ControlPanelFolder
• shell:SampleVideos
• shell:SendTo
• shell:ResourceDir
• shell:ProgramFiles
• shell:CredentialManager
• shell:PrintHood
• shell:MAPIFolder
• shell:CD Burning
• shell:AppUpdatesFolder
• shell:Common Start Menu
• shell:LocalAppDataLow
• shell:Templates
• shell:Gadgets
• shell:Programs
• shell:Recent
• shell:SampleMusic
• shell:Desktop
• shell:CommonPictures
• shell:RecycleBinFolder
• shell:CryptoKeys
• shell:Common Templates
• shell:Startup
• shell:Links
• shell:OEM Links
• shell:SamplePictures
• shell:Common Desktop
• shell:NetHood
• shell:Games
• shell:Common Administrative Tools
• shell:NetworkPlacesFolder
• shell:SystemX86
• shell:History
• shell:AddNewProgramsFolder
• shell:Playlists
• shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86
• shell:PublicGameTasks
• shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder
• shell:Public
• shell:Common Documents
• shell:CSCFolder
• shell:Local AppData
• shell:Windows
• shell:UsersFilesFolder
• shell:ProgramFilesCommon
• shell:Fonts
• shell:Personal

shell: commands for Windows XP

• shell:Common Programs
• shell:Favorites
• shell:My Video
• shell:System
• shell:CommonVideo
• shell:LocalizedResourcesDir
• shell:Cookies
• shell:My Pictures
• shell:Cache
• shell:AppData
• shell:My Music
• shell:InternetFolder
• shell:Profile
• shell:Start Menu
• shell:Common AppData
• shell:ConnectionsFolder
• shell:Administrative Tools
• shell:PrintersFolder
• shell:ProgramFiles
• shell:Common Startup
• shell:ControlPanelFolder
• shell:SendTo
• shell:ResourceDir
• shell:ProgramFiles
• shell:PrintHood
• shell:CD Burning
• shell:Common Start Menu
• shell:Templates
• shell:Programs
• shell:Recent
• shell:Desktop
• shell:CommonPictures
• shell:RecycleBinFolder
• shell:Common Templates
• shell:Startup
• shell:Common Desktop
• shell:NetHood
• shell:Common Administrative Tools
• shell:SystemX86
• shell:History
• shell:Common Documents
• shell:Local AppData
• shell:Windows
• shell:Fonts
• shell:Personal