Access desktop shortcuts, URLs, Files and Folders quickly with Biniware Run

Ashwin
Dec 2, 2019
Updated • Dec 4, 2019
Software, Windows software
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37

No one likes a messy desktop. But sometimes, you end up with shortcuts all over the desktop, which not only ruins the look of the background wallpaper, but also sort of makes it harder to spot the icons you really need to access.

Plenty of tools exist to make the desktop an organized place, from the commercial Fences to the free Nimi Places.

Biniware Run minimal desktop

Biniware Run is a universal bookmark tool for desktop shortcuts, URLs, Files and Folders. The program offers a convenient way to access shortcuts and delivers a clutter-free desktop as a consequence.

Open Biniware Run and you should see a circle at the center top of the screen. You can move it around the screen if you want; personally I like it on the left side of the screen where it wouldn't interfere with the tab bar, toolbar or scroll bar of other applications. Try clicking on the icon and it shouldn't work. That's because it has no shortcuts yet. So, let's add some.

Adding shortcuts and using them

Drag and drop any shortcut that you want quick access to over the Biniware icon (the b icon). After adding it, click on the B icon and you'll be able to access the newly added shortcut. This also works with website addresses (URLs), and even with Files or Folders that you have on the computer. Folders open in new a window in Explorer, while desktop shortcuts run the program directly. Files and URLs open in their respective handlers, i.e., your images open in the photo viewer and URLs open in your default browser.

Access desktop shortcuts, URLs, Files and Folders quickly with Biniware Run

Note: The program downloads the title and favicon (website's icon) when a URL is added. This can be disabled from the settings.

Biniware Run settings

To create a shortcut folder, you can drag a new shortcut over an existing one in Biniware Run's context menu. But, doing it this way can get a bit messy. A better way to do this is to use the configuration window.

Global keyboard shortcuts for Biniware Run

  • Ctrl + ` opens the context menu (at the mouse cursor position).
  • Ctrl + 1 opens the config window.
  • Ctrl + 2 toggles always on top.

Configuration Window

To configure the context menu, use a right-click (or use the shortcut listed above). This is where you can set up Biniware Run and organize the shortcuts. The toolbar in the left pane has 4 options at the top which are used to sort the icons by name, import and export the current list of shortcuts, add a new shortcut and remove one.

Biniware Run config window

Shortcuts are customizable. Clicking on an icon on the left displays its name, path, parameters, StartIn location on the right pane. You can optionally set programs to run with elevated rights if required.

Click the + button to add a new shortcut, but if you leave it empty it turns into  a folder. To create shortcuts in a folder, just make sure you select the folder and then the + button to add the shortcut as a sub-folder item. You can rename shortcuts, folders, URLs, and files using the name field.  For some reason, any shortcut that I added to a folder ended up without an icon. To fix this, I had to add a shortcut to the top-level (outside the folder) and then move it to the folder.

Biniware Run's icon can be customized, you change the color, size, border and opacity of it from the config window.

Tip: Don't forget to use the right-click context menu in the Configuration Window, it's helpful in organizing the shortcuts.

Biniware Run is a free (donationware) program. The application is portable, and doesn't need administrator rights to function. It requires .NET Framework 4.5 or newer, and works on Windows Vista and above.

Biniware appears to be a new venture of Alexandru Dicu, who created Binisoft and Windows Firewall Control (which was then acquired by Malwarebytes). That might explain why the two websites and the program interfaces look very similar.

I have used Fences in the past (still have a premium version) for organizing my desktop. Biniware Run takes minimalization to a different level though.

Summary
software image
Author Rating
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3.5 based on 6 votes
Software Name
Biniware Run
Operating System
Windows
Software Category
Customization
Price
Free
Landing Page
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Comments

  1. owl said on December 4, 2019 at 10:14 am
    Reply

    About “VirusTotal” and “false positives”:

    “VirusTotal” is also said to be spyware owned by Google.
    ● By uploading files, Google will collect user’s unique personal Privacy.
    ● Submitted files will be made public and anyone become possible download them.
    ● Users should be aware of the risk. Do not upload files that contain personal privacy or confidential information.

    Whatever the owner of VirusTotal,
    VirusTotal aggregates many antivirus products and online scan engines to check for viruses that the user’s own antivirus may have missed, or to verify against any false positives.
    However, VirusTotal results are likely to confuse many end users.

    Most end users are equivalent to ignorance, and most common users trust VirusTotal.
    In general, zip files are difficult to scan and are prone to false positives.
    In addition, “files” that are not registered with the security vendor are It will be false positives.
    We are facing this “false positive problem”.
    Many personal app developers and small vendors suffer from this “false positive problem”.
    If a few tens of percent or so, you can ignore it.

    If it by being published “Checksum, signature, binary (hash values)” that has not been changed by third party to make sure, so you can fully prove its authenticity.
    In other words,
    “Checksum, Signature, Binary have been published to ensure that they have not been modified by a third party. Thereby, safety is guaranteed.”

    As related information:
    Binary file | Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_file
    Hash function | Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hash_function
    Cryptographic hash function | Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptographic_hash_function
    Public key fingerprint | Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_key_fingerprint
    Digital signature | Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signature

    HashTools is a freeware file hashing tool for Windows | gHacks Tech News
    https://www.ghacks.net/2019/12/02/hashtools-is-a-freeware-file-hashing-tool-for-windows/

  2. Neil said on December 3, 2019 at 11:51 pm
    Reply

    Very neat, I’ve been using rocketdock for years now and while Biniware isn’t quite as slick or configurable it is another very useful way of keeping a tidy desktop. Will be keeping an eye on developments,,,,

  3. owl said on December 3, 2019 at 1:35 pm
    Reply

    I don’t like placing shortcuts, folders, or launcher tools on my desktop.
    My preference, a specification that “extremely simple”.

    I used to prefer black mono color before, but now I am enjoying my distraction effect with my favorite image as the “background”.

    In order to deal with “Shortcuts, URLs, Files and Folders quickly Run”, replacing the Start menu of Win10 to Open Shell, and has been using Windows 7 style.
    By customizing Open Shell, I have been able satisfactory.
    Open-Shell-Menu: Reborn of Classic Shell. | GitHub
    https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu

    Still, I was inspired by an Ashwin article and I was half in doubt, but decided to give it a try.
    Biniware Run | Biniware Run – Keep all important shortcuts in one place
    https://biniware.com/brun
    Biniware Run – Web Installer
    Version:2.2.0.0
    Binary File:71.5 KB (73,216 bytes)

    Indeed, surprisingly really great!
    The desktop screen could be simply reconfigured to only “icon”.
    Within that icon, can create “Store all important shortcuts in one place”.
    This app is designed to be very simple, so everything is simple and easy to use.
    In addition to simply organizing the desktop screen, it is also useful as a launcher function.
    Therefore, my rating is “100/100”.

    By the way, about Background
    I enjoy by using “John’s Background Switcher”.
    John’s Background Switcher | John’s Background Switcher puts beautiful full-screen photos and stunning montages on your desktop from places like your computer, Flickr, SmugMug, Unsplash, Instagram and plenty more places.
    https://johnsad.ventures/software/backgroundswitcher/

    In the browser, I am using the “Tabliss”.
    Tabliss | A beautiful New Tab page for Firefox and Chrome
    https://tabliss.io/

    1. owl said on December 3, 2019 at 2:39 pm
      Reply

      “Biniware Run” is also small the amount of RAM, CPU, etc:
      https://i.imgur.com/yE1EgpS.png

      1. owl said on December 26, 2019 at 7:10 am
        Reply

        Biniware Run user manual:
        https://www.biniware.com/brunmanual

    2. owl said on December 3, 2019 at 1:43 pm
      Reply
      1. owl said on December 3, 2019 at 4:31 pm
        Reply

        When “icon” is placed at the top center of the screen:
        https://i.imgur.com/AEiycuT.jpg
        The icon position can be arbitrarily arranged.
        In addition, “use double click to open the context menu” setting is convenient.

      2. Sophie said on December 3, 2019 at 3:08 pm
        Reply

        Hey, thanks Owl, very nice tips :)

  4. puddleofmud said on December 3, 2019 at 12:49 pm
    Reply

    I guess this is for folks who don’t know how to use Windows?

    It’s easy enough to make categorized folders and drop your shortcuts in those.

    Also, you can put all those folders in one master folder and make a handy Toolbar for it in the taskbar.

    With that method I have little need for the Start Menu, and no need for this software.

    The only issue is, when we remove software, the shortcuts get left behind. But that’s why I use Geek Uninstaller to remove my software, as it will also find those shortcuts and remove them as well.

    1. Sophie said on December 3, 2019 at 2:44 pm
      Reply

      @puddleofmud – I know Windows very well (since early 90s), and I respectfully disagree!

      You can drag this anywhere, drag anything to it, and even change its size and opacity, so it appears barely there.

      I will find this instantly helpful, and when I looked, it was taking less than 2meg memory. We are all different I guess, but this long time and well versed Windows user finds this to be excellent indeed.

      1. puddleofmud said on December 7, 2019 at 9:11 am
        Reply

        @Sophie

        You disagree? With what exactly?

        I asked a question and started some facts. Nothing to disagree with there.

        But I get it, you like eye candy software.. Personally, I avoid superfluous software.

        Also, as for you addressing my question (if that’s what that was), note that you’re just one person, so your so-called experience is anecdotal in regard to the “folks” I spoke of.

        That said, I have experience with hundreds of Windows users, and very few even know of what I described, so I’m rather confident that my question was spot on.

        BTW, are you hot? If so, perhaps we should hook up? I don’t mind that you’re a snob, well, that is if your hot. I live in Somalia and enjoy huffing crazy glue.

      2. puddleofmud said on December 7, 2019 at 9:53 am
        Reply

        @Sophie

        Oops, started = stated.

        But I guess you knew that, being that you’re a self proclaimed elder geek.

        BTW, I’m 15 years old and “into” cougars. Are you a cougar, or perhaps a odobenus rosmarus?

        Either way, I’m ready to shake your bacon, that is if your hot.

  5. Sophie said on December 3, 2019 at 10:37 am
    Reply

    I get “W32.HfsIemusi” from “Bkav” on Virus total. This immediately made me a little nervous. It may be a false positive (probably is, as its the only hit), but would all you folk recon that one single Virustotal hit almost always would be a false positive?

    Would you still trust it, whatever it was that produced just one hit?

    Thanks

    1. owl said on December 3, 2019 at 1:23 pm
      Reply

      @Sophie:
      I get “W32.HfsIemusi” from “Bkav” on Virus total. This immediately made me a little nervous. It may be a false positive (probably is, as its the only hit), but would all you folk recon that one single Virustotal hit almost always would be a false positive?
      Would you still trust it, whatever it was that produced just one hit?

      Such as binary files have been published.
      So you can verify that it is authentic.
      By the “value” matching, it ’s proved that it ’s not tampered with, the doubt clears up.
      In that case, it is an obvious “false positive”.

      Biniware Run | Official homepage
      Biniware Run – Web Installer
      Binary File:
      Current version: 2.2.0.0
      Date: November 29th, 2019
      SHA256: 880c32d82ce21578c54557d69a50ba90dfa5566b49b36d760fe7f1df5cdd0ca2
      71.5 KB (73,216 bytes)

      1. Sophie said on December 3, 2019 at 2:40 pm
        Reply

        Thank you @owl @thecontrarian. This does happen from time to time, and plants a seed of doubt!

        I would also like to say that I was in touch with Alexandru Dicu and it was very clear to me from that brief email exchange, that this was entirely a false positive.

        @owl … I think you must mean (when you say “value”) to compare the SHA. Though I’ve not looked, what I think and hope you mean, is that the value published on the vendor’s site, should entirely match what VirusTotal shows.

        If that’s right, then I’ll def. look out for this in the future. Thanks!

      2. thecontrarian said on December 7, 2019 at 10:09 am
        Reply

        @Sophie

        Understand that a file may not have a virus, but it may include questionable code/instructions that can be a vector for future malware. As such, to be safe (AKA paranoid) some antivirus vendors don’t like seeing such and thus flag it at some level, yet some other antivirus vendors don’t fuss over it.

    2. thecontrarian said on December 3, 2019 at 12:57 pm
      Reply

      @Sophie – LazPaint was reviewed here and it also had a warning from one vendor on Virus Total, so I didn’t install it. Not worth the risk IMO.

  6. Rick said on December 3, 2019 at 12:12 am
    Reply

    This is another good option if you don’t want to use the awful Windows 10 start menu.

  7. stefann said on December 2, 2019 at 11:21 pm
    Reply

    I use the good old Taskbar (XP-style) in my Windows 7 x64.

    1. puddleofmud said on December 7, 2019 at 10:15 am
      Reply

      What, you don’t like superfluous eye candy software gimmicks? Ha..

  8. VioletMoon said on December 2, 2019 at 10:36 pm
    Reply

    Not sure of the reason for a third party program to create access to programs and folders via a menu-ized application.

    With Windows 10 it’s super easy to add bookmarks, folders, portable programs, etc. to the standard menu that shows all programs. Then, to make it even better a right click can pin the bookmark, folder, portable program, etc. to the tile UI. Or make a shortcut and pin it to to toolbar.

    Naturally, it’s a personal preference. I use and like Fences by Stardock–works fine. I’m not obsessive with my background–like I’m not stopping all of my work and minimizing all of my windows to look at some spectacular winter, summer, spring, autumn hi-res photo every five minutes.

    I would rather look out the window.

    BTW–I’ve yet to receive a spam from Stardock. I’ve used Object Dock–great tool–and Fences.

    What to say?

    1. rightbower said on December 3, 2019 at 1:47 pm
      Reply

      Absolutely. Fences and Object Dock are all I use (a bit of RocketDock), though biniware is about as simple as you can get for urls and dumping most anything into it. A movable, sizable circle that results in a list of links. I also use WindowFX by Stardock as I’m so used it now, reverting back to normal would seem stagnant and uninteresting.

  9. Alexandru Dicu said on December 2, 2019 at 10:01 pm
    Reply

    The web installer just retrieves the latest released version which is an executable file only. With WFC, I always had problems because many versions of the offline installer were hosted on many websites and I got countless support emails just to find out the users were installing older unsupported versions from those websites, instead of downloading the current version from binisoft.org website. For Biniware.com, the installer, no matter the version, will get the latest version of the software. There is an installer because it contains a quick guide, otherwise some users might not notice the new small icon from their desktop. Once the software is extracted, it can be updated without the need of a new installer, since it can update itself and restart. So, the installer (for the quick guide) is used only for the first time. That’s all. Nothing suspicious.

  10. ULBoom said on December 2, 2019 at 8:34 pm
    Reply

    Fences actually does something different than all the folders by another name programs. Must be copyrighted since there are no clones of it I know of. I trialed Fences two years ago and it wouldn’t work for my display resolution, then they spammed me relentlessly until I blocked them.

    The simplest desktop organizer is to just draw a grid in a tic tac toe pattern on the background image and add text for whatever categories you’d like each box to have. Create a folder in each with an icon appropriate to the category and move clutter into it. Sort of a home made Fences. It does detract from your background but it works!

  11. jfjb said on December 2, 2019 at 8:21 pm
    Reply

    nah.. uses a web installer
    and Win10 bitches about it anyway

    1. jfjb said on December 2, 2019 at 8:24 pm
      Reply

      PS. web installer for a portable/TSR? suspicious

      1. George said on December 2, 2019 at 9:40 pm
        Reply

        Yes, you can stop the paranoia. From the website, which I guess you never bothered to check:

        “The web installer exists just to ensure that you always get the latest version and to provide a quick overview on how to use the software. The installer will just download one executable file and that’s all. Want to get rid of it? Simple. Just delete the file.”

        Perfectly safe software.

  12. Anonymous said on December 2, 2019 at 7:09 pm
    Reply
  13. Ysan said on December 2, 2019 at 7:00 pm
    Reply

    Biniware ‘s dev is also known for the excellent windows firewall control ( now under Malwarebyte ) and not so old . I gave a look and it’s pretty useful though I don’t use it as Fences I stopped using since last year.

  14. Juraj Mäsiar said on December 2, 2019 at 6:21 pm
    Reply

    This looks exactly like one much much older alternative called “menuApp”. It’s a bit harder to setup but the menus looks exactly the same.
    I use it for more than 10 years now and it still works even in latest Windows:
    http://www.desktopapps.co.uk/menuApp.html

    1. Ran Hington said on December 3, 2019 at 3:32 am
      Reply

      My result:

      Website blocked: http://www.desktopapps.co.uk
      Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocked this website because it may contain malware activity.

      https://quttera.com/ – Clean

      Visited site via Startpage anonymous and downloaded installer. Scanned with MBAM and clean. Will make a new system image before testing.

      1. ErlichBachman said on December 3, 2019 at 1:05 pm
        Reply

        I tried installing “menuApp” a while ago. It indeed had a virus.

      2. Juraj Mäsiar said on December 5, 2019 at 4:28 pm
        Reply

        I doubt there is a virus, these are false positive.
        See the VirusTotal result for the installation file:
        https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/9e244b66551671549c9970603e34a85ca0062604baa5a9160e3e41a7ecdd3967/detection

        Only unknown antiviruses marks this as virus, all major players recognizes it as a valid file.

      3. King Missile said on December 7, 2019 at 9:35 am
        Reply

        Be that as it may, BitDefender, McAfee, Qihoo-360 detect threats, and they are “major players” in the industry.

      4. Ran Hington said on December 3, 2019 at 1:53 pm
        Reply

        Hadn’t got around to creating the system image but now I think I’ll just give “menuApp” a big miss and try Biniware Run.

        Thanks.

  15. nomoretoast said on December 2, 2019 at 6:08 pm
    Reply

    I think Biniware has been around a couple years. I thought it was good, just a sizable circle that you simply drag a lot of things into. Then it seemed after some Windows version change, I couldn’t install it anymore. Might try again.

    1. nomoretoast said on December 3, 2019 at 10:31 pm
      Reply

      Tried again, no muss no fuss, from MajorGeeks. You can also create shortcut keys to open the context menu list of everything you’ve dumped into it. Nice.

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