Working dir when using windows cmd prompt

otron

Hi,

Looking for a bit of a tip on this question, Im sure it's an obvious one for all the windows heads.

When I want to start up a dos box, I usually just run "cmd" from the address bar rather then clicking thru the start menu to the dos prompt icon.

When I do this, the starting directory is always the same program file directory, but never the more normal c:\documents and settings\$USER$ ...

Can anyone give me any idea how I can change this default? Cheers!

Mac daddy

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/autoruncmd.htm
Have a look there should answer your questions get back to me if it doesn't

Mac daddy

or if your to lazy

call cmd.exe /k cd "%1"\

start/run/ notepad - save as "name.cmd" save to desktop and double click it

Replace the "Name" with what ever you want.

otron

Thanks Mac Daddy, that did the trick.

Now if I could only understand where it got this default directory from ...

art

otron wrote:

Thanks Mac Daddy, that did the trick.

Now if I could only understand where it got this default directory from ...

If you go to your Windows\system32 folder you can see the original "CMD.exe" executable. Right-click on it and choose create shortcut. Drag this shortcut (or copy and paste) to wherever is convenient either quick launch toolbar or desktop etc.

Right-click your new shortcut and select properties. See where it says "Start in"? This is your default folder it points to on startup. Change the entry there to whatever you like and you'll have your command window set up the way you want it. (note - this only works with a short-cut, not with the original executable!!)

jaqian

Mac daddy wrote:

or if your to lazy

call cmd.exe /k cd "%1"\

start/run/ notepad - save as "name.cmd" save to desktop and double click it

Replace the "Name" with what ever you want.

Thats deadly. Have to remember that.

jor el

I use this. Lets you right click any folder in explorer and open a command prompt there. Handy when you want a fairly heavily nested directory.

It's just a simple registry entry:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\cmdhere]
@="Cmd&Here"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\cmdhere\command]
@="cmd.exe /c start cmd.exe /k pushd \"%L\\..\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\cmdhere]
@="Cmd&Here"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\cmdhere\command]
@="cmd.exe /c start cmd.exe /k pushd \"%L\""

vorbis

Thats fairly handy jor el. Thanks!