cmd.exe starting directory

[Guillaume_fr]

Hello,

When I launch cmd.exe on my XP SP2 (via Start | Run), the current directory is my Home Directory; I get this :

Microsoft Windows XP [version 5.1.2600]

© Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

D:\Documents and Settings\Guillaume>

How can I set up Windows to open cmd.exe in another directory (C:\ or anything else) ?

Thanx,

Guillaume.

[baywatch]

hi guillaume

here do you casn find the answers.

http://www.petri.co.il/add_command_prompt_...ws_explorer.htm

[oioldman]

@baywatch - That URL is bad.

@Guillaume_fr - Also, it is done via the SET HOMEPATH option.

if you open the command box and type SET then hit return.

What is your homepth, and change as needed.

[Guillaume_fr]

I have

HOMEDRIVE=d:

HOMEPATH=\Documents and Settings\Guillaume

If I make

> set HOMEDRIVE="C:"

> set HOMEPATH="\"

The next time I'll launch cmd.exe my HOMEDRIVE and HOMEPATH will be "d:" and "\Documents ..."

So, how can I make my changes persistants ?

And won't there have any other effects ?

[maxXPsoft]

Heres what I use to make the path in the Dir it executes on.

This gives you right click on all Files/Folders and DOS HERE appears. Click it and opens the cmd prompt with path in dir of containing. That Microsoft one is useless to me.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\cmd]
@="DOS HERE"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\cmd\command]
@="cmd.exe \\\"%1\\\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd]
@="DOS HERE"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd\command]
@="cmd.exe /k \"cd %L\\\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd]
@="DOS HERE"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd\command]
@="cmd.exe /k \"cd %L\\\""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Directory\shell\cmd]
@="DOS HERE"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Directory\shell\cmd\command]
@="cmd.exe /k \"cd %L\\\""

[maxXPsoft]

BTW if you right click on a file on the desktop it will give you what you had. Anywhere else its the actual path

E:\_beta.microsoft.com>

C:\UnattendXP>

[Guillaume_fr]

maxXPsoft, I'm already using it (And it works).

I'd like to be on C:\ when opening cmd.exe

[maxXPsoft]

Hmm I tried cmdinit.bat but no joy to do that. I'm not sure then a way to get it there. You could use that above and just click the C: drive and click Dos Here. I get

C:\>

[spiritpyre]

this probably doesn't help but using /K parameter you can set the directory when you call cmd

cmd.exe /k cd "C:\"

opens cmd pointed to C:\

although if you always want cmd to point to C:\ and you use a shortcut to call cmd

you could just put that in the shortcut? just an idea

[rubyquyen]

Hello,

When I launch cmd.exe on my XP SP2 (via Start | Run), the current directory is my Home Directory; I get this :

             Microsoft Windows XP [version 5.1.2600]

             © Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

            

             D:\Documents and Settings\Guillaume>

How can I set up Windows to open cmd.exe in another directory (C:\ or anything else) ?

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor]
"AutoRun"="C: && cd \\"

Voilà

[Zxian]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor]
"AutoRun"="C: && cd \\"

Voilà

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That should read:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor]
"AutoRun"="C: && cd \"

Note the single backslash. Otherwise you get an error (surprise...). Thanks for this though! Very nice!

Cheers!

[rubyquyen]

Note the single backslash. Otherwise you get an error (surprise...). Thanks for this though! Very nice!

Yes, single backslash if you enter the value directly into the registry. Mine is extracted from a .reg file, so double backslash are required.

[Yzöwl]

What about this?

REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor" /v AutoRun /d "%%SystemDrive%%" /f

or in reg format

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor]
"AutoRun"="%SystemDrive%"

[rubyquyen]

What about this?

REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor" /v AutoRun /d "%%SystemDrive%%" /f

or in reg format

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor]
"AutoRun"="%SystemDrive%"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That sounds good, except that if you want C:\mydir as default, but your system is on D:, that won't work

[Yzöwl]

That sounds good, except that if you want C:\mydir as default, but your system is on D:, that won't work

None of the examples given to date used C:\mydir. In fact if you want C:\mydir, your example(s) will not work either.

The original questioner also only asked

I'd like to be on C:\ when opening cmd.exe

Since most users C: drive is also the %SystemDrive%, I gave that as an alternative, because in that scenario you don't need the && cd etc..

If you would like to explain the probability of someone installing their system on D: and running the cmd shell, very likely located at D:\WINDOWS\system32 or D:\WINNT\system32 to access root at C:, which will very likely belong to another OS! (How many people create a 'data' drive as C: and then install the OS to D:)

In your case, (as given in your quote above), all you should need would be

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor]
"AutoRun"="cd /d c:\\mydir"

or in a case where you have spaces in your chosen path. (The additional quotes may not be necessary if you have command extensions enabled)

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor]
"AutoRun"="cd /d \"c:\\my dir\""

By the way, if anyone is testing these without having first backed up the key, to return to the default setting use this

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor]
"AutoRun"=""