How to type Command Prompt Path?

Question

Please give me some guidance on how to use the command prompt.

I am trying to run an update called * msiexec /update patchpackagage.msp * which is located in my Downloads folder.

I am running the Command Prompt as an Administrator. What I see is:

C:\Windows\system32>

Please helop me finish the path.

Thank you in advance,

Clyde Semler

Answer 1

Clyde,

I am assuming that if you use Windows Explorer to look in your Downloads folder that you see

patchpackagage.msp

sitting in the root Downloads folder there and not inside some other folder within Downloads.

To confirm this from the Command prompt type:

cd C:\Users%USERNAME%\Downloads        <push enter>

If the prompt doesn't change to C:\Users%USERNAME%\Downloads> then try it again using the quotation marks around the path like this:

cd "C:\Users%USERNAME%\Downloads"        <push enter>

• Your command prompt should then change to:

C:\Users%USERNAME%\Downloads>

• Once you know you are there, then make sure that your patch file is in that folder by typing:

dir patch*   <push enter>

• Confirm that you see the file name you are looking for "patchpackagage.msp" in the text that pops up in the window.
• You said the file name was called "patchpackagage.msp" but did you mean "patchpackage.msp"  (notice the difference in spelling of the word package?)
• Regardless, just look at the name of the file that gets listed and ensure you are typing in its full name and spelling it correctly as you see it on the screen when you are trying to run the update.
• If the patch file is in fact in that directory then from the command prompt you should still be at of:

C:\Users%USERNAME%\Downloads>

Type in:

msiexec /update patchpackagage.msp   <Push Enter>

or

msiexec /update patchpackaage.msp   <Push Enter>

And see if it works.

---

If that doesn't work then you would want to try to type this in at the command prompt:

msiexec <Push Enter>

and make sure that a Window pops-up and says "Windows Installer" and you can click OK to close the window.

• If that works, try to download your patch file again into C:\Users%USERNAME%\Downloads>and retry.

Answer 2

Clyde,

By default the path to your "Downloads" folder is:

C:\Users%USERNAME%\Downloads

(Make sure you type the % signs as is and USERNAME in all UPPERCASE letters.

If the msiexec program is in the root directory of your downloads folder (C:\Users%USERNAME%\Downloads)

then you should be able to type something like this at your command prompt.

C:\Windows\system32>C:\Users%USERNAME%\Downloads\msiexec /update patchpackagage.msp

Or if you prefer to change to your Downloads folder first and then run your program you can type:

C:\Windows\system32>cd C:\Users%USERNAME%\Downloads        <push enter>

then type:

msiexec /update patchpackagage.msp      <push enter>

Answer 3

Hi K.C.S.

I've tried both ways of typing the command as you suggested.

First I typed after the prompt  * C:\Users%CLYDE%\Downloads\msiexec \update patchpackage.msp *

I received message <this is not a valid path>

I should mention I'm using Windows 7 which I recently installed via an upgrade from Windows Vista Home Premium.

Have I typed something incorrectly? I also tried the *cd C:/* path as you suggested with same resulting error message.

Thanks for your help!

Clyde Semler

Answer 4

K.C.S.

Correction, error message reads: <the system cannot find the path specified>

CS

Answer 5

Clyde,

You LITERALLY type in this text as is:

%USERNAME%

and not "Clyde".

Try that.

The syntax of %USERNAME% uses something called an Environment Variable that Windows has set for you.  There is a special variable called "USERNAME" that is set to the official name of your login name.

If your user name is in fact "clyde" then clyde without the % % around it would work in the path you are trying.  Because I do not know what your full username is, I had you use the built-in environment variable called USERNAME.

If you are curious and want to see all the environment variables at the command prompt, you can type the word

set <push enter>

and you will see a list of them.  You do not need to do that to make this work though.