command window

Question

how do i change c:\user\something to c:\

Answer 1

Hi there,

1. Command Prompt-If you are trying to change the directory from the command prompt window, simply type the command "cd C:" and press enter.
2. File Explorer-From the address bar, simply enter "C:"

Answer 2

If you mean when you open a Command Prompt window you want the folder to be c:\ here is an adjustment you can make.

Since a registry change is required be sure to make a manual System Restore Point first so you have an easy way to undo things in case something goes wrong.

In the example, I want the Command Prompt window to open in the c:\windows\system32 folder since that makes sense to me - you will have to adjust the change to open in the c:\ folder - you can do it.

Here's how:

You can change the default value of where cmd.exe (the Command Prompt) window opens with a registry edit.

There is no undo or quit without saving option in regedit. so before making any changes to your registry by hand or with third party tools, be sure to make a System Restore point (just in case).

Then launch the registry editor (regedit.exe) as Administrator:

Navigate to this location (see screen shot below):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor

Look on the right hand side and if there is no REG_SZ (String Variable) entry called Autorun, you will need to create one.

Right click an open area on the right pane and click New, String Value and name the new variable called:

Autorun

Double click the Autorun variable to set the value to where you want the Command Prompt to open, for example to have the Command Prompt open in the C:\ folder, set the Autorun value to:

cd   /d   c:\

To have the Command Prompt window open in the c:\windows\system32 folder set the Autorun value to:

cd   /d   c:\windows\system32

Close the registry editor and test your changes to be sure it works, then reboot and test again to be sure the changes "stick".

Here is what it should look like when you are done:

Knowing that some folks are squeamish about editing the registry you can just import a file to the registry that will do all the work for you.

Here's how:

Click Start, Run and in the box enter:

notepad

Press Enter or click Notepad to open a new Notepad file.

Copy and paste the following lines of BOLD text into the new Notepad file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor]

"Autorun"="cd /d c:\windows\system32"

Save the new text file with a .reg extension to your desktop or someplace you can remember with a name you can remember, something like:

fixcmd.reg

After saving the file, close Notepad.

Locate the fixcmd.reg file on your desktop and double click it.

Alternatively, you can right click the fixcmd.reg file, choose Merge or Open With... and select the Registry Editor or Import.

Respond in the affirmative to the question... Are you sure you want to...?

You should then see a message that the information was successfully entered into the registry.

Reboot your system and test to be sure the changes "stick".

You can remove the fixcmd.reg file when you are done.