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Add Command Prompt Here Shortcut to WindowsExplorer

How can I add a Command Prompt option to the defaultExplorer right click context menu?

If you find that you frequently open a Command Prompt

window and change to a specific directory, you can add theCommand Prompt to your shortcut menu. This option enablesyou to right-click on a folder within Windows Explorer andchoose the Command Prompt - which opens a CommandPrompt window with that folder as your active directory.

To add the Command Prompt option to the default right clickcontext menu in Windows Explorer you can do one of thefollowing:

Note: For Windows Vista this feature is already built in the

operating system. Read Quickly Open Command Prompt Herein Windows Vista for more info.

Method #1: Microsoft Powertoys

This is the easiest and most idiot-proof method.

Use the old Microsoft Powertoy called "DOSHERE". You candownload it from HERE (1kb). Unzip it and then right click theINF file and choose install.

You can also use the newer MS Powertoys found HERE.Download the Open Command Window Here file and install it.

Method #2: Send to Toys

One of my favorite tools, one that I usually install right afterfinishing setting up any new system.

Send To Toys is an enhancement of the Send To systemmenu. It has many nice features including:

Send To Toys Control Panel Applet allows you tomanage the Send To system menu content, andconfigure Send To Toys settings.

"Add to Send To menu" and "Remove from Send To

menu" allows you to personalize the Send To systemmenu for drives, folders, and programs.

Send To "Clipboard (as name)" copies the name of thefile or files to the clipboard. Hold down the CTRL key tochange the settings for this extension.

Send To "Command Prompt" opens a DOS consolewindow, setting the current directory to the selectedfolder. If the selection was a file, the folder containingthe file will be the active directory and the name of thefile will be typed for you at the prompt. Hold down theCTRL key to change the active directory to a differentfolder

Send To "Favorites" adds a shortcut to your Favoriteslist. Hold down the CTRL key for the "Add Favorite"dialog.

Send To "Folder..." sends a file or files to anotherfolder, you will be shown a dialog box that lets youchoose where the files should be copied. To move thefiles press and hold down the SHIFT key. The creation

of a new folder is not supported on Windows 95, 98,and NT.

Send To "Recycle Bin" send a file or files to the RecycleBin. Hold down the CTRL key to perform a fileshredding.

Send To "Run..." sends a file or files to the Runcommand dialog

Send to Toys is freeware and can be installed on any version

of Windows.

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Download Send to Toys v2.4 (527kb)

Method #3: Manually add the context menu

1. In explorer, open Tools, Folder Options.2. Select the File Types tab.

3. For Windows XP: Go to NONE / Folder.

4. For Windows 2000: Press n to scroll to the N/A section.

5. For Windows NT/98/95: Press f to scroll to the Folderssection.

6. Select the entry labeled Folder

7. For Windows 2000/XP: Press Advanced button.

8. For Windows NT/98/95: Press Edit button.

9. Select New

10.In the action block type "Command Prompt" withoutthe quotes.

11.In the app block type "cmd.exe" without the quotes.

12.Save and exit Folder Options.

Now right click on Start, you should have a new drop downoption. Open explorer and right click on a folder, select

Command Prompt and a command window opens in thatfolder.

Read this thread for some information on how to remove thecontext menu:

Command Prompt Quickie - Petri.co.il forums by Daniel Petri

Method #4: Through batch file

1. Begin by creating a batch file. For example, you couldcreate a batch file named StartPrompt.cmd. Add thefollowing commands to your batch file:

@echo offcd /d %1

Title %~f1

1. Save this batch file to your Windows NT/2000/XP rootdirectory (which is usually C:\WINNT or C:\WINDOWSfor XP).

2. Open Windows Explorer.

3. Choose View | Options to display the Options dialogbox.

4. Select the File Types tab.

5. In the list of Registered File Types, select Folder thenclick Edit.

6. Click New to display the New Action dialog box.

7. In the Action text box, type Command Prompt.

8. In the Application Used To Perform Action text box,type:

cmd.exe /a /k c:\winnt\StartPrompt "%l"1. Click OK to close the New Action dialog box, then click

Close twice.

Open Windows NT Explorer, then right-click on a folder. Youshould now see a new option called "Command Prompt" onthe shortcut menu. If you choose this option, WindowsExplorer opens a new Command Prompt window with theselected directory as your current directory.

Method #5: Through the Registry

1. Navigate in your Registry toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Classes/Folder/

Shell

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2. and create a key called "Command Prompt" withoutthe quotes.

3. Set the default string to whatever text you want toappear in the right-click menu.

4. Create a new key within your newly created commandprompt named "command," and set the default string

to

cmd.exe /k pushd %1

You may need to add %SystemRoot%\system32\ before the cmd.exe if the executable can't be found.

5. The changes should take place immediately. Rightclick a folder and your new menu item should appear.

Note:You can do the same for Windows 98. Type in"c:\windows\command.com /k pushd %1" (without the

quotes).