One of my oh-so favorite "PowerToys" that goes back all the way to Windows 95 is Command Prompt Here. This was later changed to Command Window Here for XP’s PowerToys, but did the same thing.
Command Window Here is a very simple right-click context menu option. You right-click a folder, select Command Window Here and a Command Prompt launches exactly in that folder. This is very convenient to have when you’re several folders deep so you don’t have to manually type out where you want to be.
Example location: c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc. Some of you out there may be familiar with this because that’s where the HOSTS file is located.
Let’s say I launch Windows Explorer and navigate one folder above that location where etc is in plain view, which would be drivers:
Open Command Window Here is – get this – built in to Windows 7.
How to get to it?
Hold SHIFT, right-click on the folder you want to be in via a Command Prompt, and…
And I didn’t even have to download or install any PowerToys.
Want to know what’s even better? It works for any folder – even on shortcuts that point to a folder.
If you’re wondering if you can do the same on Start menu items, yes you can – except there’s one extra step involved. If you SHIFT+right-click a Start menu item, the option present to open the physical folder location is Open File Location. Once Explorer pops up, just go one folder back, then SHIFT+right-click, Open Command Window Here and you’re good to go.
Like what you read?
If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below:
Is there some option that I have to check to get the “open command winsow” in the right-click context menu? I’m running Win7 64bit and it doesn’t appear to be there. Now this isn’t the end of the woeld since I rarely use the command window. Maybe it’s one of those 64bit limitations.
All the screen shots you see are from Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit which is what I use.
SHIFT + Right-click will get you the “Open Command Window Here” for a folder, not right-click alone.
Oops! There it is. Thank you. Sorry for overlooking that. Maybe it will help some other people from making the same “skimming” error.
Okay, fine; but what is it used for? Please explain why this is better than just clicking on the ETC folder or creating a shortcut for this same folder if it is accessed numerous times.
Define “it” and then I can answer your question.
Let me try and field this one.
Joe, If you are going to run a command line function and run cmd.exe for the start menu, it will open a command window starting in the directory c:users”user” (“user” equals the current logged in user). at least that’s where it opens on my PC. Now if I want to run a command line function for a program in another directory, I would have to either change directories using the cd command or reference the full path in the command line function that I want to execute. By opening up a command window whithin the specific directory which my program lies, I save all of the extra typing.
I hope that answers your question.
Of course, it is possible that you are missing the implied need for the command window for a specific purpose. If you don’t need to use the command window, then the option has little purpose.
Bob