Changing default startup directory for command pro

Question

How do I change default startup directory for command prompt in Windows 7?

I usually do the following to start command prompt from C:\

  WIN-R (Run Prompt)
  cmd /K cd C:\

I want to do the following to start command prompt from C:\

  WIN-R (Run Prompt)
  cmd

Answer 1

This doesn't work for me. I've tried this both under Win7 64bit and Vista 32.

I'm using the below commandline to add this capability.

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor" /v AutoRun /t REG_SZ /d "IF x"%COMSPEC%"==x%CMDCMDLINE% (cd /D c:)"

Answer 2

While adding a AutoRun entry to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor like Shinnok's answer is the way to go it can also really mess things up, you really should try to detect a simple cmd.exe startup vs a script/program using cmd.exe as a child process:

IF /I x"%COMSPEC%"==x%CMDCMDLINE% (cd /D c:\)

Answer 3

changing shortcut under Windows System on 8.1 worked for me - another thing I found is that 'Start In:' WORKS when Advanced -> Run as admin is UNCHECKED, however, if CHECKED, it does not work

Answer 4

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor

string: Autorun value: cd /d %~dp0

all bat files will run from the bat file location

Answer 5

Open regedit and browse to this path

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor

Create new string vale named Autorun. Set its value to cd /d C:\.

Run cmd again. Voila!

Answer 6

1. go to regedit ( go to search and type regedit)
2. expand "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" node
3. under HKEY_CURRENT_USER node expand "software" node
4. under software node expand "microsoft" node
5. under microsoft node click on "Command Processor"
6. path looks like this : "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor"

it looks something like this :

7. if you do not see "Autorun" String Value
8. Right Click - New - Expandable String Value, and rename it to Autorun
9. double click on "Autorun" 10.enter this value path format:
10. "CD/d C:\yourfoldername\yoursubfoldername"