When using Windows, it is nice to be able to simply right-click and pop open a command prompt, as opposed to Start — Run — cmd and pressing enter. Running cmd.exe still requires you to go to the exact folder you want to work in. Here are two ways to just right click on a folder to open a command prompt in that particular directory:
Easy Method:
Microsoft has a PowerToys utlity called CmdHere that gives you this functionality. Go here to download. For other cool MS PowerToys for Windows XP, go here.
Not Quite as Easy Method:
1. Open regedit (regedit.exe from the Run dialog box)
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\Folder\Shell
3. Right click on the right side and Create a new key called Command Prompt
4. Your default value should be “Open Command Prompt” (without quotes)
5. Create a new key called Command under the Command Prompt key
6. Your default value should be “cmd.exe /k pushd %L” (again w/o quotes)
Your context menu when you right click on any folder will now contain an option called “Open Command Prompt” which will open a command prompt in the selected folder.
