Default cmd prompt

Shawn McGowen wrote:

> I recently installed a resource kit for XP and it changed my default
> command prompt directory. Rather than copying ping.exe or
> ipconfig.ext etc. to the new default home drive I want my command
> prompt start on my C drive like before. Now when I need to ping
> something or run other commands I keep having to C: and then CD
> c:\winnt\system32. Can anyone let me know where to go to correct
> this? I'm not having much luck searching this topic so hopefully
> there's a quick fix. Thanks, Shawn

ping.exe and other programs in /system32 can be run from any folder. For
example, if you are currently inside 'C:\My Folder' and type program.exe
(or just 'program') Windows will first search C:\My Folder for that
application, if it's not there it will search inside \system32 and try
to execute it.

"Shawn McGowen" <ShawnMcGowen@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2A1A7095-F51C-44FE-ADC5-0BC2D8533521@microsoft.com...

>I recently installed a resource kit for XP and it changed my default
>command
> prompt directory. Rather than copying ping.exe or ipconfig.ext etc. to
> the
> new default home drive I want my command prompt start on my C drive like
> before. Now when I need to ping something or run other commands I keep
> having to C: and then CD c:\winnt\system32. Can anyone let me know where
> to
> go to correct this? I'm not having much luck searching this topic so
> hopefully there's a quick fix. Thanks,
> Shawn

Shawn,

Many of the 'system' commands can be run no matter what your 'current
directory' assignment is.

For the ones that need to be run from a specific directory there are is a
nice method that involves setting some stuff in the registry.
It's called 'Command here' or 'Command prompt here' (or something to that
effect.
Once set, it gives you the option to right-click on any folder in Explorer
and choose Command here.
It will then open up the command prompt with that particular directory as
the current one.

Copy the below stuff into a file and name it cmdhere.inf.
right-click the file and choose 'install'.
Right-click a folder to see the result.
hth
george

; ----------------------------------
; "CMD Prompt Here" PowerToy
;
; Copyright 1996 Microsoft Corporation
;
[version]
signature="$CHICAGO$"

[CmdHereInstall]
CopyFiles = CmdHere.Files.Inf
AddReg = CmdHere.Reg

[DefaultInstall]
CopyFiles = CmdHere.Files.Inf
AddReg = CmdHere.Reg

[DefaultUnInstall]
DelFiles = CmdHere.Files.Inf
DelReg = CmdHere.Reg

[SourceDisksNames]
55="CMD Prompt Here","",1

[SourceDisksFiles]
CmdHere.INF=55

[DestinationDirs]
CmdHere.Files.Inf = 17

[CmdHere.Files.Inf]
CmdHere.INF

[CmdHere.Reg]
HKLM,%UDHERE%,DisplayName,,"%CmdHereName%"
HKLM,%UDHERE%,UninstallString,,"rundll32.exe
syssetup.dll,SetupInfObjectInstallAction DefaultUninstall 132
%17%\CmdHere.inf"
HKCR,Directory\Shell\CmdHere,,,"%CmdHereAccel%"
HKCR,Directory\Shell\CmdHere\command,,,"%11%\cmd.e xe /k cd ""%1"""
HKCR,Drive\Shell\CmdHere,,,"%CmdHereAccel%"
HKCR,Drive\Shell\CmdHere\command,,,"%11%\cmd.exe /k cd ""%1"""

[Strings]
CmdHereName="CMD Prompt Here"
CmdHereAccel="CMD &Prompt Here"
UDHERE="Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Uninstall\CmdHere"
;-------------------------------------