Command Prompt at Startup

How to Open a Command Prompt at Boot in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to open a command prompt at boot from the System Recovery Options or Advanced Boot Options screen in Windows 7.

   Note

Command Prompt is a feature of Windows 7 that provides an entry point for typing MS‑DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) commands and other computer commands. The most important thing to know is that by typing commands, you can perform tasks on your computer without using the Windows 7 graphical interface (GUI). Command Prompt is typically only used by advanced users.

OPTION ONE

To Open a Command Prompt at Boot

1. Boot from either your Windows 7 installation disc or Windows 7 System Repair Disc, and press Shift + F10 when at either screen below.



A) Go to step 3.
OR

2. Boot to the System Recovery Options screen, and select the Command Prompt option. (see screenshot below)
A) Continue on to step 3.
3. A command prompt window will now open. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: To exit and restart to the Windows 7 logon screen, close the command prompt window and click on the Restart button on the screenshot below step 2.

OPTION TWO

To Boot to "Safe Mode with Command Prompt"

   Note

This starts Windows 7 in safe mode with a command prompt window instead of the usual Windows interface.

1. Boot to the Advanced Boot Options screen.

2. Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
3. Windows 7 will now start loading Safe Mode with Command Prompt. (See screenshot below)
4. When finished, you are now in Safe Mode with Command Prompt. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: To exit from here, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete or type Exit and press Enter to restart the computer.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Open a Command Prompt in Windows 7
• How to Open a Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc

 

[MegaFixer]

You can always open a command prompt during install by pressing Shift+F10

 

[need4steer]

Great tutorial.
Thanks a lot!.

Brink & MegaFixer, The "SHIFT+F10" is a great tip.

 

[KingZeph]

You can always open a command prompt during install by pressing Shift+F10

I tried this the other day, trying to set up a VHD that I can boot from, and when I'm at the start of the windows 7 installation screen I press shift+f10 and nothing happens.

 

[Brink]

Hello Zeph, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You could also select the Command Prompt option instead in step 3 of Option Two to be able to open a command prompt at boot.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[bokisaacdc]

MegaFixer Shift+F10 tip is very important to me, and thank you for that man!

 

[ankitgoyal1009]

i have tried option2 but it is not showing command prompt instead it is showing normal windows login screen.

 

[Brink]

Hello Ankitgoyal, and welcome to Seven Forums.

How does OPTION ONE work for you? It would be a better option.

 

[ankitgoyal1009]

Thanks Brink,
Actually I have forgot my account password and I want to enable my built-in admin account so that i can reset my account's password from there. will i be able to do it with option 1?

 

[Brink]

Ankitgoyal,

To reset the password, you might see if these may help better instead.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85657-password-reset.html

or

Reset User Account Password - Vista Forums

 

[joaodiogo321]

Hi Brink

To begin with: Superb thread as all you make are!

Now the question: I want to defrag my my 2 laptop hdds (c: and d: ). In order to get the best results, which option should i use to get to the CMD at boot?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Brink]

Hello Joaodiogo,

For defrag, OPTION ONE would be best to not have to worry about anything being "in use".

 

[joaodiogo321]

Hello Joaodiogo,

For defrag, OPTION ONE would be best to not have to worry about anything being "in use".

well that's what i imagined.
thanks for confirming my suspects!!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[joaodiogo321]

Hi again.
I wanted to perform the defrag tonight but im not comfortable with the idea of letting my pc on all night.
Does my pc shuts down or restarts automatically after a complete defrag? do i really need to write "exit" or is there any other way?

 

[Brink]

No, it will not shutdown on it's own when defrag at boot has finished, but it's not going to hurt anything to have it running overnight though. You could turn off the monitor(s), and just leave the computer running until it's finished.

I would recommend to use the command prompt from OPTION ONE.

 

[joaodiogo321]

No, it will not shutdown on it's own when defrag at boot has finished, but it's not going to hurt anything to have it running overnight though. You could turn off the monitor(s), and just leave the computer running until it's finished.

I would recommend to use the command prompt from OPTION ONE.

Yeah, you're right. I guess it cant hurt that much!

BTW, im using a laptop, so ill just leave it and it'll turn the monitor off automatically after 15 minutes...

Thanks again!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome. You'll most likely need to leave the AC plugged in though.

 

[joaodiogo321]

You're most welcome. You'll most likely need to leave the AC plugged in though.

Well... Im with a problem here. i cant get the "defrag" command to work in command prompt from option one no mather what letters i write after it!

Ive tried "defrag.exe -c" and "defrag -c" and it said: "defrag(.exe) is not recognised as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file."

then i tried "c:\windows\system32\defrag.exe -c" and it said: "the resource loader cache doesnt have loaded MUI entry. <0x80073B01> " three times in a row...

What should i do?!

it doesnt work with 2 either... i type the stuff in there and it says:

Microsoft windows defragmenter
Copyright 2007 etc

and does nothing....

any ideas?

 

[Brink]

It's just that you have the command wrong. It should be this below with a colon after C instead substituting C with the drive letter that you want to defrag. Option Three in the tutorial below can help show you more options as well if you like.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11733-disk-defragmenter-open-use.html

defrag C: /F