Where to find context-sensitive "Open DOS" prompt

  • Thread starter Thread starter LeftCoast_Dave
  • Start date Start date
L

LeftCoast_Dave

Hi,
Years back someone, an MVP I think, pointed to a site (his?) where we
could get "Open DOS" to appear by right-clicking on any drive or folder,
and the CMD window would open up with a path to that spot.

Can anyone please tell me where that might be? Would it be a shell
script? I have this on one XP Pro machine, would like to get it on my
wife's XP Home machine. I couldn't find "Open DOS" in the registry to
get a clue as to where the script/program might be, and don't know how
to determine what is connected to that particular context-sensitive
command (as I might with "Find Target" in alias properties.

Many thanks in advance for any help,
Dave
 
Thanks, Leonard.
I know that DOS doesn't exist on WinXP, but cmd.exe certainly provides a
DOS-like experience, and more importantly, "Open DOS" or "Open DOS here"
makes for a tighter, even if inaccurate, context menu. Guess I'll use
the power toy for now.

I still want to know how I can determine what gets fired by a particular
context-sensitive command without actually firing it. Is there a spot
in the Registry where this info is stored? If so, where?

Regards,
Dave
 
You can access and edit these menu choices through the Folder Options
dialog, File Types tab. Look for "Folder" and "File Folder".

Check out these registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects

(Set a restore point before you change anything)
 
Correction:

This is the only shell extension that works with files as well as folders.
It's so good you'll wonder how you lived without It!

Send To Toys 2.5 737 KB (Freeware)
Info: http://www.gabrieleponti.com/software/
Download: http://www.gabrieleponti.com/downloads/sendtotoys.exe

Description

Send To Toys is an enhancement of the Send To system menu.

- Send To Toys Control Panel Applet allows you to manage the Send
To system menu content, and configure the various Send To Toys
settings.
- "Add to Send To menu" and "Remove from Send To menu" allows you
to personalize the Send To system menu for drives, folders, and
programs.
- Send To "Clipboard (as name)" copies the name of the file or
files to the clipboard. Hold down the CTRL key to change the
settings for this extension.
- Send To "Clipboard" command line utility copies the output of a
command to the clipboard. Type SENDTOCLIP /? at the command
prompt for more information.
- Send To "Command Prompt" opens a DOS console window, setting the
current directory to the selected folder. If the selection was a
file, the folder containing the file will be the active directory
and the name of the file will be typed for you at the prompt.
Hold down the CTRL key to change the active directory to a
different folder. Hold down the SHIFT key to force the use of the
COMMAND.COM regardless of the Windows version.
- Send To "Default Mail Recipient" creates a new e-mail with
attachments and predefined defaults for the recipients, subject,
and message. Hold down the CTRL key to change the settings for
this extension.
- Send To "Favorites" adds a shortcut to your Favorites list. Hold
down the CTRL key for the "Add Favorite" dialog.
- Send To "Folder..." sends a file or files to another folder, you
will be shown a dialog box that lets you choose where the files
should be copied, moved, or have a shortcut created. To move the
files press and hold down the SHIFT key. To create a shortcut hold
down the SHIFT and CTRL keys.
- Send To "Quick Launch" adds a shortcut to the Quick Launch toolbar.
- Send To "Recycle Bin" sends a file or files to the Recycle Bin.
Hold down the CTRL key to perform a file shredding.
- Send To "Run..." sends a file or files to the Run command dialog.

Freeware. For 2000, XP, 2003 Server, and Vista


ju.c
 
Just open up your registry at:-

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory

....then under a sub-key called "Shell" that you will find there
create another sub-key (by either right-click or Menu>Edit>New)
and name it say "DOS_From_Here" - First step done!
Now, create another sub-key within that you have just made and
call this one "command" (it must be "command"), that's step two.
Now in the default value within this sub-key either double-click or
select Menu>Edit>Modify and type in the full path to the file CMD.EXE
e.g. C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe and that's it.
On each folder's right-click you will have an entry called
"DOS_From_Here" which will open on the appropriate folder when
selected.
If in doubt over any of this, look at how other entries are constructed
under the Shell key within HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory
 
P.S. Someone will surly point out to me the need for a /c cd "%1"
parameter at the end of the line pointing to the file CMD.EXE like:-

"c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe /c cd "%1""

However - I have found this not to be at all necessary in WinXP it works
just as well without it, but if you have a problem with this, please add it.
 
P.P.S. My mistake, again, it should be a /k not a /c in the line. The
line should have read:-

"c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe /k cd "%1""

sorry bout that!
 
To "ju.c",
Thankyou for your informative suggestions not to "delete previous
posts". After reading a post from "Al Falfa" I now know what you're on
about. To inform you that I never "deleted" anything - it is just that I
chose not to have checked the box marked "include message in reply" in
Outlook Express. So it was a case of me NOT doing something I should have
done, rather than DOING something I should not have. Please note that I
have now included the message text in my reply and for which I had to alter
settings in order for that to happen. I do hope you are pleased. One more
I will say it - I have never deleted anything - just not included your
message in the reply, so it seems, is a bit of a crime around here!
 
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