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Microsoft DOS cd command

Quick links

About CD
Availability
CD Syntax
Examples

About cd

CD (Change Directory) is a command used to switch directories in MS-DOS. For example, if you needed to run Windows 3.11 from DOS, you would type:

cd windows - Changing the directory to Windows;
win - To run the win.com file within the windows directory.

 

Availability

The CD command is an internal command and is available in the below Microsoft Operating Systems.

All Versions of MS-DOS
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows ME
Windows NT
Windows 2000
Windows XP

Index

Category:
MS-DOS

Companies:
Microsoft

Related Pages:
Operating systems

 

Resolved

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Syntax

CHDIR [drive:][path]
CHDIR[..]
CD [drive:][path]
CD[..]

Examples

cd\

Goes to the highest level, the root of the drive.

cd..

Goes back one directory. For example, if you are within the C:\Windows\COMMAND> directory, this would take you to C:\Windows>

Windows 95, 98, and later versions have a feature in the CD command that allows you to go back more than one directory when using the dots. For example, typing: cd... with three dots after the cd would take you back two directories.

cd windows

If present, would take you into the Windows directory. Windows can be substituted with any other name.

cd\windows

If present, would first move back to the root of the drive and then go into the Windows directory.

cd windows\system32

If present, would move into the system32 directory located in the Windows directory. If at any time you need to see what directories are available in the directory you're currently in use the dir command.

cd

Typing cd alone will print the working directory. For example, if you're in c:\windows> and you type the cd it will print c:\windows. For those users who are familiar with Unix / Linux this could be thought of as doing the pwd (print working directory) command.

 

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