How to open the console in windows 7. method: using Search
Modern users may find the command line mode very inconvenient, since they need to type unfamiliar commands without making mistakes or typos. However, some computer operations are easier and more convenient to perform using only the command line of the operating system. In some cases this is the only possible way to perform certain actions on the computer. For example, a registry editor in operating systems Windows family quickly launched exclusively from the command line. There is no mention of it in the control panel. Therefore, knowledge of how to open the command line will definitely be useful for all users.
You can run the command line different ways, which will also differ from the version of the Windows operating system used.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista
In these operating systems, you can open the command line in the following ways. 
For some actions with the computer in operating rooms Windows systems 7 and Windows Vista, you must run the command line with administrator rights. To do this in the methods described above, you need to run the program not double click the left mouse button, and a single right-click and then selecting the “Run as administrator” item in the context menu.
Windows XP
Click the "Start" button and in the list that appears, click on "Run". In the window that appears titled “Run Programs,” type cmd and press the Enter key on your keyboard.
There is another method that works the same on all operating systems of the Windows family.
- Press the Win + R key combination. The Win key has the Windows logo and is located on the left side of the keyboard between the Ctrl and Alt buttons.
- In the window that appears, in the command line, type cmd and click the “Ok” button in the window or the Enter key on the keyboard.
Working with it involves typing certain commands. Typing a separate command is completed by pressing the Enter key on the keyboard, after which the command is sent for execution and processed by the computer.
You can get help on the main commands used by typing the word help and pressing the Enter key on your keyboard.
The earliest operating systems did not have the graphical interface familiar to modern users. Previously, computer controls were used exclusively text commands.
However, today, despite the variety of possibilities that provide easy and convenient communication between the user and the PC, they are still used. There are also operating systems that work only by typing into them text commands. They are commonly used by database administrators, programmers, and other IT professionals.
Great example of management operating system using text commands - Windows 7 command line. It is present in any distribution of this OS and can be run on any PC running this operating system. You don't need to be an administrator or any kind of IT specialist to learn how to use it. Let's look at this issue in more detail.
A little theory and facts
The Windows Command Prompt is a tool that allows the user to various actions over the operating system or over separate programs by entering text commands. The command line usually consists of a command interpreter (shell) and text interface. First responsible for transmitting and executing commands operating system, second- provides the user with the opportunity entering these same commands and viewing the result of their execution.
The command line offers great capabilities for managing the operating system. Almost everything that can be configured in Windows using the mouse can be done through it. The conclusion is that the command line is capable of performing enough big list tasks, each of which is performed in turn entering a unique command. It is precisely because of the need to remember the syntax of these commands and the ability to use them that most ordinary users have difficulty working with the command line.
Even so, using the command line is not that difficult of a task. The main thing here is to learn to understand the very principle of its operation, which will be discussed in more detail later.
Why does the average user need the command line?
Surely, each of you has come across various articles on the Internet in which the authors urge you to use one or another command to solve a certain problem. For example, through the command line you can do file management, stored on any media, change parameters system operation or even create Internet connection. However, the above can be easily accomplished using a regular mouse and keyboard.
The importance of the command line lies in the fact that any operations with the system can be performed in the event that access to the graphical interface is lost or there is no other solution.
Here are some examples:
- Registration in the system dynamic DLLs (often necessary to do when copying to system folder Windows new DLL file - registration will “make it clear” to the system that a new library has appeared);
- Settings network adapter computer as wireless point Wi-Fi access;
- You can even access the Internet by connecting to the network through one of your existing connections.
You also cannot do without using the command line in case impossibility of control computer using a graphical interface. For example, there is more than one variety virus programs that turn off Windows Explorer without allowing the user to access folders or run programs.
Using the command line, you can not only launch the application, but also go to any folder in order to work on any files (copying, moving, setting a new name, and so on). And this is only part of the command line capabilities. Let's now move on to practice.
How to Open Command Prompt in Windows 7
The first thing you need to do is run the command line, preferably as an administrator.
It is launched in one of the following ways:
After performing one of the above actions, you will call the command line - usually this is a small black window.
Why do you need administrator rights? The fact is that there are a number of teams that are capable of change system settings . You can execute such commands only with administrator rights. This is done for safety. Therefore, if you are in a guest account, you will not be able to call the command line as an administrator, and therefore not be able to execute commands related to system settings.
How to use the command line
Due to the fact that there are enough commands a large number of, their entire list cannot be displayed in one article. For this reason, we will consider the most simple commands, which can be performed without administrator rights. Let's begin.
After launching the command line, you will see a window similar to this:
The address line preceding the blinking cursor is the address current folder on your hard drive (or any other connected device). Navigating through folders (changing the current folder) is one of the most simple actions. Let's run this command. To do this, you need to enter the cd command into the window and specify the full path to the name of the folder we need, and then press Enter to start execution. For example, if you need to go to the address " C:\Program Files", to do this, just enter cd C:\”Program Files”
Important! When navigating to a folder with a space in the name, it must be specified in quotes.
This way you can go to any directory hard drive. You also need to know that if the folder is located in the current command line folder, then using " CD"it opens without the need to specify the full path ( just specify the folder name after the command).
To move out of the current folder into a folder over high level, that is parental, use the cd .. command (the two dots mean the parent directory).
Now let's do it switch to another local disk . To do this, simply specify the drive letters followed by a colon. For example, we want to get to the drive “D:\” - we write the command d: and then press Enter.
This is done using the command " dir" Enter it and the command line will display a list of the contents of the “D:\” drive. Team " dir" can be called from any folder - even to view the contents of a directory on another drive (to do this, you must enter the full path to the name desired folder). For example, run: dir c:\windows
Let's look at another command - " copy" As the name implies, it is used to copy data. For example, you are on the drive " D:\" and you need to copy the file " 1.txt"to a flash drive. To do this, enter copy 1.txt F: Instead of “F:”, you can specify any other drive letter (in our case, copy to drive “C” :\ "") or the full path to the directory where you want to copy files or folders.
A more advanced version of the copy command is the " robocopy", unlike its predecessor, it can copy not only files, but also folders, including their contents.
You don't have to remember the names of all the commands. For withdrawal full list With brief description type: help
For getting detailed information, for example, for robocopy, type: help robocopy
note that help displays all descriptions on Russian language, of course, if Windows version yours is Russified.
Everything discussed here is only a small part of the command line capabilities. If you are interested in using it, we recommend visiting the official Microsoft website, where there is full information on working with her.
Video on the topic
Sometimes for a solution computer problems you have to use the command line. There are several ways to do this. In the right hands, the command line is a very powerful and flexible tool. With its help you can reach the most hidden settings operating system. Hackers can use the command line to show you capabilities of your computer that you don't even know about.
But first you need to find this so-called command line. Today we will talk about how to open the Command Prompt in Windows 10. Some of these methods are also suitable for others Windows systems. So watch, read and apply.
What is the command line inWindows
The Command Prompt is a must-have program on any operating system for issuing commands without using windows. The program itself looks like a black window with a white line. You can enter commands only in Latin and Arabic numerals. She does not understand Russian letters and does not even allow them to be entered.
Calling the command line from the Start menu
Click on the button Select the item " All applications" (if you have one), and go to the section with the letter " WITH" Click on the folder " Service –Windows" In the list that opens, you will find a command line shortcut. Clicking on it will open the command line.
Calling the command line via searchWindows
Find on , near the menu button " Start» icon with a picture of a magnifying glass. This is an icon windows search. Click on it with the left mouse button. In the input field, start writing the word “command”.
In the attached list above, find the command line icon and click on it with the mouse.
If you click on this icon right click mouse and select " Run as administrator", then the command line will launch with more advanced capabilities.
P.S. This is only possible if you are running with an administrator account.
Call the command line with administrator rights
Some actions on the command line can only be performed with administrator rights. In this case, you need a command line with these rights.
If you work on your computer under an administrator account, then you can run such a line without problems. To do this, just right-click on the command line icon in the methods described above, or
right-click on the menu button " Start", and select the item " Command line (administrator)".
Calling the command line using the Run command
Press the "" keys on your keyboard at the same time. Win» + « R».
For most users, the graphical interface proposed by the developers is enough to “communicate” with Windows OS - it is simple and intuitive. But for some purposes that the average user rarely encounters, it is more convenient to use the command line. How to start the command line on Windows?
First, let's figure out what the command line is. Command line (console) interface - text. The user enters from the keyboard certain commands, the system fulfills them. The command line is used, for example, to access a website (server) or for problems with the Internet.
In Windows NT OS (Windows 2000 and higher) it is used command line interpreter cmd.exe, which replaced the outdated command.com interpreter, which was used in systems of the Windows 9x and MS-DOS family. The interpreter translates the text command into a form understandable to the system. Launching a command prompt in Windows means running the cmd.exe application.
To open the command prompt, you can use one of the following methods.
Click on the “Start” button. In the menu that opens, select Run. In the window that opens, in the Open line, enter the name of the program cmd.exe and click on the OK button or click on Enter key on keyboard. In order to open the Run window, you can also use the key combination Win + R (Win is the key with the Windows logo in the bottom row of the keyboard).
You can open the command line in a more “traditional” way by selecting it from the list installed programs. To do this, again, click on the “Start” button, select the All programs item in the menu, in it - the Standard item, and from the list standard programs select the program we need - Command Line.
But running the command prompt this way may prevent you from running certain commands. To achieve this, you need to run the command line as an administrator. To do this, we “get” to the command line using the previous method (Start - All Programs - Accessories), but click on the phrase Command Prompt not with the left mouse button, but with the right one. Will open context menu. In it, click on the item Run as administrator. A dialog box may appear: “Do you want to allow the following program to make changes on this computer?” Feel free to click “Yes”.
In order not to perform the same manipulations every time you start the command line, you can configure automatic start on behalf of administrator. To do this, call the context menu in the same way as in the previous case, but instead of Run as administrator, select Properties. In the properties dialog box that opens, go to the Shortcut tab and click on the Advanced button. In the window that opens, check the box next to Run as administrator, click OK, and in the properties window click Apply and OK.
IN Windows composition 7 included extensible command line interface shell, Windows PowerShell . It can be used instead of the standard command line. Launching Windows PowerShell is as easy as running a regular command line (cmd.exe): Start - All Programs - Accessories - Windows PowerShell.
By running the command line, you can see list of most frequently used commands. To do this, enter the help command and press the Enter key. A list will open available commands. To obtain additional information about the command you are interested in, you need to enter help command_name, for example, help tree. If you need to get information about a specific utility, the utility_name /? construct will help, for example, ping /?.
Command line - quite useful Windows tool , which may be useful in different situations. And the next time the provider's technical support representative asks you to open the command line and check the ping, you won't have the question “How to open the command line?”
Command line - special program, which allows you to control the operating system using text commands entered in the application window. Its interface is completely text-based, in contrast to the usual appearance of the operating system.
Performing actions using text expressions, of course, is not as convenient as clicking on icons on the screen, selecting menu items, or opening program windows. But sometimes it is simply necessary to open the command line, for example, in case of problems with the system, working with network and equipment settings, calling system applications. Here are some examples of its use:
- The systeminfo command allows you to collect information about the system, including installed updates and network information. IN graphical interface It is not possible to obtain such data.
- chkdsk - checks the disk for errors and generates a report.
- sfc /scannow - useful command launch scanning and recovery of damaged files.
- ipconfig - allows you to find out the IP address of your computer in a split second.
- ping - check the network operation in case of problems with the router.
- help - the command line will display a list of possible commands with brief information about them.
These are just a few examples beneficial use this application. In addition, through the program window you can quite successfully work on the computer without using a mouse.
Switching methods
There are several options to open the Windows Command Prompt:
In versions higher than Windows 8, in order to apply this method, you need to click on the magnifying glass next to the user name.
Also for quick launch you can create a desktop shortcut and hotkeys. You can create a shortcut like this:
- In the Explorer window, find the “Windows\System32” folder, right-click on the cmd.exe file in it, then “Create a shortcut” and select a name for it.
- Right click on empty space on the screen, find “Create shortcut” in the context menu. In the field that appears, type C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe. Next, select a name and click OK.
Now you can assign hotkeys. Call the context menu of the created shortcut, click “Properties”, “Shortcut” tab, enter the required combination in the “Shortcut” field.
Please note that when launched using the shortcut, search box and explorer, the command line is launched from the System32 folder, and using the "Run" item of the Start menu from Users folders your computer.
Opening with extended rights
Among the methods discussed, some allow you to enable the command line as an administrator. The point is that even if current work you are using account Administrator, you do not have full rights to control the system. This is done to improve reliability and reduce the risk of damage from malware.