Boot to Command Prompt

Every Windows OS since Win95 has offered user access to boot via the Command Prompt. You've probably seen it before; it's the black screen with nothing but text that comes up when your computer is booting up. If your PC is bugging up, you can use this interface to run diagnostics and manage files. It's a helpful and underrated tool to use if you're looking for an at-home way to tweak your computer. While the Command Prompt has remained a constant in Windows operating systems, the means to reach it have changed over the years. Fortunately, with the latest systems (like Windows 8 and 10), it's never been so fast and simple to make use of this handy tool!

Steps

Using Windows 8, 8.1 and 10

  1. Hold ⇧ Shift and right click on the Restart button. The latest variations on the Windows software have changed the way you get to the Command Prompt. To start, access the Shut Down menu (this may be done by pointing your mouse to the bottom left side of the screen for Windows 8, or pressing the Start tab for 8.1 and 10) and holding ⇧ Shift while you press the Restart button. Instead of fully restarting you computer, it will bring up a option screen. [1]
  2. Press Troubleshoot -> Advanced Settings -> Startup Settings to reach the Command Prompt. Once you've held down ⇧ Shift and pressed restart, you'll need to go through a couple of blue screens to get to the new OS's version of the Command Prompt. Click the Troubleshoot button, then access Advanced Options in the following screen. From there, there should be a Startup Settings button. From there, you'll be able to tweak your computer to let you access Command Prompt next time you reboot. [1]
  3. Choose your Startup Settings. Once you arrive at the Startup Settings, you'll be able to choose a few options on what you're looking to make the computer do the next time it restarts. Set your choices if you have any preferences, then press the Restart button that's offered in the bottom-right of the screen.
  4. Press F6 once the screen changes. Pressing your F6 key after commanding the computer to restart will bring you straight to the Command Prompt. From there, you can input your commands and run your diagnostics, the same as with earlier PC operating systems.
  5. Press the Windows key + X to access a menu for Command Prompt. Alternatively (and arguably more simply) you can hold the Windows key and press X for a menu to access Command Prompt. This is provided your computer's desktop is working fine however; given that paying a visit to the Command Prompt is usually a result of something being wrong with the computer's basic functionality, this convenience may not be available to you when you want it. [2]

Using XP, Vista and Windows 7

  1. Search "Command" in your Start Menu's browser.[2] One sorely underused aspect of the Start Menu is the search function, in which you can manually input a phrase for the computer to search. Type in 'command' and the Command Prompt option should reveal itself.
    • This trick can be used on the more modern variations of Windows as well, such as Windows 8.1.
  2. Restart your computer via the Start Menu. Alternatively, if your desktop isn't working properly, you can just get to the Command Prompt via a restart. Access the Start Menu and manually restart your computer, or restart it using the physical power button. When the computer reboots, you'll have a chance to access the Command Prompt by pressing the F8 key.
  3. Press the F8 key while your computer restarts. Pressing F8 opens a menu that gives you a list of ways you can boot your computer. Your mouse won't be available, so use the arrow keys to navigate the menu and the Enter key to make selections.

Using Win95, Win98 and ME Computers

  1. Access your start menu. Beginning with Windows 95, all Windows OS variations (except Windows 8) have had a start menu. The easiest way to start going about accessing the Command Prompt on the earlier systems is to find the start bar.
  2. Click 'Run' and search 'Command'. [3] The fastest way to get to your Command Prompt on early Window OSs is to search for the executable directly. Go into your search bar (found on the start menu) and type 'command' into the text bar. From there, you can access the Command Prompt.
  3. Configure your PC to boot to Command Prompt by default.[4] If you are using Command Prompt on a regular basis, you can have it so that your computer automatically resorts to Command Prompt each time it restarts. If you're using Win95, press the F8 key while you're getting the 'Starting Windows 95' message. Windows 98 users can reach the same thing by holding down the Ctrl key while your computer is booting up. Next, choose 'Command Prompt Only' from your Startup menu.

Tips

  • If you're having any issues with your hard drive, you can scan and fix it using built-in software called Check Disk. You can access it in the command prompt by typing "chkdsk/f", followed by whatever drive you're wishing to fix. For example, if you were wanting to fix C Drive, you would enter "chkdsk/f C:". [5]
  • If you're going to be using the Command Prompt frequently, you can add it to your Start tab to save you time. [2]

Warnings

  • Learning Command Prompt inputs is relatively simple, but might entail a learning curve for those removed from the glory days of MS-DOS.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.howtogeek.com/126016/three-ways-to-access-the-windows-8-boot-options-menu/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.7tutorials.com/7-ways-launch-command-prompt-windows-7-windows-8
  3. ↑ http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chdos.htm
  4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/141721
  5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2854570
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