1. Disable the MS-DOS Command Prompt
(Windows
95/98/Me)This setting allows you
to disable the use of the MS-DOS command prompt in Windows.
Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, named "Disabled" and set
it to "1" to disable the command prompt or to re-enable it again later change
the value to "0".| Settings: |
| User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WinOldApp] |
| System Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WinOldApp] |
| Name:
Disabled |
Type: REG_DWORD
(DWORD Value)
|
| Value: (0 =
disable, 1 = enable) |
2. Enable Command Completion (Windows
NT/2000/XP)Command completion
allows you to type a portion of a file name, and then have the system complete
the rest by pressing the specified key. This is similar to the UNIX shell
command completion feature. Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called
'CompletionChar' and set it to equal the hex value of the required control
character. For example to use the TAB key set the value to '9', to use BackSpace
set the value to '8', to use Ctrl-D set the value to '4' and for Ctrl-F set the
value to '6'.
Exit your registry, you may need to restart Windows for the change to take
effect.
Now when you type the first part of a filename then press the specified key,
Windows will complete the filename for you. Pressing the key multiple times will
scroll through all the options.
| Settings: |
| User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor] |
System Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor]
|
Name:
CompletionChar
|
| Type: REG_DWORD
(DWORD Value) |
| Value: Hex
Control Character |
3. Change the Command Prompt (Windows
NT/2000/XP)
This setting allows
you to change the format of the command prompt to show additional information
instead of just the current drive and path ("C:\>").
Open your registry and find the key below.
Create or modify a REG_EXPAND_SZ string called "PROMPT" and set it to the
required prompt format including any special codes or variables below.
Special Codes
$A - & (Ampersand)
$B - | (pipe)
$C - ( (Left parenthesis)
$D - Current date
$E - Escape code (ASCII code 27)
$F - ) (Right parenthesis)
$G - > (greater-than sign)
$H - Backspace (erases previous character)
$L - < (less-than sign)
$N - Current drive
$P - Current drive and path
$Q - = (equal sign)
$S - (space)
$T - Current time
$V - Windows XP version number
$_ - Carriage return and linefeed
$$ - $ (dollar sign)
Variables
%USERNAME% - Current Username
%COMPUTERNAME% - Local computer name
%USERDOMAIN% - Local domain name
The default prompt is "G" (e.g. "C:\>"), some alternatives include:
[%computername%]P$G to show the computer, drive and path
[%username%]P$G to show the current user, drive and path | Settings: |
System Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Environment]
|
| Name:
PROMPT |
| Type:
REG_EXPAND_SZ (Expanded String Value) |
| Value: Prompt
Text (e.g. G) |
4. Allow UNC Paths at the Command
Prompt (Windows
NT/2000/XP)
The Command Processor
normally checks and disallows UNC names from being used for the current
directory in the Command Prompt as they may cause problems with launched child
processes. This tweak can be used to allow UNC paths and remove the warning
message.
Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value called
'DisableUNCCheck' using the settings below.
Exit your registry, you may need to restart or log out of Windows for the
change to take effect.
Note: If you enable this feature and start a Console that has a
current directory of an UNC name, start applications from that Console, and then
close the Console, it could cause problems in the applications started from that
Console.
| Settings: |
| User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor] |
| Name:
DisableUNCCheck |
Type: REG_DWORD
(DWORD Value)
|
| Value: (0 =
default, 1 = allow UNC) |
5. Add Command Prompt Option to Every
Folder (All
Windows)
If you still use the
DOS prompt regularly then this setting creates a new right-click menu option to
open a command prompt at the selected directory.
Create a new sub key called 'Command' under the main key (i.e.
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\Command]). Change the value of '(Default)'
within the key to equal the text you would like on the right-click menu, for
example 'Command Prompt'.
Create another new sub-key under the key created above, named 'command' (i.e.
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\...\Command\command]). Change the value of '(Default)' within
this key depending on your operating system to equal either:
Windows 95, 98 or Me
command.com /k cd "%1"
or
Windows NT, 2000 or XP
cmd.exe /k cd %1
Now right-click on a folder and the new option of 'Command Prompt' should be
available.
| Settings: |
System Key:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell]
|
| Name:
(Default) |
Type: REG_SZ
(String Value)
|
6. Change the Command Prompt Colors
(Windows
NT/2000/XP)
The value
DefaultColor controls the foreground and background colors used in command
prompt windows. It has a default value of 0, for standard white text on a black
background.
You can replace this
value with a two-digit hexadecimal number, in which the first digit selects a
background color and the second a foreground color. The hexadecimal codes are:
| Hexadecimal value |
Color |
| 0 |
Black |
| 1 |
Blue |
| 2 |
Green |
| 3 |
Aqua |
| 4 |
Red |
| 5 |
Purple |
| 6 |
Yellow |
| 7 |
White |
| 8 |
Gray |
| 9 |
Light Blue |
| A |
Light Green |
| B |
Light Aqua |
| C |
Light Red |
| D |
Light Purple |
| E |
Light Yellow |
| F |
Bright White |
A value of F0, for example, would give black text on a white background, and
1E would yield yellow text on a blue background.
The change should take effect the next time you open a console window.
| Settings: |
| User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor] |
| Name:
DefaultColor |
Type: REG_DWORD
(DWORD Value)
|
| Value: (0 =
default) |
7. Enable Directory Completion (Windows
2000/XP)
Directory completion
allows you to specify a key, that when pressed, completes the remainder of a
directory name, you can press the key multiple times to scroll through the
choices.
Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called
'PathCompletionChar' and set it to equal the hex value of the required control
character. For example to use the TAB key set the value to '9', to use Ctrl-D
set the value to '4' and for Ctrl-F set the value to '6'.
Now when you are using a command prompt and type the first part of a
directory name then press the specified key, Windows will complete the remainder
of the path for you.
| Settings: |
| User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor] |
| System Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor] |
| Name:
PathCompletionChar |
| Type: REG_DWORD
(DWORD Value) |
Value: Hex
Control Character
|
8. Quick Edit the Command Prompt
(Windows
NT/2000/XP)
Quick Edit allows you
to easily cut and paste text in the command prompt window using the mouse. The
ability to use the Edit menu options is still possible.
Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value called 'QuickEdit' using
the settings below.
| Settings: |
| User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console] |
| System Key:
[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Console] |
| Name:
QuickEdit |
Type: REG_DWORD
(DWORD Value)
|
| Value: (0 =
disabled, 1 = enabled) |
9. Disable Command Prompt and Batch
Files (Windows
2000/XP)
This restriction allows
you to selectively disable the Command Prompt (CMD) and the ability to execute
DOS batch files.
Create or modify the DWORD value "DisableCMD" and set it to a number from the
list below.
- 0 - (default) enable command prompt and batch files
- 1 - disable command prompt and batch files
- 2 - disable command prompt but allow batch files
The change
should take effect immediately.| Settings: |
| User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System] |
| Name:
DisableCMD |
| Type: REG_DWORD
(DWORD Value) |
| Value: (0 =
default, 1 = disabled, 2 = disabled but allow batch) |
10. Disable Single Mode MS-DOS
Applications (Windows
95/98/Me)
This setting allows you
to disable the use of real mode DOS applications from within the Windows
shell.Create a new DWORD value, called 'NoRealMode' and set it to "1" to disable real
mode DOS, to re-enable it again later change the value to "0". | Settings: |
| User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WinOldApp] |
| System Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WinOldApp] |
Name:
NoRealMode
|
Type: REG_DWORD
(DWORD Value)
|
Value: (0 =
disable, 1 = enable)
|
11. Run Startup Programs in a Command
Prompt (Windows
2000/XP)This setting allows you
to specify commands or programs to be automatically executed whenever a command
processor is launched. For example, to set environment variables or parameters
using a batch file. Create a new string value called "AutoRun" and set the value to equal the
commands to be automatically executed. Multiple commands should be seperated by
double ampersands e.g. "command1 && command2".
The changes will take effect the next time the command processor is
used.
| Settings: |
| User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor] |
| Name:
AutoRun |
Type: REG_SZ
(String Value)
|
Value: Command
to Execute
|
12. Modify the Number of File Handles for DOS
Programs (Windows Me)
This setting
controls the number of file handles available to MS-DOS programs run in each
virtual machine. In Windows Me, each MS-DOS VM is given the default value of 30
file handles.
Using notepad open
the SYSTEM.INI file in your Windows directory.
Add the following line to the [386Enh] section:
PerVMFiles= number
Restart Windows for the change to take
effect.
| Settings: |
| Value: Set
"PerVMFiles" to the Number of Files |
13. Use High Memory for DOS Drivers
(Windows
95/98/Me)
This setting causes
Windows to load the local DOS devices into high memory and freeing up more low
memory for DOS applications.
Open your SYSTEM.INI
and add the line:
LocalLoadHigh=1
Under the [386Enh] section.
| Settings: |
| Name:
LocalLoadHigh |
14. Disable Command Processor
Extensions (Windows
2000/XP)
This setting controls
whether command extensions are enabled or disabled. When command extensions are
used they change the behaviour of various standard command processor functions
such as CD, MD, DEL, PROMPT and SET.
Create a new DWORD value called "EnableExtensions" and set it "1" to enable
extensions or "0" to disable them (default is enabled).
The command extensions involve changes and/or additions to the following
commands:
DEL or ERASE
COLOR
CD or CHDIR
MD or
MKDIR
PROMPT
PUSHD
POPD
SET
SETLOCAL
ENDLOCAL
IF
FOR
CALL
SHIFT
GOTO
START
ASSOC
FTYPE
To get specific details, type commandname /? to view the help.
Note: This setting can also be used as a system wide policy under the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE hive.
| Settings: |
User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor]
|
Name:
EnableExtensions
|
| Type: REG_DWORD
(DWORD Value) |
Value: (0 =
disabled, 1 = enabled)
|
15. Enable Delayed Environment Variable
Expansion (Windows
2000/XP)
This setting allows you
to enable or disable delayed environment variable expansion in the command
processor. If this feature is enabled then exclaimation characters can be used
to substitute the value of an environment variable at execution time.
Create a new DWORD value called "DelayedExpansion" and set it to equal "1" to
enabled variable expansion or "0" to disable it.
Delayed expansion will be available the next time the command processor is
used. To access variables surround the variable name with exclaimation
characters i.e. "!varname!". For example to echo the PATH variable you could use
the following command:
echo !path!
| Settings: |
User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor]
|
| Name:
DelayedExpansion |
| Type: REG_DWORD
(DWORD Value) |
Value: (0 =
disabled, 1 = enabled)
|
