The Book

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====== Open an Administrator Command Prompt Anywhere in File Explorer ======

A command-line hack lets you add a right-click option to File Explorer called //Open Administrator Command Prompt Here//. That way, you can simply right click in the folder in which you want to open an administrator prompt.

1. Launch the Registry Editor by typing ''regedit'' at the Start Search or Run box. Go to ''HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell'' and create a new key called ''runas''. After you create the key, double-click the Default String, and give it the value ''Open Administrator Command Prompt Here''.

2. In that new key, create a new string value called ''NoWorkingDirectory''. Leave the value data field blank. Now create a new key into ''HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas'', called ''command''. Double-click the key's default value, enter the following text, and click OK:

  cmd.exe /k "pushd %L && title Command Prompt"

3. Go to ''HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell'' and create a new key called ''runas''. After you create the key, double-click the Default String, and give it the value ''Open Administrator Command Prompt Here''.

4. In that new key, create a new string value called ''NoWorkingDirectory''. Leave the value data field blank. Now create a new key into ''HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\runas'', called ''command''. Double-click the key's default value, enter the following text, and click OK:

  cmd.exe /k "pushd %L && title Command Prompt"  

You can create a //.reg// file that automatically creates all Registry entries for you:

  Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00  
  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas]  
  @="Open Administrator Command Prompt Here"  
  "NoWorkingDirectory"=_ckgedit_QUOT__ckgedit>  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas\command]   
  @="cmd.exe /k \"pushd %L && title Command Prompt\_ckgedit_QUOT__ckgedit>  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\runas]  
  @="Open Administrator Command Prompt Here"  
  "NoWorkingDirectory"=_ckgedit_QUOT__ckgedit>   
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\runas\command]   
  @="cmd.exe /k \"pushd %L && title Command Prompt\_ckgedit_QUOT__ckgedit>  


Give the file a name with the extension //.reg// such as //command prompt.reg// , double-click it, and the changes will be applied to the Registry.