How to Start Windows 10 in Command Prompt?

Starting Windows 10 directly into Command Prompt is typically done through the **Advanced startup** options, which provides access to troubleshooting tools before the main Windows operating system loads fully. This is often necessary for system repair or advanced configuration tasks.

## Method 1: Using Advanced Startup (Recommended)

The most common way to access the Command Prompt before Windows fully starts is through the Advanced startup menu. This method is built into Windows 10 and doesn't require external media.

Here’s a step-by-step guide based on the provided reference:

1.  Click **Start** and then select **Settings** to open the Windows Settings window.
2.  Navigate to **Update & Security**.
3.  In the left-hand menu, select **Recovery**.
4.  Under the "Advanced startup" section, click the **Restart now** button. Your Windows 10 computer will restart immediately.

Once your computer restarts, you will see a blue "Choose an option" screen. Continue with these steps:

1.  On the "Choose an option" screen, click **Troubleshoot**.
2.  Click **Advanced options**.
3.  Finally, click the **Command Prompt** option from the list of advanced tools.

Your computer will restart again and boot directly into the Command Prompt environment. You might be prompted to select an administrator account and enter its password to proceed.

## Method 2: Using Windows Installation Media

If you cannot access Windows normally or the Settings menu, you can use a Windows 10 installation USB drive or DVD to boot into a recovery environment that includes Command Prompt.

1.  Insert the Windows 10 installation media (USB drive or DVD) into your computer.
2.  Restart your computer and configure its BIOS or UEFI settings to boot from the USB drive or DVD.
3.  When prompted, press any key to boot from the media.
4.  Select your language and region, then click **Next**.
5.  Instead of clicking "Install now," click **Repair your computer** in the bottom-left corner.
6.  On the "Choose an option" screen, click **Troubleshoot**.
7.  Click **Advanced options**.
8.  Click **Command Prompt**.

This will open the Command Prompt window, typically showing the path `X:\Sources`, which is the recovery environment's drive letter. From here, you can navigate to your main Windows drive (usually `C:\`) to perform commands.

Starting Windows 10 in Command Prompt provides a powerful command-line interface that can be used for tasks such as:

*   Running system file checker (`sfc /scannow`)
*   Fixing boot issues (`bootrec` commands)
*   Managing disk partitions (`diskpart`)
*   Accessing or moving files when Windows won't boot
*   Disabling problematic drivers or services

Utilizing these methods allows you to troubleshoot and repair your Windows 10 system effectively when standard startup is not possible.