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How to Open Cmd in Windows Setup?

Published in Windows Setup Commands 2 mins read

You can open the Command Prompt during Windows Setup by pressing Shift+F10.

Accessing the Command Prompt during the Windows installation process is a powerful tool for troubleshooting and performing advanced tasks without booting into a full operating system environment. This can be particularly useful if you encounter issues during setup, need to modify partitions, or perform other system-level operations.

Steps to Access Command Prompt

Accessing Cmd (Command Prompt) during Windows Setup is straightforward:

  1. Boot your computer from the Windows installation media (USB drive or DVD).
  2. Proceed through the initial setup screens until you reach a point where you see options like language selection, "Install now," or partition management. The exact screen might vary slightly depending on the Windows version and where you are in the setup process, but it's typically accessible after the initial loading screens.
  3. At this screen, simply press the keyboard combination Shift + F10.

As highlighted by the reference, the Command Prompt can be accessed by pressing Shift+F10 during Windows Setup. This keyboard shortcut is specifically designed to launch a minimal command-line interface within the Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) that the setup runs on.

Why Use Command Prompt During Setup?

There are several reasons why you might need to open Cmd during Windows Setup:

  • Troubleshooting: Diagnose and fix issues preventing installation.
  • Disk Management: Use tools like diskpart to create, format, or delete partitions.
  • Repairing Boot Issues: Utilize commands like bootrec to fix problems with the Master Boot Record (MBR) or boot configuration data (BCD).
  • Accessing Files: Copy files from the installation media or other accessible drives.
  • Running Diagnostic Tools: Execute specific command-line utilities.

Using Command Prompt in this environment provides a text-based interface to interact directly with the system and its storage devices before Windows is fully installed or if the installed Windows is not booting correctly.

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