Command prompt won't change directory to another drive

nebuch picture nebuch · Jun 16, 2012 · Viewed 559.4k times · Source

I'm trying to compile some java (learning java currently), and to do so I need to change command-prompt's directory (using javac).

C:\...\Admin> cd D:\Docs\Java
C:\...\Admin> cd
C:\...\Admin

It doesn't change the directory. I try again using quotes:

C:\...\Admin> cd "D:\Docs\Java"
C:\...\Admin>

Again it doesn't change the directory. What am I doing wrong?

Answer

kenny picture kenny · Jun 16, 2012

As @nasreddine answered or you can use /d

cd /d d:\Docs\Java

For more help on the cd command use:

C:\Documents and Settings\kenny>help cd

Displays the name of or changes the current directory.

CHDIR [/D] [drive:][path] CHDIR [..] CD [/D] [drive:][path] CD [..]

.. Specifies that you want to change to the parent directory.

Type CD drive: to display the current directory in the specified drive. Type CD without parameters to display the current drive and directory.

Use the /D switch to change current drive in addition to changing current directory for a drive.

If Command Extensions are enabled CHDIR changes as follows:

The current directory string is converted to use the same case as the on disk names. So CD C:\TEMP would actually set the current directory to C:\Temp if that is the case on disk.

CHDIR command does not treat spaces as delimiters, so it is possible to CD into a subdirectory name that contains a space without surrounding the name with quotes. For example:

cd \winnt\profiles\username\programs\start menu

is the same as:

cd "\winnt\profiles\username\programs\start menu"

which is what you would have to type if extensions were disabled.