Change Default Directory for Run Command

[tb]

I am using Windows 7 Professional SP1, 64-bit.

The Run command (Start -> Run...) defaults to the c:\Users\<username>\
directory.

How do I make it default to a different directory of my choice?

 

[Char Jackson]

I am using Windows 7 Professional SP1, 64-bit.

The Run command (Start -> Run...) defaults to the c:\Users\<username>\
directory.

How do I make it default to a different directory of my choice?

I assume you meant to say Start-> Run-> Browse, right?

On my Win 7 Ultimate x64 system, it doesn't default to any specific
place. It simply remembers the last folder I used. Does yours really
go to the same folder every time, regardless of which *other* folder
you used last time?

 

[GreyCloud]

I assume you meant to say Start-> Run-> Browse, right?

On my Win 7 Ultimate x64 system, it doesn't default to any specific
place. It simply remembers the last folder I used. Does yours really
go to the same folder every time, regardless of which *other* folder
you used last time?

I just tested it out by changing to another folder and then left.
Then I started it up again and it still defaults to the
C:\Users\<nusername>\

Is there a setting to be made somewhere?

 

[tb]

I assume you meant to say Start-> Run-> Browse, right?

On my Win 7 Ultimate x64 system, it doesn't default to any specific
place. It simply remembers the last folder I used. Does yours really
go to the same folder every time, regardless of which other folder
you used last time?

Well, as long as I do not use a disk cleaner such as CCleaner then the
run command might still remember the last folder that I used. It
sometimes rembers and sometimes it does not. If it does not, then it
reverts to c:\Users\<username>\.

So I was hoping to be able to "hard code" the folder of my choice...

 

[Char Jackson]

I just tested it out by changing to another folder and then left.
Then I started it up again and it still defaults to the
C:\Users\<nusername>\

Is there a setting to be made somewhere?

I went back to take another look and for me it definitely opens the
file browser to the location where I previously ran something. It
doesn't count if I just navigate somewhere and then cancel my way out.
I didn't make any changes that I know of.

I guess we need input from others to see what's normal.

 

[Char Jackson]

Well, as long as I do not use a disk cleaner such as CCleaner then the
run command might still remember the last folder that I used. It
sometimes rembers and sometimes it does not. If it does not, then it
reverts to c:\Users\<username>\.

So I was hoping to be able to "hard code" the folder of my choice...

I don't use CCleaner so mine works the same every time. I suppose you
could find the Registry key that holds the most recent value and poke
whatever you want into that key. You'd just have to decide how often
you want to do it.

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

I went back to take another look and for me it definitely opens the
file browser to the location where I previously ran something. It
doesn't count if I just navigate somewhere and then cancel my way
out. I didn't make any changes that I know of.

I guess we need input from others to see what's normal.

I never use the Start>Run box, but when I experimented for this
discussion, it always reverted to the C:\Users\<nusername>\ folder,
whether I opened a file at a different location or not.

I am running Win 7 SP1 Ultimate x64.

 

[SC Tom]

I never use the Start>Run box, but when I experimented for this
discussion, it always reverted to the C:\Users\<nusername>\ folder,
whether I opened a file at a different location or not.

I am running Win 7 SP1 Ultimate x64.

I don't normally use Browse from Run; I usually use it for things like
regedit, eventvwr, services.msc, etc., things like that. If I Browse, it
goes to the <username> folder. If I browse to a folder and Run something
from it, then the next time I Browse, it will go to that folder. But if I
run anything that's in my dropdown list, it will default back to <username>
the next time I pick Browse, unless I pick an item from my list that has an
actual path listed in it. Then the next time I Browse, it'll go back to that
folder. If I cancel, then the next time, it's back to <username>.

Win7 HP 32-bit.

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

SC Tom wrote:

If I browse to a folder and Run something from it, then the next time
I Browse, it will go to that folder.

Not me. It reverts to the user folder.

But if I run anything that's in my dropdown list, it will default
back to <username> the next time I pick Browse, unless I pick an item
from my list that has an actual path listed in it. Then the next time
I Browse, it'll go back to that folder. If I cancel, then the next
time, it's back to <username>.

I don't have anything in the dropdown list.

I should mention that I am running Classic Shell. I don't know what
effect that might have.

I use Explorer to browse and open files and programs.

 

[Char Jackson]

SC Tom wrote:


Not me. It reverts to the user folder.


I don't have anything in the dropdown list.

I should mention that I am running Classic Shell. I don't know what
effect that might have.

I use Classic Shell, too, but on mine it never starts in my user
folder. Perhaps if I ran CCleaner it might reset everything, but
that's just a guess. I'm not going to actually do it.

I use Explorer to browse and open files and programs.

I've been using the "click the Start Orb and type a few letters"
method more and more, lately.

 

[Dave-UK]

I use Classic Shell, too, but on mine it never starts in my user
folder. Perhaps if I ran CCleaner it might reset everything, but
that's just a guess. I'm not going to actually do it.

The dropdown list is stored here:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU
It looks like if you delete the MRUList value it'll default to opening at C:\Users\username.
I guess that's what CCleaner does - clears the MRU list.
I don't think you can set a different default opening location.
While googling around about this I found that the run box also responds to character shortcuts
like a backslash (\), a forward slash (/), a single dot (.) and a double dot (..) !

 

[SC Tom]

SC Tom wrote:


Not me. It reverts to the user folder.


I don't have anything in the dropdown list.

I should mention that I am running Classic Shell. I don't know what
effect that might have.

So do I.

I use Explorer to browse and open files and programs.

That's pretty much what I do also. I have Computer in my quick launch toolbar, and I click on it for browsing.

 

[GreyCloud]

I went back to take another look and for me it definitely opens the
file browser to the location where I previously ran something. It
doesn't count if I just navigate somewhere and then cancel my way out.
I didn't make any changes that I know of.

I guess we need input from others to see what's normal.

I double checked and ran a program at a different folder location and
then exited. I started up again and it still defaults to
C:\Users\<username>\.

 

[Bob I]

Seems pretty straight forward to me. Go to start menu Programs,
Accessories and Copy the Command prompt shortcut to the desktop. R-click
on it and edit the "Start in" field to whatever valid location you desire.

 

[Char Jackson]

I double checked and ran a program at a different folder location and
then exited. I started up again and it still defaults to
C:\Users\<username>\.

With the info Dave-UK just provided, I wonder if your Registry key
where this stuff is stored is read-only, or something to that effect.
If it were my system behaving like yours, I'd be curious enough to
check that. I like how mine's working, though, so I'm not messing with
it.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Seems pretty straight forward to me. Go to start menu Programs,
Accessories and Copy the Command prompt shortcut to the desktop. R-click
on it and edit the "Start in" field to whatever valid location you desire.

However, the subject is the Run command, not the Command Prompt.

 

[G. Morgan]

I am using Windows 7 Professional SP1, 64-bit.

The Run command (Start -> Run...) defaults to the c:\Users\<username>\
directory.

How do I make it default to a different directory of my choice?

I don't use Start > Run , but if you want a .cmd prompt in a directory,
hold <shift> then right click, you can then select "open command window
here".

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

So do I.

That's pretty much what I do also. I have Computer in my quick launch
toolbar, and I click on it for browsing.

Proving once again that Great Minds Think Alike.

 

[SC Tom]

Proving once again that Great Minds Think Alike.

+1

 

[Bob I]

My bad, was thinking of running commands in folders. As to the "Run"
box, it should retain the last folder one browsed to, UNless user has
installed some privacy software or such.