Displaying the Command Prompt in Windows 8

Buried deep within Windows 8 is the trusty command prompt window, where you can enter command-line commands to get really "geeky" with your computer. Unfortunately, with each new version of Windows it seems that the command prompt window is buried deeper and deeper. Never fear, though; it is still there and once you know where you look for it, you'll be able to call it up quicker than ever before.

If are using Windows on a desktop computer, the easiest way to display the command prompt window is to press Win+X. Windows displays what looks like a Context menu at the lower-left corner of the screen. Note that there are two commands on the menu related to the command prompt:

• Command Prompt. This option displays the regular command prompt window, ready and anxious to complete your every (valid) command.
• Command Prompt (Admin). This command prompt window is special, as it opens in "admin mode." This mode is required for some commands to be executed successfully. Generally you only need to open the command prompt window in this mode if you tried running a command in the regular (non-admin) mode and received an error message.

Click on the version of the command prompt you want and utilize the window to your heart's content. When you are done you can close the window and get back to the lovely world of Windows. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The command prompt window looks very geeky and slightly techno-retro.

If you are using a touch-screen device, then chances are good you don't have a keyboard. In that case, you'll want to follow these steps to display a command prompt window:

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to display the Apps screen. (If you have a mouse on the system, you can also right-click on the Start screen and choose All Apps at the lower-right corner of the screen.)
2. Scroll through the plethora of apps and locate the category entitled "Windows System."
3. Press or click on the Command Prompt option. Windows displays the desktop and then opens a command prompt window on the desktop.

 This tip (12717) applies to Windows 8.