In this article, we will show you how to open a command prompt on a school computer with Windows 10. This prompt can be opened if only the path to its file is blocked, but you cannot bypass the administrator lock. Also, as a rule, you cannot run Command Prompt as an administrator, but you can work around this limitation by using a bootable USB drive with Windows 10.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Start Menu
Step 1. Open the Start Menu
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen or press the ⊞ Win key.
This method is unlikely to work on most school computers, but computers for programming classes or other advanced subjects may have command line access by default
Step 2. Enter Command Prompt in the Start Menu search bar
This starts a search for the Command Line program.
Step 3. Click on "Command Prompt"
This option will appear at the top of the Start menu. If the command line has opened, you don't have to read any further.
- If the Command Prompt does not open, use one of the methods described below.
- If the Command Prompt opens, but you can't enter anything, it is blocked by the administrator. This means that you will not be able to use the command line from under your current account. In this case, use a USB stick.
Method 2 of 5: Run Program
Step 1. Open the Start Menu
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen or press the ⊞ Win key.
Step 2. Type run in the Start menu search bar
This will search for the Run program.
If a message appears stating that Run cannot be started, use a batch file
Step 3. Click Run
This blue envelope-shaped icon is at the top of the Start menu.
Step 4. Enter
cmd.exe
in the Run window.
This command should start the command line (if not blocked).
Step 5. Click OK
A command prompt will open if available on your computer.
If the Command Prompt opens, but you can't enter anything, it is blocked by the administrator. This means that you will not be able to use the command line from under your current account. In this case, use a USB stick
Method 3 of 5: File Explorer
Step 1. Open an Explorer window
Click the folder-shaped icon on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen, or press ⊞ Win + E.
- You can also open the Start menu
-
Windowsstart , enter File Explorer and click File Explorer at the top of the Start Menu.
Step 2. Select the contents of the address bar
To do this, click on the contents of the address bar, which is located at the top of the Explorer window.
In most cases, the text "quick access" will appear in the address bar
Step 3. Enter the path to the command line
Type C: \ Windows \ System32 \ cmd.exe and press the ↵ Enter key. A command prompt will open if available on your computer.
If the Command Prompt opens, but you can't enter anything, it is blocked by the administrator. This means that you will not be able to use the command line from under your current account. In this case, use a USB stick
Method 4 of 5: Batch File
Step 1. Open the Start Menu
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen or press the ⊞ Win key.
Step 2. Type notepad in the Start menu search bar
This starts a search for Notepad.
Step 3. Click Notepad
This blue notepad icon is at the top of the Start menu.
If Notepad is locked on your school computer, follow these steps on your own computer
Step 4. Enter
cmd.exe
in Notepad.
This code should start the command line.
Step 5. Click File
It's in the upper left corner of the screen.
Step 6. Click Save As
This option is located in the File menu.
Step 7. Enter a name for the file and then enter the extension
.bat
.
This extension is critical for creating a batch file.
For example, if you want to create a "cmd" file, enter cmd.bat
Step 8. Open the Save as type menu and select All Files
In this case, the file will be saved as an executable, not a text file.
Step 9. Click Save
It's in the lower-right corner of the window.
If you are performing these steps on your own computer, connect a USB drive to the computer and select it as the location to save the batch file
Step 10. Double click on the batch file
If you can run batch files on your computer, a command prompt will open.
- If you are unable to run the batch file on the school computer, connect your flash drive to it and double-click on the batch file.
- If the Command Prompt opens, but you can't enter anything, it is blocked by the administrator. This means that you will not be able to use the command line from under your current account. In this case, use a USB stick.
Method 5 of 5: Bootable USB Drive
Step 1. Remember how this method works
To open Command Prompt as an administrator, use a bootable flash drive with Windows 10. This method will not work on computers that have a BIOS locked. To use this method, you need to complete four main tasks:
- get access to locked computer settings using a bootable drive;
- replace the Utility Manager file with a command line file;
- launch the command line from the lock screen by clicking on the Utility Manager icon;
- create a new administrator account using the command line so that you can freely use the command line in the future.
Step 2. Create a bootable Windows 10 flash drive
To do this, you need an 8 GB flash drive (or more) and a special utility from Microsoft. Most likely, you will have to create a bootable USB flash drive on your own (home) computer:
- insert the USB flash drive into the computer;
- go to the Windows 10 download page;
- click the "Download the tool now" button;
- double click on the downloaded file;
- follow the instructions on the screen and make sure your flash drive is selected as the installation location.
Step 3. Connect the USB flash drive to the school computer
Plug it into the USB port of your school computer.
If an autorun window opens on your computer, close it
Step 4. Enter the computer BIOS
Send the computer to reboot - when the manufacturer's logo appears on the screen, press the key several times to enter the BIOS.
- The BIOS key is manufacturer specific; the correct key is listed under the manufacturer's logo, for example, "Press F12 to enter startup" (Press F12 to enter BIOS).
- If you don't know the correct key, try pressing one of the F keys (such as F12), Esc, or Del.
- If the BIOS is password protected, you will not be able to use this method.
Step 5. Change the order of boot devices
Make the USB drive the primary boot device so that the computer boots from the USB stick instead of the hard drive:
- find the “Boot Order” section or similar;
- use the arrow keys to select the name of your flash drive or the option "USB" or "USB Drives";
- press + to move the flash drive to the top of the list;
- click the Save and Exit button; the required button is indicated in the list of buttons on the right or at the bottom of the screen;
- restart your computer if Windows has started.
Step 6. Open a command prompt
When the Windows Options screen opens, press ⇧ Shift + F10 to open a Command Prompt window.
Step 7. Replace the utility manager with the command line
The Utility Manager is a system application that appears on the lock screen. To replace the Utility Manager with the command line, follow these steps:
- at the command prompt, enter move c: \ windows \ system32 \ utilman.exe c: \ windows \ system32 \ utilman.exe.bak and press ↵ Enter;
- type copy c: \ windows \ system32 \ cmd.exe c: \ windows \ system32 \ utilman.exe and press ↵ Enter.
Step 8. Unplug your flash drive and restart your computer
To do this, press and hold the power button until the computer turns off, then remove the flash drive and press the power button. The lock screen will open.
Step 9. Click on the Utility Manager icon
It's in the lower left corner of the screen and looks like a dial with an arrow. You will be prompted to open a command prompt window.
Step 10. Create a new administrator account (if you want)
You can use the command line from the lock screen, but to do this on the system itself, you need to create a new administrator account.
- Enter net user name / add, where replace “name” with any username. Now press ↵ Enter.
- Enter net localgroup administrators name / add, where replace “name” with the name of the user you created. Now press ↵ Enter.
- Reboot your computer.
- Select a new user on the login screen.
Step 11. Open a command prompt
Now that you have an administrator account, you can open the Command Prompt from the Start menu.