Cmd Prompt questions

[Dross]

Got a couple of command prompt questions:

First, there is a folder on my desktop that I want to get rid of, Windows wouldn't let me, so I went into the command prompt and did it manually doing the following:

c:\documents and settings\USER\desktop\>del f

("f" is the name of the folder I want to delete)

Unfortunately, I could only get the contents of the folder to delete...not the folder itself. It got rid of the contents that I wanted deleted, but it's kind of annoying that I've got a worthless empty folder sitting on my desktop.


My other question: what is the difference between "command.com" and "cmd.exe" ??

Thanks!

 

[red onion]

The command to delete a folder is rmdir.

Cmd.exe handles long file names, while command.exe does not; other than that, they are the same. Use Cmd.exe...quicker to type also

 

[Lorand]

Use "deltree" instead of "del", but cautiously. For more info: http://www.computerhope.com/deltree.htm

 

[Cromewell]

command.com is left over from DOS, it is it's command interpreter. In Win2K/XP it is still available for compatibility and is emulated. To remove a directory use rmdir or rd, deltree no longer exists

 

[Dross]

Thanks!

 

[Lorand]

To remove a directory use rmdir or rd, deltree no longer exists

Oops, sorry, my mistake...
I used it on Win9x and I forgot that on Win2k and XP it's not supported any more.

 

[dbc]

You can write:
%SYSDRV%\DOCUME~1\%USERNAME%\desktop\
instead of
c:\documents and settings\USER\desktop\