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Windows XP and DOS

Change Title of a DOS Prompt Window

SUMMARY: Since "C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe" isn't very descriptive, you can change the title of DOS prompt windows running in Windows XP.

If you routinely open multiple DOS prompt windows in Windows XP, it may be confusing to determine which window is performing which function since the windows look the same. Although you can change the color of an individual DOS prompt in Windows XP, if you are merely looking at taskbar buttons they usually just display the name of the shortcut used to execute the DOS prompt.

To help simplify matters, you can change the window title of an individual DOS prompt with the title command. Entering title and then the name of a desired title will change the prompt's title bar, also changing its description on the Windows taskbar.

For example, if you want to open a DOS prompt with the title Web Server Log, one way to do so is the following:

1. Click "Start" - "Run".
2. Enter cmd /k title Web Server Log and press ENTER.