Microsoft Windows & Office Reference


DOS & Windows Multi Rename Syntax Windows 10
156 Useful Run Commands  Environment Variables  Explorer Shell Folder Shortcuts 
Auto Hot Key  Winkey + E Shortcut  Set the Default Folder in Explorer  

Windows, General


Microsoft Forums Microsoft Reference Sites Windows OS Help Sites
Microsoft Answers Forums - Main Microsoft - Main Website Page Answers That Work (Win 2K)
Windows Main | W10 | W11 Restore Previous Folder Windows At Logon  Extreme Tech or Black Viper
Reset Windows Spotlight Windows BSOD Codes - Stop Error Process Library - Good Info
Microsoft Update Catalog (KB Lookup) MS Power Toys 
Legacy Help for Windows 10 Microsoft Catalog HW Compatibilty  
  Windows Activation Sites  Windows 10 Power
Windows Miscellaneous Windows OS Service Packs  Stop Background Apps 
Take Ownership of a File or Folder  Windows 7 Environment Variables  Save Battery Life
"Access Denied" Error  SS62 - More Environment Variables  Manage Battery Usage 
How to Disable "Libraries"  Windows 11 Run Commands List  Change the Power Mode 
SysInternals (Online Version)   Bring Back Missing Power Plans 
Sysinternals Utilities Index Internet How to stop background apps 
Task Schedule a Reminder  HOSTS File Explained  
Task Scheduler | (Edit Task) HOSTS File (MVPS) RoboForm - add Login-Windows applications 

Windows 10 Reference


Windows 10 Start Menu Taskbar in Windows 10 Notification Center in Windows 10
Windows 10 Forums  Tablet Mode in Windows 10   
Microsoft Surface Pro Font Scaling  Solution 1  Solution 2 
Download Windows 10 Install files  Solution 3  Solution 4 
Remove Folders from Explorer "This PC"  Remove Navigation Pane Icons "This PC"  Remove 3D Objects from Explorer "This PC" 
Take Ownership of Reg Key  After customizing File Explorer layout including removing the Quick Access folder from the navigation panel, possible error: "Missing shell:::{52205fd8-5dfb-447d-801a-d0b52f2e83e1}". To resolve; change the default view of File Explorer from Quick Access to This PC.
Control Panel > File Explorer Options > change the "Open File Explorer to" option to "This PC".

Windows, Environment Variables (Paths)


Environment VariableEnvironment Variable Path / Destination
%ALLUSERSPROFILE% C:\ProgramData (Also: %SYSTEMDRIVE%\ProgramData)
%APPDATA% C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming, (Also: %PROFILESDIRECTORY%\{username}\AppData\Roaming)
%COMMONPROGRAMFILES% C:\Program Files\Common Files, (Also: %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Common Files)
%COMMONPROGRAMFILES(x86)% C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files, (Also: %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files (x86)\Common Files)
%COMSPEC% C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe, (Also: %WINDIR%\System32\cmd.exe)
%HOMEDRIVE% C: is the default (The drive where "Users" is located)
%HOMEPATH% C:\Users\{username}, (Also: %PROFILESDIRECTORY%\{username})
%LOCALAPPDATA% C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local, (Also: %PROFILESDIRECTORY%\{username}\AppData\Local)
%PROFILESDIRECTORY%Users, default = %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Users
%PROGRAMDATA% C:\ProgramData, (Also: %SYSTEMDRIVE%\ProgramData)
%PROGRAMFILES% C:\Program Files, (Also: %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files)
%PROGRAMFILES(X86)% C:\Program Files (x86) (only in 64-bit version) , (Also: %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files (x86))
%PUBLIC% C:\Users\Public, (Also: %PROFILESDIRECTORY%\Public)
%SYSTEMDRIVE% C: is the default (where Windows is installed)
%SYSTEMROOT% C:\Windows , (Also: %WINDIR%)
%TEMP% and %TMP% C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp, (Also: %PROFILESDIRECTORY%\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp)
%USERPROFILE% C:\Users\{username}, (Also: %PROFILESDIRECTORY%\{username})
%WINDIR% C:\Windows, (Also: %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Windows)