Create a Virtual Drive for Your Desired Folder in My Computer Using Subst Command

Today I'm going to tell you about a secret DOS command "subst" which can be used to create a virtual drive letter for any of your desired folder in My Computer window.

For example, if you frequently use a folder named "Wallpapers" which is situated in E:\Data\Gallery\Wallpapers", then you can create a virtual drive say "H:" in My Computer which will goto this folder directly whenever you'll double click on it or access it from RUN or Command Prompt. It'll save a lot of time.

Here is how to do it:

1. Open Command Prompt and provide following command:

subst drive_letter: folder_path

for example, if you want to create a virtual drive letter H: for a folder "E:\Wallpapers", then use following command:

subst H: E:\Wallpapers

2. It'll immediately create a virtual drive H: which will represent the "Wallpapers" folder:

Before using subst command:

After using subst command:

3. As you can see. A new drive letter H: has been created which directly goes to "E:\Wallpapers" folder upon double-click.

4. If you want to delete this virtual drive, then provide following command:

subst drive_letter: /D

for example, we created H: drive in Step1, so our command to delete this virtual drive would be:

subst H: /D

5. You can view a list of all existing virtual drives by simply giving subst command without any parameter in Command Prompt.

NOTE:

A. Remember! You can't use existing drive letters for creating virtual drives, e.g. if you have 2 partitions C: and D:, then you can't use them for subst command.

B. You should not use chkdsk, diskcomp, diskcopy, format, label and recover commands on virtual drives created using subst command as these virtual drives are not real and these commands either will not work or can cause problems for the actual drives where the folders reside.

This article was posted in Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.

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24 Comments

Masroor

Awesome trick. VG.. good.
rohny

thx ..... it's so good tips for computer lover..... but dear i m facing some error during creating virtual drive.... it shows invalid parameter -h:....... i told u... wot i did..... start>>>>comman prompt>>>>> type subst h: e:desire folder>>>>>> after they show a error....
i m using window xp service pack 2>>>> 512 ram>>>>
justin

rohny,

that is because you have another drive with that name already. you need to go to admin tools / computer management / disk management and switch whatever is using h to something different.
vikas vijay

i tried this but it says " 'subst' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file."