Computer and Software Support


Subst

This page is from Microsoft

Updated: January 21, 2005

Associates a path with a drive letter. Used without parameters, subst displays the names of the virtual drives in effect.
 
 
Syntax
subst [Drive1: [Drive2:]Path]

subst Drive1:/d

Parameters
Drive1:
Specifies the virtual drive to which you want to assign a path.
Drive2:
Specifies the physical drive that contains the specified path (if different from the current drive).
Path
Specifies the path that you want to assign to a virtual drive.
/d
Deletes a virtual drive.
/?
Displays help at the command prompt.
Remarks
  • The following commands do not work, or should not be used, on drives used in the subst command:
    • chkdsk
    • diskcomp
    • diskcopy
    • format
    • label
    • recover
  • The Drive1 parameter must be within the range specified by the lastdrive command. If not, subst displays the following error message:

    Invalid parameter - drive1:

Examples
To create a virtual drive Z for the path B:\User\Betty\Forms, type:

subst z: b:\user\betty\forms

Now, instead of typing the full path, you can reach this directory by typing the letter of the virtual drive, followed by a colon, as follows:

z:

Formatting legend

Format Meaning
Italic Information that the user must supply
Bold Elements that the user must type exactly as shown
Ellipsis (...) Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line
Between brackets ([]) Optional items
Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd} Set of choices from which the user must choose only one
Courier font Code or program output