Can I set PowerShell as 'default' in Windows 7?

Question

I would like, by default, for PowerShell to be launched instead of Command when, say, running a batch file, or when I "Open Command Window Here", etc.

Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I just did a very quick test and the following registry entry will add a "PowerShell here" item to the context menu of all folders in explorer:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\PowerShellHere]
@="&PowerShell here"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\PowerShellHere\command]
@="cmd.exe /c start \"PS\" powershell.exe -NoExit -Command \"cd \\\"%1\\\"\""

Just import it into the registry. I am using cmd.exe to bootstrap powershell in order to avoid having to hard-code the path.

Regarding cmd scripts/batch files. I think it does not make much sense to run CMD scripts within PowerShell by default. But it might be possible as well by modifying HKCR\cmdfile\shell\open registry key

Answer 2

You're not going to get very far with running CMD batch files in PowerShell.

You can try changing the %COMSPEC% variable to point at powershell.exe using setx, but I don't think it will take you long to realise that this is a really bad idea and change it back again.