Software & Apps › Windows Rename (Recovery Console) How to Use the Rename Command in the Windows XP Recovery Console Share Pin Email Print Windows Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide By Tim Fisher General Manager, VP, Lifewire.com Tim Fisher has 30+ years' professional technology support experience. He writes troubleshooting content and is the General Manager of Lifewire. our editorial process Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Tim Fisher Updated December 15, 2018 The rename command is a Recovery Console command used to rename a single file. "Rename" and "Ren" may be used interchangeably. A rename command is also available from the Command Prompt. Rename Command Syntax rename [drive:][path] filename1 filename2 drive: = This is the drive containing the file you want to rename. path = This is the folder or folder/subfolders located on the drive:, containing filename1 that you want to rename. filename1 = This is the name of the file you want to rename. filename2 = This is the name you want to rename filename1 to. You can not specify a new drive or path for the renamed file. The rename command can only be used to rename files in the system folders of the current Windows installation, in removable media, in the root folder of any partition, or in the local installation source. Rename Command Examples rename c:\windows\win.ini win.old In the above example, the rename command is used to rename the win.ini file located in the C:\Windows folder to win.old. rename boot.new boot.ini In this example, the rename command has no drive: or path information specified so the boot.new file is renamed to boot.ini, all within the directory you typed the rename command from. For example, if you type rename boot.new boot.ini from the C:\> prompt, the boot.new file located in C:\ will be renamed to boot.ini. Rename Command Availability The rename command is available from within the Recovery Console in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Rename Related Commands The rename command is often used with many other Recovery Console commands.