Cannot `cd` to E: drive using Windows CMD command line [duplicate]

Question

I connected a camera to Windows machine through USB, but I am unable to access the device when I type "cd E:\" through command line.

I can see the device through file explorer, and the drive letter appears as E.

The images below illustrate what I am trying to communicate:

How can I access a USB connected device storage through Windows command line

Answer 1

Using cd/chdir you cannot change the current working directory (CWD) to one on a different drive unless first switching drives (2 steps) or including the /d switch as part of your command (1 step).

cd /? will display the command's help text.

From C:\Users\jessy to E:\MyData

     2 STEPS
  
1 |  C:\Users\jessy> E:
2 |  E:\> cd \MyData        // also 'cd E:\MyData' & 'cd MyData'
  |  E:\MyData>                         
    

     1 STEP

1 |  C:\Users\jessy> cd /d E:\MyData
  |  E:\MyData>

_{Credit to Señor CMasMas for pointing out the shorter method.}

   

Additional Reading

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The way cd deals with drives and directories reflects its roots in DOS. Windows really only has one current directory, however cmd.exe uses environment variables tied to that particular session to set and maintain it's own current directory for each drive separate from Windows as well as any other cmd.exe instances. If you'd like to read more, I have included a few links to get you started.

• A Current Directory for each drive?
  //ss64.com/nt/cd.html
• Why does each drive have its own current directory?
  //devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20101011-00/?p=12563
• How to get current working directory of another drive in Batch?
  //stackoverflow.com/a/53078745

   

Other Approaches

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pushd ^{[ credit: user @printf ]}

• Will traverse drives without additional command switches
• Stores the current directory for later use by the popd command
• See Learn > Windows Server > Windows Commands > Reference > pushd