How to create a text file list of an entire directory's files

Let's say you have a large collection of files in a certain folder (MP3s, Videos, etc.) and you want to save every single file name in one combined list perhaps as a reference or back to what you had so if you ever lose your data in the future, you can revert back to this list to at least see what all you have missed and possible download what you can to get it back.

In this method, I will show you how to quickly generate a text file that has the names of every single file in that directory using DOS (Command Prompt):

1) Open the command prompt by pressing the Window Key + R on your Keyboard to get the Run Dialogue Box then type cmd

2) Type the drive letter that you want followed by a colon. Example: " E:" then hit Enter

3) Navigate to the folder by typing "cd xxxx" (where xxxx is the folder name) then hit Enter

4) Keep doing this until you actually reach the folder you want

5) Now type " dir > folderlist.txt" then hit Enter

Note: You can change folderlist.txt to any file name you want (for example " dir > music list.txt"

6) You will then see a newly created text file in that folder with all the file names of all files or directories

 

use dir /S so that it catalogs all subfolders

 

I've done this before to get a nice list of all my music.