René's URL Explorer Experiment

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"DiscussionForumPosting","headline":"Start program with -WorkingDirectory \"C:\\\" raises Set-Location: Cannot find path 'C:\"' because it does not exist.","articleBody":"### Prerequisites\n\n- [x] Write a descriptive title.\n- [x] Make sure you are able to repro it on the [latest released version](https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases)\n- [x] Search the existing issues.\n- [x] Refer to the [FAQ](https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/blob/master/docs/FAQ.md).\n- [x] Refer to [Differences between Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/whats-new/differences-from-windows-powershell).\n\n### Steps to reproduce\n\nSimply start powershell with args `-WorkingDirectory` `\"C:\\\"`:\n\n```console\nD:\\\u003e pwsh -noexit -WorkingDirectory \"C:\\\"\nPowerShell 7.5.4\nSet-Location: Cannot find path 'C:\"' because it does not exist.\n```\n\nThis error occurs when I tried to open powershell from explorer.exe's one driver's root path, with shift+rightclick on the root folder:\n\n\u003cimg width=\"448\" height=\"188\" alt=\"Image\" src=\"https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/4bf466bd-e1a6-4d3e-81e7-f980138d4138\" /\u003e\n\nThe context menu comes from the registry with command:\n\n```powershell\npowershell.exe -noexit -WorkingDirectory \"%V\"\n```\n\nAlthough the builtin powershell is 5.x, I can reproduce this issue in the latest 7.x pwsh.exe too.\n\nThe error seems because powershell is trying to parse a bash-like string, and the trailing `\\` makes it throws error. I can also reproduce that with arguments like `\"C:\\Users\\\"`. However, on Windows, the `%V` variable only expand to either `C:\\` from the root path or `C:\\Users` from other (without trailing `\\`).\n\n### Expected behavior\n\n```console\nShould start powershell and navigate to C:\\ normally.\n```\n\n### Actual behavior\n\n```console\nThrows error:\nSet-Location: Cannot find path 'C:\"' because it does not exist.\n```\n\n### Error details\n\n```console\nException             :\n    Type                 : System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException\n    ErrorRecord          :\n        Exception             :\n            Type    : System.Management.Automation.ParentContainsErrorRecordException\n            Message : Cannot find path 'C:\"' because it does not exist.\n            HResult : -2146233087\n        TargetObject          : C:\"\n        CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (C:\":String) [], ParentContainsErrorRecordException\n        FullyQualifiedErrorId : PathNotFound\n    ItemName             : C:\"\n    SessionStateCategory : Drive\n    TargetSite           :\n        Name          : ResolveDriveQualifiedPath\n        DeclaringType : [System.Management.Automation.LocationGlobber]\n        MemberType    : Method\n        Module        : System.Management.Automation.dll\n    Message              : Cannot find path 'C:\"' because it does not exist.\n    Source               : System.Management.Automation\n    HResult              : -2146233087\n    StackTrace           :\n   at System.Management.Automation.LocationGlobber.ResolveDriveQualifiedPath(String path, CmdletProviderContext context\n, Boolean allowNonexistingPaths, CmdletProvider\u0026 providerInstance)\n   at System.Management.Automation.LocationGlobber.GetGlobbedMonadPathsFromMonadPath(String path, Boolean allowNonexist\ningPaths, CmdletProviderContext context, CmdletProvider\u0026 providerInstance)\n   at System.Management.Automation.SessionStateInternal.SetLocation(String path, CmdletProviderContext context, Boolean\n literalPath)\n   at Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.SetLocationCommand.ProcessRecord()\nTargetObject          : C:\"\nCategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (C:\":String) [Set-Location], ItemNotFoundException\nFullyQualifiedErrorId : PathNotFound,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.SetLocationCommand\nInvocationInfo        :\n    MyCommand       : Set-Location\n    HistoryId       : 1\n    InvocationName  : Set-Location\n    CommandOrigin   : Internal\nPipelineIterationInfo :\n      0\n      1\n      0\n```\n\n### Environment data\n\n```powershell\nName                           Value\n----                           -----\nPSVersion                      7.5.4\nPSEdition                      Core\nGitCommitId                    7.5.4\nOS                             Microsoft Windows 10.0.26200\nPlatform                       Win32NT\nPSCompatibleVersions           {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0…}\nPSRemotingProtocolVersion      2.3\nSerializationVersion           1.1.0.1\nWSManStackVersion              3.0\n```\n\n### Visuals\n\n_No response_","author":{"url":"https://github.com/hyrious","@type":"Person","name":"hyrious"},"datePublished":"2025-11-30T02:52:17.000Z","interactionStatistic":{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":"https://schema.org/CommentAction","userInteractionCount":7},"url":"https://github.com/26541/PowerShell/issues/26541"}