Question: How can I open a cmd window in a specific location without having to navigate all the way to the directory I want?

Answer: 
Try out [this "PowerToy" from Microsoft](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=211471):

> 
> **Open Command Window Here**
> 
> 
> This PowerToy adds an "Open Command
>  Window Here" context menu option on
>  file system folders, giving you a
>  quick way to open a command window
>  (cmd.exe) pointing at the selected
>  folder.
> 
> 
> 

**EDIT :** This software will not work on any version of Windows apart from Windows XP.

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/sdXWW.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/sdXWW.png)
This program always opens cmd.exe in the current path of your Explorer:
<https://github.com/jhasse/smart_cmd>

You can also pin it to your taskbar and then use WindowsKey+[1-0] as a keyboard shortcut.