| Command |
Description |
Example |
| assoc |
Displays or modifies file name extension associations. Used alone, displays
a list of all the current file name associations
|
details here |
| at |
Schedules commands and programs to run on a computer at a specified time and date. Requires the Schedule service. Superseded by schtasks |
|
|
|
| attrib |
Configures file attributes read only, hidden, system
|
details here |
| bootcfg |
Used to repair or edit the boot.ini file
|
details here |
| cd or chdir |
Displays the name of the current directory or changes the current folder |
cd folderpath |
| chkdsk |
Checks hard drives for errors. With switches,does repairs. |
details here |
| cls |
Clears the screen |
cls |
| copy |
Copies a file from one location to another |
copy somefile somefolder |
| del |
Deletes one or more files |
details here |
| dir |
Displays a list of a folder's files and subfolders |
details here |
| diskpart |
Disk management shell. A suite of various commands |
details here |
| driverquery |
Displays a list of all installed device drivers and their properties. Requires administrator privileges. (Not available in Windows XP Home) |
Example here |
| echo |
Used to display a message or to turn off/on messages in batch scripts |
echo message |
| exit |
Exits batch script or current command control |
exit |
| fc |
Compares two files and displays the differences between them |
fc file1 file2 |
| find |
Searches for a text string in a file or files. Can also be used with output from another command. |
|
| findstr |
Searches for text string patterns in a file using regular expressions |
|
| for |
Runs a specified command for each item in a set |
details here |
|
fsutil
|
Displays and configures certain file system properties. A suite of various commands |
details here |
| ftype |
Displays or modifies file types used in file name extension associations |
details here |
| getmac |
Returns the media access control (MAC) address for your network card |
getmac |
| goto |
Directs the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a batch program |
details here |
| if |
Performs conditional processing in batch programs |
details here |
| ipconfig |
Displays all current TCP/IP network configuration values and refreshes
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Domain Name System (DNS)
settings |
details here |
| md or mkdir |
Creates a directory (folder) or subdirectory (subfolder) |
details here |
| more |
Displays one screen of output at a time. Used with another command that
has extensive output |
details here |
| move |
Moves a file from one folder to another |
details here |
| net |
A suite of various networking and service commands |
details here |
|
netsh
|
Network services shell . Complex suite of commands. |
details here |
|
netstat
|
Displays active TCP connections, ports on which the computer is listening,
Ethernet statistics, the IP routing table, statistics for the IP,
ICMP, TCP, and UDP protocols |
details here |
| path |
Sets the command path in the PATH environment variable, which is the
set of directories used to search for executable files |
details
here |
|
|
| pathping |
Provides information about network performance and conditions
at intermediate hops between a source and destination |
details here |
| pause |
Used in batch scripts |
pause |
| ping |
Checks connectivity to other networked computers, routers, or Internet
sites |
details here |
| popd, pushd |
Changes the directory being referenced in a command prompt. Pushd changes
the directory and stores the previous directory. Popd changes the
current directory to the directory stored by the pushd command |
pushd somefolder popd |
| powercfg |
Manages the power settings such as hibernation. Has numerous switches |
|
| reg |
Adds, changes, and displays
registry entries. A suite of various commands |
details here |
| rd or rmdir |
Deletes a directory (folder) |
details here |
| ren or rename |
Changes the name of a file or a set of files |
details here |
| sc |
Used to obtain information about services and to configure them. A suite
of various commands |
details here |
| schtasks |
Schedules commands and programs to run periodically or at a specific
time |
|
| set |
Displays, sets, or removes environment variables |
details
here and also here
|
| sfc |
System file checker scans and verifies the versions of all protected
system files |
sfc /scannow |
| shutdown |
Shuts down or restarts a computer |
details
here |
| sort |
Alphabetizes strings from a text file or the output of a command. |
|
| start |
Starts an application or opens a new command window |
details here |
| subst |
Associates a folder with a drive letter |
details here |
| systeminfo |
Displays detailed configuration information about a computer and its
operating system |
systeminfo | more |
| taskkill |
Ends one or more tasks or processes |
details here |
| tasklist |
Displays a list of applications and services with their Process ID (PID)
for all tasks running |
details here |
| tree |
Graphically displays the directory structure of a folder or
drive |
tree somefolder |
| type |
Displays the contents of a text file |
type somefile.txt |
| vssadmin |
For administering and configuring volume shadow copies |
details here |
|
xcopy
|
Powerful command with many switches for copying and backing up files
and folders |
details here |