Useful Command-line Commands on Windows
- by Sung Meister
The aim for this Wiki is to promote using a command to open up commonly used applications without having to go through many mouse clicks - thus saving time on monitoring and troubleshooting Windows machines.
Answer entries need to specify
Application name
Commands
Screenshot (Optional)
Shortcut to commands
&& - Command Chaining
%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\rcimlby.exe -LaunchRA - Remote Assistance (Windows XP)
appwiz.cpl - Programs and Features (Formerly Known as "Add or Remove Programs")
appwiz.cpl @,2 - Turn Windows Features On and Off (Add/Remove Windows Components pane)
arp - Displays and modifies the IP-to-Physical address translation tables used by address resolution protocol (ARP)
at - Schedule tasks either locally or remotely without using Scheduled Tasks
bootsect.exe - Updates the master boot code for hard disk partitions to switch between BOOTMGR and NTLDR
cacls - Change Access Control List (ACL) permissions on a directory, its subcontents, or files
calc - Calculator
chkdsk - Check/Fix the disk surface for physical errors or bad sectors
cipher - Displays or alters the encryption of directories [files] on NTFS partitions
cleanmgr.exe - Disk Cleanup
clip - Redirects output of command line tools to the Windows clipboard
cls - clear the command line screen
cmd /k - Run command with command extensions enabled
color - Sets the default console foreground and background colors in console
command.com - Default Operating System Shell
compmgmt.msc - Computer Management
control.exe /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter - Network and Sharing Center
control keyboard - Keyboard Properties
control mouse(or main.cpl) - Mouse Properties
control sysdm.cpl,@0,3 - Advanced Tab of the System Properties dialog
control userpasswords2 - Opens the classic User Accounts dialog
desk.cpl - opens the display properties
devmgmt.msc - Device Manager
diskmgmt.msc - Disk Management
diskpart - Disk management from the command line
dsa.msc - Opens active directory users and computers
dsquery - Finds any objects in the directory according to criteria
dxdiag - DirectX Diagnostic Tool
eventvwr - Windows Event Log (Event Viewer)
explorer . - Open explorer with the current folder selected.
explorer /e, . - Open explorer, with folder tree, with current folder selected.
F7 - View command history
find - Searches for a text string in a file or files
findstr - Find a string in a file
firewall.cpl - Opens the Windows Firewall settings
fsmgmt.msc - Shared Folders
fsutil - Perform tasks related to FAT and NTFS file systems
ftp - Transfers files to and from a computer running an FTP server service
getmac - Shows the mac address(es) of your network adapter(s)
gpedit.msc - Group Policy Editor
gpresult - Displays the Resultant Set of Policy (RSoP) information for a target user and computer
httpcfg.exe - HTTP Configuration Utility
iisreset - To restart IIS
InetMgr.exe - Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager 7
InetMgr6.exe - Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager 6
intl.cpl - Regional and Language Options
ipconfig - Internet protocol configuration
lusrmgr.msc - Local Users and Groups Administrator
msconfig - System Configuration
notepad - Notepad? ;)
mmsys.cpl - Sound/Recording/Playback properties
mode - Configure system devices
more - Displays one screen of output at a time
mrt - Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
mstsc.exe - Remote Desktop Connection
nbstat - displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT
ncpa.cpl - Network Connections
netsh - Display or modify the network configuration of a computer that is currently running
netstat - Network Statistics
net statistics - Check computer up time
net stop - Stops a running service.
net use - Connects a computer to or disconnects a computer from a shared resource, or displays information about computer connections
odbcad32.exe - ODBC Data Source Administrator
pathping - A traceroute that collects detailed packet loss stats
perfmon - Opens Reliability and Performance Monitor
ping - Determine whether a remote computer is accessible over the network
powercfg.cpl - Power management control panel applet
quser - Display information about user sessions on a terminal server
qwinsta - See disconnected remote desktop sessions
reg.exe - Console Registry Tool for Windows
regedit - Registry Editor
rasdial - Connects to a VPN or a dialup network
robocopy - Backup/Restore/Copy large amounts of files reliably
rsop.msc - Resultant Set of Policy (shows the combined effect of all group policies active on the current system/login)
runas - Run specific tools and programs with different permissions than the user's current logon provides
sc - Manage anything you want to do with services.
schtasks - Enables an administrator to create, delete, query, change, run and end scheduled tasks on a local or remote system.
secpol.msc - Local Security Settings
services.msc - Services control panel
set - Displays, sets, or removes cmd.exe environment variables.
set DIRCMD - Preset dir parameter in cmd.exe
start - Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command
start. - opens the current directory in the Windows Explorer.
shutdown.exe - Shutdown or Reboot a local/remote machine
subst.exe - Associates a path with a drive letter, including local drives
systeminfo -Displays a comprehensive information about the system
taskkill - terminate tasks by process id (PID) or image name
tasklist.exe - List Processes on local or a remote machine
taskmgr.exe - Task Manager
telephon.cpl - Telephone and Modem properties
timedate.cpl - Date and Time
title - Change the title of the CMD window you have open
tracert - Trace route
wmic - Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line
winver.exe - Find Windows Version
wscui.cpl - Windows Security Center
wuauclt.exe - Windows Update AutoUpdate Client
