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Command Prompt

Introduction​

  • One of the terminal programs in windows.
  • To launch it send cmd in run window.

Advantages of Command Line Interfaces​

  • Low resource usage
  • Automation
  • Remote management

Basic commands​

  • set - Check your path from the command line.
  • ver - Find windows operating system version.
  • systeminfo - Shows more detailed information about the system.
  • more - Pipe this command to view the output of any command page by page if the output is too long.
    • driverquery | more to view the output page by page.
  • help - Provides help information about a command.
  • cls - Clears the command prompt screen.
  • hostname - Shows the machine name of the system.

Network Troubleshooting​

  • ipconfig - Displays ip address, subnet mask and default gateway.
  • ipconfig /all - Displays additional information such as the MAC address, DNS servers, DHCP details, etc.
  • ping target_name - Checks if a server can be accessed.
  • tracert target_name - Also called trace route. Traces the network route traversed by the given target.
  • nslookup example.com - Returns the IP address of the given host or domain.
  • netstat -abon target_name - Displays current network connections and listening ports.
    • -a - Displays all connnections and ports
    • -b - Displays the associated program.
    • -o - Displays the process ID associated with the connection.
    • -n - Uses the numerical form for addresses and port numbers.

File and Disk Management​

  • cd - Change directory.
  • dir - View child directories.
    • dir /a - Displays hidden and system files.
    • dir /s - Displays files in current directory and all subdirectories.
  • tree - Visual representation of directories and subdirectories.
  • mkdir - Create directory.
  • rmdir - Remove directory.

Working with Files​

  • echo "This is a test" > test.txt - Creates a file.
  • type - Print the contents of the file in command prompt. Similar to cat command in linux.
  • copy - Copy files from one location to another.
  • move - Moves files from one location to another.
  • del or erase - Delete files.
  • * - Use wildcards to refer multiple files.

Task and Process Management​

  • tasklist - Displays all the running tasks.
    • tasklist /FI "imagename eq notepad.exe" - Filters notepad tasks.
  • taskkill - Kills the task.
    • taskkill /PID 123 - Kills the task with process id 123.

Miscellaneous​

  • chkdsk - Checks the filesystem and disks for errors.
  • driverquery - Displays all installed device drivers.
  • sfc /scannow - Scans system files for corruption and repairs them if possible.
  • /? - Displays help information for a command.