The Ultimate Windows Run Commands List &

Tricks
By Jignesh Rathod

W hat is the easiest and fastest way to run or open something in Windows? Of course
using the Run command. If you know Windows Run Commands for things you use
frequently, you don‟t have to navigate through menus and search for it: Imagine how much
time it it would save you! Using Run commands is the fastest way to open programs, files,
folders and websites too.

How to Use a Run Command?

There are multiple ways you can use Windows Run commands.
1. Yo can simply press Windows+R key and type the command.
2. In Windows 8 it‟s even easier, you have to only press Windows key to see the Start Screen
and start typing. In fact in modern Windows, Run is replaced by Start Screen which serves
as a multi-purpose tool.
3. You can also use a Run command in Command Prompt window.
4. You can also create a shortcut file for a command by right clicking in a folder or desktop
and choose New -> Shortcut. (I noticed that this doesn‟t work for some commands)
5. You can also press Windows+X to see Windows Power User menu and choose „Run‟. (for
Windows 8.1)
Twin Article:
The Most Useful Windows Commands You Must Know

How to Create Your Own Run Command

A Run command is simply the name of the file used to execute a program. You can easily
create your own Windows Run commands.
1. Create a shortcut of the program, file, folder or even any website link you want to create a
Run command for.
2. Rename the shortcut to the command name you want to give.
3. Copy or move that shortcut to Windows folder. You can directly open Windowsfolder by
running command %Windir%. Now you can easily access the shortcut you created from
anywhere!

The Ultimate Windows Run Commands List

Here is the list of useful Windows Run commands which will make your life much easier.
Please note that some of the commands may not work on your system depending on if a
program is installed on your system, e.g. winword, powerpnt, mshearts, etc.
Accessibility Controls access.cpl

Accessibility Wizard accwiz

Add Features to Windows 8 windowsanytimeupgradeui

Add Hardware Wizard hdwwiz

Add/Remove Programs appwiz.cpl

Administrative Tools control admintools

Advanced User Accounts netplwiz or control userpasswords2

Authorization Manager azman

Automatic Updates wuaucpl.cpl

Backup and Restore sdclt

Bluetooth File Transfer fsquirt

Buy a Product Key Online purchasewindowslicense

Calculator calc

Certificate Manager certmgr.msc

Certificates certmgr or certlm

Change Printer Settings printui

Character Map charmap

Check Disk Utility chkdsk

ClearType Tuner cttune

Clipboard Viewer clipbrd

Color Management colorcpl

Command Prompt cmd

Component Services dcomcnfg or comexp

Computer Management compmgmt.msc or CompMgmtLauncher

Connect to a Network Projector netproj

Control Panel control

Create A Shared Folder Wizard shrpubw

Create a System Repair Disc recdisc

Credential Backup and Restore Wizard (Manage stored
User Names and passwords) credwiz

Data Execution Prevention systempropertiesdataexecutionprevention

Date and Time Properties timedate.cpl

DDE Shares ddeshare

Device Manager devmgmt.msc or hdwwiz.cpl

Device Pairing Wizard (Add a Device) devicepairingwizard

Digitizer Calibration Tool tabcal

Direct X Control Panel (if installed)* directx.cpl

DirectAcesss Properties daprop

DirectX Diagnostic Tool/Troubleshooter dxdiag

Disk Cleanup Utility cleanmgr

Disk Defragment dfrg.msc

Disk Defragmenter dfrgui

Disk Management diskmgmt.msc

Disk Partition Manager diskpart

Display dpiscaling

Display Color Calibration dccw

Display Properties control desktop or desk.cpl

Display Properties (w/Appearance Tab Preselected) control color

Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility drwtsn32

Driver Package Installer dpinst

Driver Verifier Utility verifier

Ease of Access Center utilman

EFS REKEY Wizard rekeywiz

Encrypting File System Wizard rekeywiz

Event Viewer eventvwr or eventvwr.msc

Fax Cover Page Editor fxscover

File History filehistory

File Signature Verification Tool sigverif

Files and Settings Transfer Tool migwiz

Findfast findfast.cpl

Flash Player Settings Manager flashplayerapp

Folders Properties folders

Font Viewer fontview

Fonts control fonts

Fonts Folder fonts

Free Cell Card Game freecell

Game Controllers joy.cpl

Group Policy Editor (XP Prof) gpedit.msc

Hearts Card Game mshearts

Help and Support helpctr

HyperTerminal hypertrm

IExpress Wizard iexpress

Indexing Service ciadv.msc

Install or Uninstall Display Languages lusrmgr

Internet Connection Wizard icwconn

Internet Explorer iexplore

Internet Properties inetcpl.cpl

Internet Setup Wizard inetwiz

IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents) ipconfig /flushdns

IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration) ipconfig /all

IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID) ipconfig /showclassid

IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents) ipconfig /displaydns

IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID) ipconfig /setclassid

IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS) ipconfig /registerdns

IP Configuration (Release All Connections) ipconfig /release

IP Configuration (Renew All Connections) ipconfig /renew

iSCSI Initiator Configuration Tool iscsicpl

Java Control Panel (if installed) javaws

Keyboard Properties control keyboard

Language Pack Installer lpksetup

Local Group Policy Editor gpedit

Local Security Policy secpol

Local Security Settings secpol.msc

Local Users and Groups lusrmgr.msc

Location Activity locationnotifications

Logs You Out Of Windows logoff

Magnifier magnify

Make changes to your user account control userpasswords

Malicious Software Removal Tool mrt

Manage Your File Encryption Certificates rekeywiz

Math Input Panel mip

Microsoft Access (if installed) msaccess

Microsoft Chat winchat

Microsoft Excel (if installed) excel

Microsoft Management Console mmc

Microsoft Movie Maker moviemk

Microsoft Powerpoint (if installed) powerpnt

Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool msdt

Microsoft Syncronization Tool mobsync

Microsoft Word (if installed) winword

Minesweeper Game winmine

Mouse Properties control mouse or main.cpl

NAP Client Configuration napclcfg

Narrator narrator

Netmeeting conf

Network Connections control netconnections or ncpa.cpl

Network Setup Wizard netsetup.cpl

New Scan Wizard (Windows Picture Acquisition Wizard) wiaacmgr

Notepad notepad

Object Packager packager

ODBC Data Source Administrator odbcad32 or odbccp32.cpl

ODBC Driver Configuration odbcconf

On-Screen Keyboard osk

Outlook Express msimn

Paint mspaint or pbrush

Password Properties password.cpl

Performance Monitor perfmon or perfmon.msc

Performance Options systempropertiesperformance

Phone and Modem Options telephon.cpl

Phone Dialer dialer

Pinball Game pinball

Power Configuration powercfg.cpl

Presentation Settings presentationsettings

Print Management printmanagement

Printer Migration printbrmui

Printers and Faxes control printers

Printers Folder printers

Private Character Editor eudcedit

Programs and Features appwiz.cpl

Protected Content (DPAPI Key) Migration dpapimig

Recovery Drive recoverydrive

Refresh Your PC systemreset

Regional Settings intl.cpl

Registry Editor regedit or regedt32

Remote Access Phonebook rasphone

Remote Desktop Connection mstsc

Removable Storage ntmsmgr.msc

Removable Storage Operator Requests ntmsoprq.msc

Resource Monitor resmon or perfmon /res

Resultant Set of Policy rsop

Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof) rsop.msc

Scanners and Cameras sticpl.cpl

Scheduled Tasks control schedtasks

Security Center wscui.cpl

Services services.msc or services

Set Program Access and Computer Defaults computerdefaults

Shared Folders fsmgmt.msc

Shuts Down Windows shutdown

Snipping Tool snippingtool

Sound Recorder soundrecorder

Sound Volume/Mixer sndvol

Sounds and Audio mmsys.cpl

Spider Solitare Card Game spider

SQL Client Configuration cliconfg

Steps Recorder psr

Sticky Notes stikynot

Switch Display (Connect to a Projector) displayswitch

System Configuration Editor sysedit

System Configuration Utility msconfig

System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache) sfc /purgecache

System File Checker Utility (Return Scan Setting To

Default) sfc /revert

System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately) sfc /scannow

System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot) sfc /scanboot

System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At The Next Boot) sfc /scanonce

System File Checker Utility (Sets Cache Size to size x) sfc /cachesize=x

System Information msinfo32

System Properties sysdm.cpl

System Properties (Advanced Tab) systempropertiesadvanced

System Properties (Computer Name Tab) systempropertiescomputername

System Properties (Hardware Tab) systempropertieshardware

System Properties (Remote Tab) systempropertiesremote

System Properties (System Protection Tab) systempropertiesprotection

System Restore rstrui

Task Manager taskmgr or launchtm

Task Scheduler taskschd

TCP Tester tcptest

Telnet Client telnet

Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel tabtip

Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Management tpm

User Account Control Settings useraccountcontrolsettings

User Account Management nusrmgr.cpl

Windows Activation Client slui

Windows Anytime Upgrade Results windowsanytimeupgraderesults

Windows Contacts/Address Book wab

Windows Contacts/Address Book Import Utility wabmig

Windows Disc Image Burning Tool isoburn

Windows Explorer explorer

Windows Fax and Scan wfs

Windows Features optionalfeatures

Windows Firewall firewall.cpl

Windows Firewall with Advanced Security wf

Windows Help and Support winhlp32

Windows Journal journal

Windows Management Infrastructure wmimgmt.msc

Windows Media Player dvdplay or wmplayer

Windows Memory Diagnostic Scheduler mdsched

Windows Messenger msmsgs

Windows Mobility Center mblctr

Windows Picture Import Wizard (need camera connected) wiaacmgr

Windows PowerShell powershell

Windows PowerShell ISE powershell_ise

Windows Remote Assistance msra

Windows Script Host wscript

Windows SmartScreen smartscreensettings

Windows Store Cach Clear wsreset

Windows System Security Tool (Securing the Windows

Account Database) syskey

Windows Update wuapp

Windows Update Launches wupdmgr

Windows Update Standalone Installer wusa

Windows Version Information winver

Windows XP Tour Wizard tourstart

WMI Management wmimgmt

WMI Tester wbemtest

Wordpad write

XPS Viewer xpsrchvw

Shell Commands
Shell commands provide access to Windows special folders. You can find list and settings
for all Shell folders in Windows Registry at
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Fo
lderDescriptions (In Windows XP,
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders).

Internet Explorer

Cookies shell:Cookies

Cookies\Low shell:Cookies\Low

Favorites shell:Favorites

Internet Explorer – 32-bit shell:InternetFolder

Temporary Internet Files shell:Cache

Library

Libraries shell:Libraries

Libraries shell:UsersLibrariesFolder

Libraries – Documents shell:documentsLibrary

Libraries – Music shell:MusicLibrary

Libraries – Pictures shell:PicturesLibrary

Libraries – Videos shell:VideosLibrary

Public Libraries Shell:PublicLibraries

Multimedia

Music shell:My Music

Music (all users) shell:CommonMusic

Pictures shell:My Pictures

Pictures (all users) shell:CommonPictures

Sample Music shell:SampleMusic

Sample Pictures shell:SamplePictures

Sample Videos shell:SampleVideos

Videos shell:My Video

Videos (all users) shell:CommonVideo

System

Administrative Tools shell:Administrative Tools

Administrative Tools (all users) shell:Common Administrative Tools

All User profiles folder shell:UserProfiles

Computer shell:MyComputerFolder

Control Pane – Network Connections shell:ConnectionsFolder

Control Panel shell:ControlPanelFolder

Control Panel – Get Programs shell:AddNewProgramsFolder

Control Panel – Programs and Features shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder

Desktop (all users) shell:Common Desktop

Device Metadata Store shell:device Metadata Store

Documents (all users) shell:Common Documents

Downloads (all users) shell:CommonDownloads

Fonts shell:Fonts

GameExplorer shell:PublicGameTasks

Games shell:Games

Homegroup Shell:HomeGroupFolder

Installed Updates shell:AppUpdatesFolder

Network shell:NetworkPlacesFolder

Printers shell:PrintersFolder

Program Files shell:ProgramFilesX64

Program Files (x86) shell:ProgramFilesX86

Program Files (x86) – Common Files shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86

Program Files – Common Files shell:ProgramFilesCommon

Program Files – Common Files shell:ProgramFilesCommonX64

Program Files folder shell:ProgramFiles

ProgramData (all users) shell:Common AppData

Public folder shell:Public

Public Suggested Locations shell:PublicSuggestedLocations

Recycle Bin shell:RecycleBinFolder

Resources shell:ResourceDir

Ringtones (all users) shell:CommonRingtones

search-ms: shell:SearchHomeFolder

Start Menu (all users) shell:Common Start Menu

Start Menu – Programs (all users) shell:Common Programs

Startup (all users) shell:Common Startup

System32 or System Folder shell:System

SysWOW64 shell:SystemX86

Templates (all users) shell:Common Templates

Windows folder shell:Windows

Windows Sidebar – Gadgets shell:Gadgets

Windows Sidebar – Gadgets shell:default Gadgets

User

App Data – LocalLow shell:LocalAppDataLow

AppData – Local shell:Local AppData

AppData – Roaming shell:AppData

AppData – Roaming – Credentials shell:CredentialManager

Contacts shell:Contacts

Current User folder shell:Profile

Current User folder shell:UsersFilesFolder

Desktop shell:desktop

Documents shell:Personal
Downloads shell:downloads

Internet Explorer – Quick Launch shell:Quick Launch

Internet Explorer – User Pinned shell:User Pinned

Links shell:Links

Microsoft Crypto shell:CryptoKeys

Network Shortcuts shell:NetHood

Protect shell:dpapiKeys

Recent items shell:Recent

Ringtones shell:Ringtones

Saved Games shell:SavedGames

Searches shell:Searches

SendTo locations shell:SendTo

Start Menu shell:Start Menu

Start Menu Programs shell:Programs

Startmenu – Startup items shell:Startup

SystemCertificates shell:SystemCertificates

Templates shell:Templates

Temporary Disk Burning Folder shell:CD Burning

Windows Game Explorer shell:GameTasks

Windows History shell:History

Windows Printer Shortcuts shell:PrintHood

Windows Sync

Sync Center shell:SyncCenterFolder

Sync Center – Conflicts shell:ConflictFolder

Sync Center – Sync Results shell:SyncResultsFolder

Sync Center – Sync Setup shell:SyncSetupFolder

Note:
Commands in Magenta color work only in Command Prompt.
 Most Useful Windows Commands You Must Know
By Jignesh Rathod, TechForWorld

C ommand Prompt a command line interpreter application in your Windows computer

used to execute commands and perform advanced administrative functions. Its official
name is Windows Command Processor, and its also called by its file name „cmd.exe‟.

Command Prompt is Not DOS!

Most people think Command Prompt and MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) are
same. Command Prompt is only a program in Windows OSes which is used to run
commands or batch of commands.
MS-DOS was an x86-based operating system used for personal computers. Your modern
Windows PC doesn‟t work on DOS– it is not even having DOS at all!

Open Command Prompt

There are multiple ways you can access Command Prompt in Windows.
1. Press Windows+R to open Windows Run dialogue box, type CMD and hit enter.
2. Press Windows+S in Windows 8, type CMD and press Enter.
PressControl+Shift+Enter instead of Enter to open Command Prompt inAdministrator mode.
Some of the commands are allowed only in Administratormode.
3. Right click on Start button at bottom left (Windows 8.1) and it will popup a menu with
useful Windows options. You can select Command Prompt orCommand Prompt (Admin) from
that.

See Help on Any Command

One thing I love about Command Prompt is that it provides very useful in-built help.
1. Type HELP to see a list of all commands supported in current Windows version your
computer is running.
2. Type HELP [Command Name] or [Command Name]/? to see help on specific command.
For example HELP CLS or CLS/? will show you what clscommand does.

Tips
1. Previously Used Commands:
Press up and down arrow keys to cycle through previously used commands. You can also
edit the command any time using left and right arrow keys.
2. Abort a Comnand:
Use Control+C to abort any command any time.
3. Copy Text from Command Window:
You can copy text from command window. Right click on Command Prompt window and
select ‟Mark‟. Now select text using your mouse, and you can paste it to any program.
4. Auto-complete File Names:
Use Tab key to automatically show file or folder name in the current directory. For example,
type CD C:\Windows\ and keep pressing tab key to see names of all directories and files
within that folder.
5. Paste Text in Command Prompt:
Right click on the Command Prompt window and select „Paste‟ to copy text or command
from clipboard.
You can also drag and drop any file or folder inside the Command Prompt window to
quickly copy it‟s path.
6. Open cmd Directly in a Directory:
Press Shift key and right click on any folder and you can use „open command window here„ to
directly open the Command Prompt within that directory.
7. Select Command from History:
Press F7 key to see a list of previously executed commands and select from them.

Useful Windows Commands

You can easily find list of all Windows commands on internet, but the purpose of this post is
to list out very useful Windows commands which can do great work for you.
ASSOC – Display or Change file extension association
ASSOC .txt (View file associatoin)

ASSOC .log=txtfile (Add a file association)

ASSOC .html= (Delete an association)

ASSOC .EXE=exefile (Repair .EXE file associations)

ASSOC .REG=regfile (Repair .REG file associations)

ATTRIB – Display or Change file attributes

ATTRIB +R -H (Set all files in current directory read-only and not hidden)

ATTRIB +R Z:\*.txt (Process particular file or files in given path)

/S (Process files in all sub-folders too)

/D (Process folders too)

BCDEDIT – Sets properties in boot database to control boot loading

BOOTCFG – Edit Windows boot settings
BREAK – Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking
CALL – Call one batch program from another
CD – Displays the name of or changes the current directory
CD D:\Software (Change to particular directory)

CD /D D:\Software (Change current drive also)

CD ―D:\My Software‖ (Directory name with space)

CD .. (Change to parent directory)

CD ..\.. (Change to grand parent directory)

CD \ (Change to root directory)

CD D:\My [Press Tab key] (Auto complte/suggest directory name)

ECHO ―%CD%‖ (Display the current drive and directory)

CHDIR – Displays the name of or changes the current directory
See its synonym CD

CHKDSK – Check and repair disk problems

CHKNTFS – Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time
CHOICE – Accept keyboard input to a batch file
CIPHER – Encrypt or Decrypt files/folders
CLEANMGR – Open Windows Disk cleanup tool
CLIP – Copy command output or content of a file to the Windows clipboard
DIR | CLIP

DATE /T | CLIP

CLIP < filename.txt (Copy a file content to clipboard)

CLS – Clear the screen

CMD – Start a new CMD shell
CMDKEY – Manage stored usernames/passwords
COLOR – Change text and background color of screen
COLOR A (Change text color to light green (A))

COLOR 8A (Change background color to gray (8) and text color to light green (A))

COLOR (Reset to default colors – black background and white text)

COMP – Compare contents of files

COMP ―file1.txt‖ ―file2.txt‖ (Works when size of both files are same)

COMP ―file1.txt‖ ―file2.txt‖ /N=50 (Compare first 50 lines. Use this if both file sizes are different)

/C (Do a case insensitive string comparison)

COMPACT – Displays or modify the compression of files on NTFS disk

CONVERT – Convert a FAT drive to NTFS
CONVERT X: /FS:NTFS /V (Convert drive X to NTFS and show all messages during the process)

COPY – Copy file(s) to another location

COPY ―file.txt‖ ―file_copy.txt‖

COPY ―D:\*.txt‖ ―D:\combined.txt‖ (Combile all text files into one)

COPY *.* ―D:\Backup‖ (Copy all files to a location)

 COPY ―file.txt‖ ―file_copy.txt‖ >nul (Copy silently, no messages on screen)

/Y Supress confirmation prompt to overwrite existing files

/-Y Enable confirmation prompt to overwrite existing files

DATE – Display or change current system date.

DATE /T (Only output the current date, without asking to change)

DEFRAG – Optimize/defragment hard drive

DEL – Delete file(s) or directories.
DEL ―filename.txt‖

DEL A* (Delete all files starting with letter A)

DEL *.tmp (Delete all files with extension .tmp)

DEL /F * (Delete all files including any that are read only)

TYPE nul > file.txt (Use this command before DEL to clear all contents before deleting the file for safety
purpose, since third-party utilities can undelete your files)

DIR – List files and folders in current directory

DIR /P or DIR | MORE (Pause after each screen of data)

DIR/A:H (Show all hidden files)

/O:S (Sort ascending by file size)

/O:-D (Sort descending by date)

/S Include all sub-folders

DISKPART – Manage disk partitions

DOSKEY – Edit command line, recall commands, and create macros
DRIVERQUERY – List installed device drivers

Tip: If the file or folder name contains a space, you must use it within inverted commas, like
“D:\My Pictures”

ECHO – Display message on screen. Or turn command echoing on or off

ECHO (Show current echo setting)

ECHO ON or OFF (Turn echoing on or off)

ECHO How are you? (Display a text message)

ENDLOCAL – End localisation of environment changes in a batch file

ERASE – Deletes one or more files
See DEL)

EVENTCREATE – Add a message to the Windows event log

EXIT – Close Command Prompt or quite current script or routine
EXPAND – Uncompress one or more specified files
FC – Compare two or more files and show difference between them
FC /B ―file1.txt‖ ―file2.txt‖ (Perform a binary comparison)

/C (Case sensitive string comparison)

/A (Displays only first and last line of each set of differences)

/U (Compare as UNICODE text files)

/L (Compare as ASCII text – this is default)

/N (Display line numbers – for ASCII only)

/LB50: (Show maximum first 50 differences only)

FIND – Search for a text string in a files or files

FIND ―text to find‖

/V (Display all lines NOT containing the specified string)

/C (Count the number of lines containing the string)

/N (Display Line numbers)

/I (Ignore the case of characters)

TYPE myfile.txt | FIND ―‖ /v /c (Count number of lines in a file)

FINDSTR – Search for strings in files.

FOR /F – Loops specified command for each file in a set of files.
FORFILES – Batch process multiple files
FORMAT – Format a disk
FORMAT X: /Q (Quick format drive X)

/FS:NTFS or /FS:FAT (Specify the file system)

/V:MyBackup (Specify volume label)

FSUTIL – File and Volume utilities

FTP – File Transfer Protocol
FTYPE – File extension file type associations
FTYPE MyFiletype=‖E:\Projects\MyApp.exe‖
ASSOC .xxx=MyFiletype (The FileType should always be created before making a File Association)

GOTO – Direct a batch program to jump to a labelled line

GPRESULT – Displays Group Policy information for machine or user
HELP – See help on Windows Command(s)
HELP

HELP DIR (See help on specific command)

HOSTNAME – Display the name of the computer

ICACLS – Change file permissions
IF – Perform conditional processing in a batch program
IF EXIST ―file.txt‖ START ―file.txt‖

IF NOT EXIST ―file.txt‖ ECHO The file doesn‘t exist.

IPCONFIG – Configure IP
IPCONFIG /FLUSHDNS (Purge the DNS Resolver cache)

LABEL – Display or change label of disk.

LOGMAN – Manage Performance Monitor
LOGOFF – Log off Windows user — Be careful!
MAKECAB – Create .CAB files
MD – Create a new directory
MD ―Alpha‖ ―Beta‖ ―Gamma‖ (Make multiple folders at once)

MD ―Alpha\Beta\Gamma‖ (Make an entire path)

MKDIR – Create a new directory

See MD

MODE – Configure system devices

MORE – Display output one screen at a time. For example, DIR /S | MORE
DIR | MORE (Can be used with any command or batch program)

MORE < ―file.txt‖ (Display a file)

/E /C (Clear screen before displaying page)

MOVE – Move or rename files and directories.

 MOVE ―oldfile.txt‖ ―newfile.txt‖ >nul (Move quietly without feedback on screen)

MOVE ―D:\filename.txt‖ (Move the file to current folder)

/Y (Suppress confirmation prompt)

MSG – Send message to a user

MSG JIGNESH ―Hi!‖ (Send message to a user of current domain/server)

MSG * ―Hi!‖ (Send message to all!)

/SERVER:ServerName (The server to contact (default is current))

/V (Verbose, display extra information)

/W (Wait for response from user, useful with /V)

MSG JIGNESH (If no message text to send is specified, MSG will prompt for it)

MSIEXEC – Start Windows installer/setup

MSINFO32 – Display system information (opens a new dialogue)
MSTSC – Start terminal server connection (remote desktop)
NET – Manage network resources
NETSH – Configure Network Interfaces, Windows Firewall & Remote access
NETSTAT – Display networking statistics, connection details (TCP/IP)
NSLOOKUP – Verify DNS name resolution for a host
PATH – Display or set a search path for executable files
PATH D:\MyApps; E:\MyApps;

PATH ; (Clear all paths)

PAUSE – Suspend processing of a batch file and display a message

PAUSE >nul (To suppress the message ‗Press any key to continue…‘)

Echo Press any key to exit

PAUSE >nul (Display a different message)

PERFMON – Start performance monitor

PING – Test a network connection
PING techforworld.com

POPD – Return to a previous directory saved using PUSHD command

POWERCFG – Configure power settings
PRINT – Print a text file using a printer device
 PRINT ―file.txt‖

PRINT /D:LPT1 or /D:COM1 (Specify printer device)

PROMPT – Change the cmd.exe command prompt text

PUSHD – Stores the current directory for use by the POPD command
QUERY PROCESS – Display processes
QUERY SESSION – Display all sessions
QUERY TERMSERVER – List all servers
QUERY USER – Display user sessions
RASDIAL – Manage remote access service (dial-up) connections
RASPHONE – Manage remote access service (dial-up) connections
RD – Delete folder(s)
RD ―D:\Temp files‖ (Will delete only if the folder is empty)

/S (Delete all files, tree of subfolders and folder itself)

/Q (Delete silently – don‘t display Y/N confirmation)

RD D:\Temp1 D:\Temp2 ―D:\Temp 3″ (Delete multiple folders)

RECOVER – Recover a damaged file from a defective disk

REG – View, add, delete, change or export Registry key or key values
REGSVR32 – Register or unregister a DLL file
REM – Add comments/remarks in a batch file. This can also be done using double
colons (::)
REM This is a comment.

:: This is another comment.

REN – Renames a file or files

REN:

REN old.txt new.txt

REN * *.txt (Rename extension of all files)

REN * *?.bak (Append extra extension to every file, E.g. file.txt.bak)

RENAME – Renames a file or files

See REN

REPLACE – Replace files

 REPLACE D:\backup\file.txt E:\documents

/R (Replace read-only files as well)

/U (Updates files that are only older than source files.)

/S (Replace all subfolders of the destination)

/P (Prompt for confirmation for each file)

RMDIR – Removes a directory

See RD

ROBOCOPY – Advanced utility to copy files and folder trees

ROBOCOPY \\Server1\reports \\Server2\backup

/E (Include subfolders)

/COPYALL (Copy all file info like attributes, timestamps, security info, owner info)

/NOCOPY (Don‘t copy file info)

/MOVE (Delete files and folders from source after copying)

/Z (Restrtable mode, survive network gliltch)

/PURGE (Delete destination files that no longer exist in source)

/MIR (Mirror a directory tree – equivalent to /PURGE and /E

/LOG:report.txt (Output progress to a log file)

ROUTE – Manipulate network routing tables

RUNAS – Execute a program under a different user name
RUNAS /user:TechForWorld\Jignesh ―program.exe‖ (Run a program as a specified domain user)

SC – Displays or configures services (background processes)

SCHTASKS – Schedule a command or task to run at a specific time
SCHTASKS /Query (See all scheduled tasks)

SCHTASKS /Create /SC weekly /D MON,TUE,WED,THU,FRI /TN MyDailyBackup /ST 23:00 /TR
c:\backup.cmd /RU MyDomain\MyLogin /RP MyPassword (Create a task to run at 11 pm every weekday)

SCHTASKS /Delete /TN ―MyDailyBackup‖ /F (Delete a task)

SCHTASKS /create /TN ―My Script‖ /TR ―\‖c:\my folder\script.cmd\‖ arguments‖ /sc daily /sd 12/29/2014 /st
17:00 (Create a daily task to run a script at 5 pm)

SCHTASKS /Run [Connect_Options] /TN taskname (Run a task on demand)

Please note that task scheduler options are stored in Windows Registry at
 HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SchedulingAgent\

SET – Display, set, or remove Command Prompt environment variables

SET X=Some Value (Set a value to X)

SET X (Display value of X)

SETLOCAL – Begins localization of environment changes in a batch file

SETX – Set environment variables
SFC – System file checker
SFC /SCANNOW (Scan and repair all protected system files immediately)

/SCANONCE (Scan all system files once you restart the computer. The SfcScan DWORD value is set to 2 in
the following registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon)

/SCANBOOT (Scan all protected system files every time you start your computer. The SfcScan DWORD
value is set to 1 in the following registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon)

/REVERT (Return scan to default setting)

Note: SFC may require Windows installation files

SHIFT – Shift the position of batch file parameters

SHUTDOWN – Shutdown the computer
SHUTDOWN (Show help about command)

/I (Display graphical user interface)

/S (Shutdown)

/R (Shutdown and restart)

/A (Abort shutdown)

/P (Turn off without any warning or timeout. Use with /D)

/H (Hibernate. Use with /F)

/F (Force to close all applications. You may lose unsaved data!)

SLMGR – Software Licensing Management

SORT – Sort input text
START – Start a program, command or a batch program
START C:\MyApp\App.exe
 START ―‖ ―C:\Program Files\MyApp\App.exe‖ ―Parameter 1″ (For long file name formats. First parameter is
Window title!)

―C:\Program Files\MyApp\App.exe‖ ―Parameter 1″ (This also works!)

START CALC (Start can be used with various Windows functions)

/MIN (Start window minimized. Default is normal window)

/MAX (Start window maximized)

/WAIT (Start the application and wait for it to terminate)

SUBST – Associate a network or local path with a (virtual) drive letter

SUBST (List all virtual drivers)

SUBST X: \\Server1\Share\Folder1 (Set a path as virtual drive X:)

SUBST X: /D (Delete the substituted (virtual) drive)

SYSTEMINFO – List system configuration

TAKEOWN – Take ownership of a file
TASKLIST – List running applications and services in Windows
TASKKILL – Terminate a running process/task
TIME – Display or set the system time
TIME 13:54 (Set the new time)

TIME /T (Only output the current time without asking new time)

TIMEOUT – Wait for specified seconds or until any key is pressed. For use within a
batch program.
TITLE – Set the window title for a CMD.EXE session
TRACERT – Trace route (find IP address) to a remote host
TRACERT TechForWorld.com

TREE – Graphical display of directory structure of a folder or a drive

TREE | MORE (Show tree for current directory. Pause after each screen)

TREE ―D:\Games‖ | MORE (Show tree for specified path)

TREE > ―D:\Tree.txt‖ (Save a tree structure to file)

TSDISCON – Disconnect a Remote Desktop Session

TYPE – Display the contents of a text file
TYPE ―D:\file.txt‖ | MORE (Display output on screen, pause after each screen)
 TYPE ―D:\file.txt‖ > NewFile.txt (Copy content to a new file)

TYPE ―D:\file.txt‖ >> ExistingFile.txt (Overwrite content to an existing file)

TYPE nul > file.txt (Create a zero byte (empty) file)

TYPEPERF – Write performance data to a log file or window

VER – Display operating system version information
VERIFY – Verify that your files are written correctly to the disk
VERIFY (Display current verify status)

VERIFY ON or VERIFY OFF (Turn file verification on or off)

By default the Command Prompt has verify OFF. Windows Explorer will always copy with verify ON.

VOL – Display the disk volume label and its serial number
WAITFOR – Wait for or send a signal
WEVTUTIL – Clear event logs, enable/disable/query logs
WHERE – Search for files in a directory tree
WHERE /R D:\ Tech (Find all files named tech in drive D: and all sub-folders)

WHERE /R D:\ *.txt (Find all txt files)

/R (Search recusrively in sub-folders too)

/F (Display files in quotation marks)

/T (Display size and timestamp info of files)

WHOAMI – Display current user-name with domain name

WINRM – Windows Remote Management
WINRS – Windows Remote Shell
WMIC – WMI Commands
WUAUCLT – Windows Update
XCOPY – Copy files and directory trees
XCOPY ―D:\file.txt‖ ―E:\Backup‖ (Copy a file to a location)

XCOPY ―D:\My Files\*‖ ―E:\Backup‖ /S /I (Copy a folder including all subfolders)

Please note that in many cases the functionality of XCOPY is superseded by ROBOCOPY.

> – Save a command‘s output to a file.

SYSTEMINFO > D:\MyPCinfo.txt.
HELP > D:\CmdList.txt
FOR MORE HELP, VISIT TECHFORWORLD.COM