Command Prompt Definitions
Command Definitions
APPEND
Allows programs to open data files in specified directories
as if they were in
The current directory.
APPEND [[drive:]path[;...]] [/X[:ON | :OFF]]
[/PATH:ON | /PATH:OFF] [/E]
APPEND ;
[drive:]path Specifies a drive and directory
to append.
/X:ON Applies appended
directories to file searches and
application execution.
/X:OFF
Applies appended directories only to requests to open files.
/X:OFF is the default setting.
/PATH:ON Applies
appended directories to file requests that already
specify a path. /PATH:ON is the default setting.
/PATH:OFF Turns off the
effect of /PATH:ON.
/E Stores a
copy of the appended directory list in an environment
variable named APPEND. /E may be used only the first time
you use APPEND after starting your system.
Type APPEND ; to clear the appended directory list.
Type APPEND without parameters to display the
appended directory list.
ARP
Displays and modifies the IP-to-Physical address
translation tables used by
address resolution protocol (ARP).
ARP -s inet_addr eth_addr [if_addr]
ARP -d inet_addr [if_addr]
ARP -a [inet_addr] [-N if_addr]
-a
Displays current ARP entries by interrogating the current
protocol data. If inet_addr is specified, the IP and Physical
addresses for only the specified computer are displayed. If
more than one network interface uses ARP, entries for each ARP
table are displayed.
-g Same
as -a.
inet_addr Specifies
an internet address.
-N if_addr Displays the ARP
entries for the network interface specified
by if_addr.
-d
Deletes the host specified by inet_addr. inet_addr may be
wildcarded with * to delete all hosts.
-s Adds
the host and associates the Internet address inet_addr
with the Physical address eth_addr. The Physical address is
given as 6 hexadecimal bytes separated by hyphens. The entry
is permanent.
eth_addr
Specifies a physical address.
if_addr
If present, this specifies the Internet address of the
interface whose address translation table should be modified.
If not present, the first applicable interface will be used.
Example:
> arp -s 157.55.85.212
00-aa-00-62-c6-09 .... Adds a static entry.
> arp
-a
.... Displays the arp table.
ASSOC
Displays or modifies file extension associations
ASSOC [.ext[=[fileType]]]
.ext Specifies
the file extension to associate the file type with
fileType Specifies the file type to
associate with the file extension
Type ASSOC without parameters to display the current
file associations.
If ASSOC is invoked with just a file extension, it
displays the current
file association for that file extension.
Specify nothing for the file
type and the command will delete the association for
the file extension.
AT
The AT command schedules commands and programs to run
on a computer at
a specified time and date. The Schedule service must
be running to use
the AT command.
AT [\\computername] [ [id] [/DELETE] | /DELETE
[/YES]]
AT [\\computername] time [/INTERACTIVE]
[ /EVERY:date[,...] |
/NEXT:date[,...]] "command"
\\computername Specifies a
remote computer. Commands are scheduled on the
local computer if this parameter is omitted.
id
Is an identification number assigned to a scheduled
command.
/delete
Cancels a scheduled command. If id is omitted, all the
scheduled commands on the computer are canceled.
/yes
Used with cancel all jobs command when no further
confirmation is desired.
time
Specifies the time when command is to run.
/interactive
Allows the job to interact with the desktop of the user
who is logged on at the time the job runs.
/every:date[,...] Runs the command on each
specified day(s) of the week or
month. If date is omitted, the current day of the month
is assumed.
/next:date[,...] Runs the specified
command on the next occurrence of the
day (for example, next Thursday). If date is omitted, the
current day of the month is assumed.
"command"
Is the Windows NT command, or batch program to be run.
ATTRIB
Displays or changes file attributes.
ATTRIB [+R | -R] [+A | -A ] [+S | -S] [+H | -H] [drive:][path][filename]
[/S [/D]]
+ Sets an attribute.
- Clears an attribute.
R Read-only file attribute.
A Archive file attribute.
S System file attribute.
H Hidden file attribute.
[drive:][path][filename]
Specifies a file or
files for attrib to process.
/S Processes matching files in the
current folder
and all subfolders.
/D Processes folders as well.
ATMADM
Windows ATM Call Manager
Usage: atmadm [options]
where options
are one or more of:
-c
List all connections
-a List all registered
addresses
-s Display Statistics
BOOTCFG
BOOTCFG /parameter [arguments]
Description:
This command line tool can be
used to configure, query, change or
Delete the boot entry settings in
the BOOT.INI file.
Parameter List:
/Copy Makes a copy of an existing
boot entry [operating
systems] section for which you can add OS options to.
/Delete Deletes
an existing boot entry in the [operating
systems] section of the BOOT.INI file. You must specify
the entry# to delete.
/Query Displays the current boot entries
and their settings.
/Raw Allows the user to specify
any switch options to be
added for a specified boot entry.
/Timeout Allows
the user to change the Timeout value.
/Default Allows
the user to change the Default boot entry.
/EMS Allows the user to configure
the /redirect switch
for headless support for a boot entry.
/Debug Allows the user to specify the port
and baudrate for
remote debugging for a specified boot entry.
/Addsw Allows the user to add predefined
switches for
a specific boot
entry.
/Rmsw Allows the user to remove
predefined switches for a
specific boot entry.
/Dbg1394 Allows
the user to configure 1394 port debugging
for a specified boot entry.
/?
Displays this
help/usage.
Examples:
BOOTCFG /Copy /?
BOOTCFG /Delete /?
BOOTCFG /Query /?
BOOTCFG /Raw /?
BOOTCFG /Timeout /?
BOOTCFG /EMS /?
BOOTCFG /Debug /?
BOOTCFG /Addsw /?
BOOTCFG /Rmsw /?
BOOTCFG /Dbg1394 /?
BOOTCFG /Default /?
BOOTCFG /?
BREAK
Sets or Clears Extended CTRL+C checking on DOS
system
BREAK
This is present for Compatibility with DOS systems.
It has no effect
under Windows XP.
If Command Extensions are enabled, and running on
the Windows XP
platform, then the BREAK command will enter a hard
coded breakpoint
if being debugged by a debugger.
CACLS
Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of
files
CACLS filename [/T] [/E] [/C] [/G user:perm] [/R user
[...]]
[/P user:perm [...]] [/D user [...]]
filename
Displays ACLs.
/T
Changes ACLs of specified files in
the current directory and all subdirectories.
/E Edit
ACL instead of replacing it.
/C
Continue on access denied errors.
/G user:perm Grant specified user
access rights.
Perm can be: R Read
W Write
C Change (write)
F Full control
/R
user Revoke
specified user's access rights (only valid with /E).
/P user:perm Replace specified
user's access rights.
Perm can be: N None
R Read
W Write
C
Change (write)
F Full control
/D
user Deny specified user access.
Wildcards can be used to specify more that one file
in a command.
You can specify more than one user in a command.
Abbreviations:
CI - Container Inherit.
The ACE
will be inherited by directories.
OI - Object Inherit.
The ACE
will be inherited by files.
IO - Inherit Only.
The ACE
does not apply to the current file/directory.
CALL
Calls one batch program from another.
CALL [drive:][path]filename [batch-parameters]
batch-parameters Specifies any
command-line information required by the
batch program.
If Command Extensions are enabled CALL changes as
follows:
CALL command now accepts labels as the target of the
CALL. The syntax
is:
CALL :label arguments
A new batch file context is created with the
specified arguments and
control is passed to the statement after the label
specified. You must
"exit" twice by reaching the end of the
batch script file twice. The
first time you read the end, control will return to
just after the CALL
statement. The second time will exit the batch
script. Type GOTO /?
for a description of the GOTO :EOF extension that
will allow you to
"return" from a batch script.
In addition, expansion of batch script argument
references (%0, %1,
etc.) have been changed as follows:
%* in a batch script refers to
all the arguments (e.g. %1 %2 %3
%4 %5
...)
Substitution of batch parameters
(%n) has been enhanced. You can
now use the following optional
syntax:
%~1 - expands %1 removing
any surrounding quotes (")
%~f1 - expands %1 to a fully
qualified path name
%~d1 - expands %1 to a drive
letter only
%~p1 - expands %1 to a path
only
%~n1 - expands %1 to a file
name only
%~x1 - expands %1 to a file
extension only
%~s1 - expanded path contains
short names only
%~a1 - expands %1 to file
attributes
%~t1 - expands %1 to date/time
of file
%~z1 - expands %1 to size of
file
%~$PATH:1 - searches the directories listed in the PATH
environment variable and expands %1 to the fully
qualified name of the first one found. If the
environment variable name is not defined or the
file is not found by the search, then this
modifier expands to the empty string
The modifiers can be combined to
get compound results:
%~dp1 - expands %1 to a drive letter
and path only
%~nx1 - expands %1 to a file name and
extension only
%~dp$PATH:1 - searches the directories listed in the PATH
environment variable for %1 and expands to the
drive letter and path of the first one found.
%~ftza1 - expands %1 to a DIR like output line
In the above examples %1 and PATH
can be replaced by other
valid values. The %~ syntax
is terminated by a valid argument
number. The %~ modifiers
may not be used with %*
CD & CHDIR
Displays the name of or changes the current
directory.
CHDIR [/D] [drive:][path]
CHDIR [..]
CD [/D] [drive:][path]
CD [..]
.. Specifies that you want to
change to the parent directory.
Type CD drive: to display the current directory in
the specified drive.
Type CD without parameters to display the current
drive and directory.
Use the /D switch to change current drive in
addition to changing current
directory for a drive.
If Command Extensions are enabled CHDIR changes as
follows:
The current directory string is converted to use the
same case as
the on disk names. So CD C:\TEMP would
actually set the current
directory to C:\Temp if that is the case on disk.
CHDIR command does not treat spaces as delimiters,
so it is possible to
CD into a subdirectory name that contains a space
without surrounding
the name with quotes. For example:
cd
\winnt\profiles\username\programs\start menu
is the same as:
cd
"\winnt\profiles\username\programs\start menu"
which is what you would have to type if extensions
were disabled.
CHCP
Displays or sets the active code page number.
CHCP [nnn]
nnn Specifies a code page number.
Type CHCP without a parameter to display the active
code page number.
CHKDSK
Checks a disk and displays a status report.
CHKDSK [volume[[path]filename]]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X]
[/I] [/C] [/L[:size]]
volume Specifies
the drive letter (followed by a colon),
mount point, or volume name.
filename FAT/FAT32 only:
Specifies the files to check for fragmentation.
/F
Fixes errors on the disk.
/V
On FAT/FAT32: Displays the full path and name of every file
on the disk.
On NTFS: Displays cleanup messages if any.
/R
Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information
(implies /F).
/L:size NTFS only:
Changes the log file size to the specified number
of kilobytes. If size is not specified, displays current
size.
/X
Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary.
All opened handles to the
volume would then be invalid
(implies /F).
/I
NTFS only: Performs a less vigorous check of index entries.
/C
NTFS only: Skips checking of cycles within the folder
structure.
The /I or /C switch reduces the amount of time
required to run Chkdsk by
skipping certain checks of the volume.
CHKNTFS
Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot
time.
CHKNTFS volume [...]
CHKNTFS /D
CHKNTFS /T[:time]
CHKNTFS /X volume [...]
CHKNTFS /C volume [...]
volume Specifies the
drive letter (followed by a colon),
mount point, or volume name.
/D
Restores the machine to the default behavior; all drives are
checked at boot time and chkdsk is run on those that are
dirty.
/T:time Changes the AUTOCHK
initiation countdown time to the
specified amount of time in seconds. If time is not
specified, displays the current setting.
/X
Excludes a drive from the default boot-time check. Excluded
drives are not accumulated between command invocations.
/C
Schedules a drive to be checked at boot time; chkdsk will run
if the drive is dirty.
If no switches are specified, CHKNTFS will display
if the specified drive is
dirty or scheduled to be checked on next reboot.
CIPHER
Displays or alters the encryption of directories
[files] on NTFS partitions.
CIPHER [/E | /D] [/S:directory] [/A] [/I]
[/F] [/Q] [/H] [pathname [...]]
CIPHER /K
CIPHER /R:filename
CIPHER /U [/N]
CIPHER /W:directory
CIPHER /X[:efsfile] [filename]
/A Operates on files as well as
directories. The encrypted file
could become
decrypted when it is modified if the parent
directory is not encrypted. It is recommended that you encrypt
the file and the parent directory.
/D Decrypts the specified
directories. Directories will be marked
so that files added afterward will not be encrypted.
/E Encrypts the specified
directories. Directories will be marked
so that files added afterward will be encrypted.
/F Forces the encryption
operation on all specified objects, even
those which are already encrypted. Already-encrypted objects
are skipped by default.
/H Displays files with the
hidden or system attributes. These
files are omitted by default.
/I Continues performing the
specified operation even after errors
have occurred. By default, CIPHER stops when an error is
encountered.
/K Creates new file encryption
key for the user running CIPHER. If
this option is chosen, all the other options will be ignored.
/N This option only works with
/U. This will prevent keys being
updated. This is used to find all the encrypted files on the
local drives.
/Q Reports only the most
essential information.
/R Generates an EFS recovery
agent key and certificate, then writes
them to a .PFX file (containing certificate and private key) and
a .CER file (containing only the certificate). An administrator
may add the contents of the .CER to the EFS recovery policy to
create the recovery agent for users, and import the .PFX to
recover individual files.
/S Performs the specified
operation on directories in the given
directory and all subdirectories.
/U Tries to touch all the
encrypted files on local drives. This will
update user's file encryption key or recovery agent's key to the
current ones if they are changed. This option does not work with
other options except /N.
/W Removes data from available
unused disk space on the entire
volume. If this option is chosen, all other options are ignored.
The directory specified can be anywhere in a local volume. If it
is a mount point or points to a directory in another volume, the
data on that volume will be removed.
/X Backup EFS certificate and
keys into file filename. If efsfile is
&n | 
