Command Prompts
What
is a command prompt?
Command prompt is a nongraphical
interface that allows you to interact with your operating system. At the
command prompt, you enter commands by typing their names followed by
options and arguments. These commands then invoke programs.
Windows XP
boasts a number of command line tools. Here’s a list of some new mixed up
with the old favorites that will make you love the command prompt.
Just
type “cmd” (without quotes) into your “Run” command in your Start Menu.
To open the “Command Window”
Command
Index and Definitions listed at the bottom of page
These
listing are not endorsed or certified by Microsoft or any of their
partners. I offer no warranty, expressed or implied
for any unintentional or accidental destruction of your system.
You use
these commands at your own risk.
Windows XP Command
Line Reference
With permission by
Roberto J. Dohnert ……Copyright © 2004
Revision History:
March 14, 2004 – Added page numbers for organization
March 20, 2004 – Added list and functions of Windows
XP specific commands
starting at page 8
June 7, 2004 – Added Table of contents and per user
request added a basic UNIX
to Windows Command Line comparison.
August 8, 2004 – Added a specific description of
each command.
Table of Contents
1. Unix To Windows Command Comparisons
2. Console Command List
3. Windows XP/Server 2003 New Commands
1.
Common UNIX to Windows
Command Comparisons
These are the common commands that are
useful to new users of Windows XP and
Windows Server 2003 coming from the UNIX/Linux side
of computing. This is the basic
set of instructions and should not be considered a
complete list. System admins should
research the commands for more advanced tasks.
A complete set of Command line instructions can be found on
Microsoft’s web site
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/proddocs/ntcmds.asp
Action Unix
command Windows Console
command
list files
ls
dir
show
details
ls -l filename
dir filename
about a
particular
file
show contents of cat, more,
less
type, more
file
copy
file
cp
copy
move
file
mv
rename, ren
rename
file
mv
rename, ren
delete
file
rm delete,
del, erase
compare contents
diff
comp
of multiple files
change directories
cd
chdir, cd
show current
pwd
cd (no add. Syntax)
directory
create directory
mkdir
mkdir, md
delete directory rmdir
rmdir, rd
2. Console Command
List
While many people have grown to enjoy the luxuries
of the GUI, Graphical
User Interface, many system administrators and
hobbyists enjoy using the
CLI, command line interface, This has long been the
attraction for UNIX and
Linux loyalists. They like going into the soul of
the OS and using a much more
powerful interface. While most of the applications
that people utilize has a GUI,
there are many powerful command line utilities and
tools available for the
CLI. But, before you can use the CLI you must know
the commands for
using it. This is a complete list of commands that
are found in the XP
command line environment. In the previous chapter we
looked at the basic UNIX to
Windows differences in commands, this is the more
expansive list of Windows XP
commands. In the final chapter I reference new
Windows XP and Server 2003 specific
commands. Please note that this listing is a
reference only and it is more geared
toward the command line expert. To find out proper
syntax for a specific command, type:
<command /?> or please refer to Microsoft’s Command Line page
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/proddocs/ntcmds.asp
Return to top of page
A
Arp -- Displays and modifies entries in the Address
Resolution Protocol (ARP) cache, which contains one or more tables that
are used to store IP addresses and their resolved Ethernet or Token Ring
physical addresses. There is a separate table for each Ethernet or Token
Ring network adapter installed on your computer. Used without parameters,
arp displays help.
Assoc -- Displays or modifies file name extension
associations. Used without parameters, assoc displays a list of
all the current file name extension associations.
At -- Schedules commands and programs
to run on a computer at a specified time and date. You can use at only
when the Schedule service is running. Used without parameters, at lists
scheduled commands.
Atmadm -- Monitors connections and
addresses that are registered by the ATM Call Manager on an asynchronous
transfer mode (ATM) network. You can use atmadm to display
statistics for incoming and outgoing calls on ATM adapters. Used without
parameters, atmadm displays statistics for monitoring the status
of active ATM connections.
Attrib -- Displays, sets, or removes
the read-only, archive, system, and hidden attributes assigned to files
or directories. Used without parameters, attrib displays
attributes of all files in the current directory.
B
Bootcfg -- Configures, queries, or changes Boot.ini
file settings.
Break -- Windows XP does not use this
command. It is accepted only for compatibility with MS-DOS files.
C
Cacls -- Displays or modifies discretionary access
control list (DACL) files.
Call -- Calls one batch program from
another without stopping the parent batch program. The call command
accepts labels as the target of the call. Call has no effect at
the command-line when used outside of a script or batch file.
Change – Used for terminal services
only, changes logon, boot properties on remote nodes
Chcp -- Displays the number of the
active console code page, or changes the console's active console code
page. Used without parameters, chcp displays the number of the
active console code page.
Chdir -- Displays the name of the
current directory or changes the current folder. Used with only a drive
letter (for example, chdir C:), chdir displays the names of
the current drive and folder. Used without parameters, chdir displays
the current drive and directory.
Chkdsk – Checks disks for errors,
replaces Scandisk used in earlier versions of Windows
Chkntfs – Checks the integrity of the
filesystem. Only works on drives configured to use NTFS
Cipher -- Displays or alters the
encryption of folders and files on NTFS volumes. Used without parameters,
cipher displays the encryption state of the current folder and any
files it contains.
Cls – Clears the console windows
Cmd – Opens a new console
Cmstp -- Installs or removes a
Connection Manager service profile. Used without optional parameters, cmstp
installs a service profile with default settings appropriate to the
operating system and to the user's permissions.
Color -- Changes the Command Prompt
window foreground and background colors for the current session.
Comp -- Compares the contents of two files
or sets of files byte by byte.
Compact -- Displays and alters the
compression of files or directories on NTFS partitions. Used without
parameters, compact displays the compression state of the current
directory.
Convert – Converts FAT 32 drives to
NTFS, not recommended for flash media or disks used in non-NT systems
Copy -- Copies one or more files from
one location to another.
Cprofile -- Cleans specified profiles
of wasted space and, if user-specific file associations are disabled,
removes these associations from the registry. Profiles that are currently
in use are not modified.
D
Date – Displays the current date
Defrag – Defragments the target drive.
Do not use on third party filesystems ie XFS, JFS, EXT2, ReiserFS as it
will corrupt the data on those drives
Del – Deletes specified files
Dir – Lists the contents of current
directory
Diskcomp -- Compares the contents of
two floppy disks
Diskcopy – Copies contents of floppy
disks
DiskPart -- DiskPart.exe is a text-mode
command interpreter that enables you to manage objects (disks,
partitions, or volumes) by using scripts or direct input from a command
prompt
Doskey -- Calls Doskey.exe, which
recalls Windows XP commands, edits command lines, and creates macros.
Driverquery – Lists all active drivers
on a specified system, may also be used remotely via Terminal Services.
E
Echo -- Turns the command-echoing feature on or off
Endlocal -- Ends localization of
environment changes in a batch file, restoring
environment variables to their values before the
matching setlocal command
Eventcreate -- Enables an administrator
to create a custom event in a specified
event log
Eventquery -- Lists the events and
event properties from one or more event logs.
Evntcmd -- Displays and configures
event triggers on local or remote machines.
Exit – Exits console session
Expand – Expands files compressed files
that were created using the compress command
F
Fc -- Compares two files and displays the
differences between them.
Find -- Searches for a specific string
of text in a file or files
Findstr -- Searches for patterns of
text in files using regular expressions.
Finger
-- Displays information about a user or users on a specified remote
computer (typically a computer running UNIX/Linux) that is running the Finger
service or daemon. The remote computer specifies the format and output of
the user information display. Used without parameters, finger displays
help.
Flattemp
-- Enables or disables flat temporary folders.
For -- Runs a specified command for each
file in a set of files.
Format – Formats the target drive
Fsutil -- a command-line utility that
you can use to perform many FAT and NTFS file system related tasks, such
as managing reparse points, managing sparse files, dismounting a volume,
or extending a volume. Because fsutil is quite powerful, advanced
users who have a thorough knowledge of Windows XP should only use it.
WARNING – Using this command can completely destroy a Windows
XP/Server 2003 Installation, use with extreme care.
Ftp – Allows a user to interact with an
FTP server
Ftype -- Displays or modifies file
types used in file name extension associations
G
Getmac – Returns the media access control (MAC)
address and list of network protocols associated with each address for
all network cards in each computer, either locally or across a network.
Goto -- Within a batch program, directs
Windows XP to a line identified by a label. When the label is found, it
processes the commands that begin on the next line.
Gpresult -- Displays Group Policy
settings and Resultant Set of Policy (RSOP) for a user or a computer.
Gpupdate -- Refreshes local and Active
Directory-based Group Policy settings, including security settings. This
command supersedes the now obsolete /refreshpolicy option for the secedit
command.
Graftabl -- Enables the ability to
display an extended character set in graphics mode.
H
Help – Provides online information about system
commands (that is, non-network commands).
Helpctr -- Starts Help and Support
Center
Hostname -- Displays the host name
portion of the full computer name of the computer.
I
If -- Performs conditional processing in batch
programs
Ipconfig – Shows and allows
modification of IP addresses assigned to local and remote nodes.
Ipseccmd -- Configures Internet
Protocol Security (IPSec) policies in a directory service or in a local
or remote registry.
Ipxroute -- Displays and modifies
information about the routing tables used by the IPX protocol.
Irftp -- Sends files over an infrared
link. Used without parameters or used with /s, irftp opens
the Wireless Link dialog box, where you can select the files that
you want to send without using the command line.
L
Label -- Creates, changes, or deletes the name of a
disk
Lodctr -- Registers new Performance counter
names and Explain text for a service or device driver, and saves and
restores counter settings and Explain text.
Logman -- Manages and schedules
performance counter and event trace log collections on local and remote
systems.
Lpq -- Displays the status of a print
queue on a computer running Line Printer Daemon LPD). Used without
parameters, lpq displays command-line help for the lpq command.
Lpr -- Sends a file to a computer
running Line Printer Daemon (LPD) in preparation for printing.
M
Macfile -- Use the macfile commands at the
command prompt to manage File Server for Macintosh servers, volumes,
directories, and files, for use with the AppleShare protocol.
Mkdir (md) – Creates a directory
Mmc – Launches the Microsoft Management
Console, and advanced configuration utility in Windows NT 4/2000/XP
systems
Mode -- Displays system status, changes
system settings, or reconfigures ports or devices
More -- Displays one screen of output
at a time.
Mountvol -- Creates, deletes, or lists
a volume mount point. Mountvol is a way to link volumes without
requiring a drive letter. Usually UNIX/Linux/Macintosh volumes
Move -- Moves one or more files from
one directory to the specified directory.
Msiexec -- Provides the means to
install, modify, and perform operations on Windows Installer from the
command line.
Msinfo32 -- Displays a comprehensive
view of your hardware, system components, and software environment.
N
Nbtstat -- Displays NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT)
protocol statistics, NetBIOS name tables for both the local computer and
remote computers, and the NetBIOS name cache.
Netstat -- Displays active TCP
connections, ports on which the computer is listening, Ethernet
statistics, the IP routing table, IPv4 statistics (for the IP, ICMP, TCP,
and UDP protocols), and IPv6 statistics (for the IPv6, ICMPv6, TCP over
IPv6, and UDP over IPv6 protocols).
Nslookup -- Displays information that
you can use to diagnose Domain Name System (DNS) infrastructure. Before
using this tool, you should be familiar with how DNS works. The Nslookup
command-line tool is available only if you have installed the TCP/IP
protocol.
Ntbackup -- Perform backup operations
at a command prompt or from a batch file using the ntbackup command
followed by various switches
Ntcmdprompt -- Runs the command
interpreter Cmd.exe, rather than Command.com, after running a TSR or
after starting the command prompt from within an MS-DOS application.
Ntsd -- is included as a courtesy to
software developers. Only system developers should use this command. For
more information, see the help switch with NTSD.
O
Openfiles -- Queries or displays open files. Also
queries, displays, or disconnects files opened by network users.
P
Pagefileconfig – Configuration command for the
paging file. WARNING – Using this command can completely destroy a
Windows XP/Server 2003 Installation, use with extreme care.
Path -- Sets the command path in the
PATH environment variable,
Pathping -- Provides information about
network latency and network loss at intermediate hops between a source
and destination. Pathping sends multiple Echo Request messages to
each router between a source and destination over a period of time and
then computes results based on the packets returned from each router.
Pause -- Suspends processing of a batch
program and displays a message prompting the user to press any key to
continue.
Pbadmin -- Administers phone books.
Used without parameters
Pentnt -- Detects floating point
division error (if present) in the Pentium chip, disables floating point
hardware, and turns on floating point emulation.
Ping -- Verifies IP-level connectivity
to another TCP/IP computer by sending Internet Control Message Protocol
(ICMP) Echo Request messages.
Popd -- Changes the current directory
to the directory stored by the pushd command.
Print -- Sends a text file to a printer
Prncnfg -- Configures or displays
configuration information about a printer.
Prndrvr -- Adds, deletes, and lists
printer drivers.
Prnjobs -- Pauses, resumes, cancels,
and lists print jobs.
Prnmngr -- Adds, deletes, and lists
printers or printer connections, in addition to setting and displaying
the default printer.
Prnport -- Creates, deletes, and lists
standard TCP/IP printer ports, in addition to displaying and changing port
configuration.
Prnqctl -- Prints a test page, pauses
or resumes a printer, and clears a printer queue.
Prompt -- Changes the Cmd.exe prompt to
the default settings
Pushd -- Stores the name of the current
directory for use by the popd command before changing the current
directory to the specified directory.
Q
Query – For use with a Terminal Server
R
Rasdial -- You can automate the connection process
for any Microsoft client by using a simple batch file and the rasdial command.
Rcp -- Copies files between a Windows
XP computer and a system running rshd, the remote shell service
(daemon)
Recover – Allows a user to recover a
corrupted or deleted file by listing the directory and name where the
file was last located. Also can be used to recover files from a bad or
defective disk.
Reg -- Adds, changes, and displays
registry subkey information and values in registry entries.
Regsvr32 -- This command-line tool
registers .dll files as command components in the registry.
Relog -- Extracts performance counters
from performance counter logs into other formats, such as text-TSV (for
tab-delimited text), text-CSV (for comma-delimited text), binary-BIN,
or SQL.
Rem -- Allows a user to add remarks to
a batch file
Rename -- Changes the name of a file or
a set of files.
Replace -- Replaces files in the
destination directory with files in the source directory that have the
same name.
Reset session -- Enables you to reset
(delete) a session from the terminal server.
Rexec -- Runs commands on remote
computers running the Rexec service (daemon).
Rmdir – Removes a directory
Route -- Displays and modifies the
entries in the local IP routing table.
Rsh -- Runs commands on remote
computers running the RSH service or daemon.
Rsm -- Manages media resources using
Removable Storage. Using the rsm command, you can run batch
scripts for applications that do not currently support the Removable
Storage API.
Runas – Allows a user to run tools or
commands as a different user, usually as the administrator. Must have and
Admins log-on and password.
S
Sc -- Communicates with the Service Controller and
installed services.
Schtasks – Allows a user to schedule a
task.
Secedit -- Configures and analyzes
system security by comparing your current
configuration to at least one template.
Set -- Displays, sets, or removes
environment variables.
Setlocal -- Starts localization of
environment variables in a batch file.
Shift -- Changes the position of batch
parameters in a batch file.
Sort -- Reads input, sorts data, and
writes the results to the screen, to a file, or to another device
Start -- Starts a separate Command
Prompt window to run a specified program or command.
Subst -- Associates a path with a drive
letter.
Systeminfo – Displays detailed
configuration information about a computer and its operating system,
including operating system configuration, security information, product
ID, and hardware properties, such as RAM, disk
space, and network cards.
Sfc – System File Checker, Scans and
verifies the versions of all protected system files after you restart
your computer.
T
Taskkill -- Allows a user to kill a task using the
PID number, user must have permissions to a task in order to kill it.
Tasklist -- Displays a list of
applications and services with their Process ID (PID) for all tasks running
on either a local or a remote computer.
Tcmsetup -- Sets up or disables the
TAPI client.
Telnet – allows users to communicate
with a remote computer that is using the Telnet protocol
Tftp -- Transfers files to and from a
remote computer, typically a computer running UNIX, that is running the
Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) service or daemon.
Time – Displays current time
Title -- Creates a title for the
command prompt window.
Tracerpt -- Processes event trace logs
or real-time data from instrumented event trace providers and allows you
to generate trace analysis reports and CSV (comma-delimited) files
for the events generated.
Tracert -- Determines the path taken to
a destination by sending Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo
Request messages to the destination with incrementally increasing Time to
Live (TTL) field values.
Tree – Graphically displays the
directory structure of a path or of the disk in a drive.
Type -- Displays the contents of a text
file. Use the type command to view a text file without modifying
it.
Typeperf -- Writes performance counter
data to the command window, or to a supported log file format. To stop Typeperf,
press CTRL+C.
U
Unlodctr -- Removes Performance counter names and
Explain text for a service or device driver from the system registry
V
Ver -- Displays the Windows XP version number
Verify -- Windows XP does not use this
command. It is accepted only for compatibility with MS-DOS files.
Vol -- Displays the disk volume label
and serial number, if they exist. A serial number is displayed for a disk
formatted with MS-DOS version 4.0 or later.
Vssadmin -- Displays current volume
shadow copy backups and all installed shadow copy writers and providers
in the command window.
W
W32tm -- A tool used to diagnose problems occurring
with Windows Time
Winnt -- Performs an installation of or
upgrade to Windows XP. If you have hardware that is compatible with
Windows XP, you can run winnt at a Windows 3.x or MS-DOS
command prompt.
Winnt32 -- Performs an installation of or upgrade to
Windows XP. You can run winnt32 at the command prompt on a
computer running Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium
Edition, Windows NT 3.x\4.x, Windows 2000, or Windows XP.
X
Xcopy -- Copies files and directories, including
subdirectories.
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3. New Command Line tools in
Windows XP/Server 2003
These
are the new tools beyond the basic DOS commands that were added to Windows
XP
bootcfg -- Configures, queries, or changes Boot.ini
file settings.
defrag -- Locates and consolidates
fragmented boot files, data files, and folders on local volumes.
diskpart -- Manages disks, partitions,
or volumes.
driverquery -- Queries for a list of
drivers and driver properties.
eventcreate -- Enables an administrator
to create a custom event in a specified event log.
eventquery -- Lists the events and
event properties from one or more event logs.
eventtriggers -- Displays and
configures event triggers on local or remote machines.
fsutil -- Manages reparse points,
managing sparse files, dismounting a volume, or extending a volume.
getmac -- Obtains the media access
control (MAC) address and list of network protocols
helpctr -- Starts Help and Support
Center.
ipseccmd -- Configures Internet
Protocol Security (IPSec) policies in the directory service, or in a
local or remote registry. Ipseccmd is a command-line version of the IP
Security Policies Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in.
logman -- Manages and schedules
performance counter and event trace log collections on local and remote
systems.
openfiles -- Queries, displays, or
disconnects open files.
pagefileconfig -- Displays and
configures the paging file Virtual Memory settings of a system.
perfmon -- Enables you to open a
Performance console configured with settings files from Windows NT 4.0
version of Performance Monitor.
prncnfg -- Configures or displays
configuration information about a printer.
prndrvr -- Adds, deletes, and lists
printer drivers from local or remote print servers.
prnjobs -- Pauses, resumes, cancels,
and lists print jobs.
prnmngr -- Adds, deletes, and lists
printers or printer connections, in addition to setting and displaying
the default printer.
prnport -- Creates, deletes, and lists
standard TCP/IP printer ports, in addition to displaying and changing
port configuration.
prnqctl -- Prints a test page, pauses
or resumes a printer, and clears a printer queue.
Relog -- Extracts performance counters
from performance counter logs into other formats, such as text-TSV (for
tab-delimited text), text-CSV (for comma-delimited text), binary- BIN, or
SQL. sc -- Retrieves and sets information about services. Tests and
debugs service programs.
schtasks -- Schedules commands and
programs to run periodically or at a specific time. Adds and removes
tasks from the schedule, starts and stops tasks on demand, and displays
and changes scheduled tasks.
shutdown -- Shuts down or restarts a
local or remote computer.
systeminfo -- Queries the system for
basic system configuration information.
taskkill -- Ends one or more tasks or
processes.
tasklist -- Displays a list of
applications, services, and the Process ID (PID) currently running on
either a local or a remote computer.
tracerpt -- Processes event trace logs
or real-time data from instrumented event trace providers and allows you
to generate trace analysis reports and CSV (comma-delimited) files for
the events generated.
typeperf -- Writes performance counter
data to the command window or to a supported log file format.
WMIC -- Eases the use of Windows
Management Instrumentation (WMI) and systems managed through WMI.
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