Command Description
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| Arp | Display and modify the IP to physical address translation tables used by the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). |
| Assoc | Display and modify file extension associations. |
| Attrib | Display and change file attributes. |
| Break | Configure extended Ctrl-C checking. |
| Bcdedit | Configure properties in name database to control boot loading. |
| Cacls | Display or modify access control lists of files. |
| Call | Call a script or script label as a procedure. |
| CD/Chdir | Display the name of or changes the current directory. |
| Chcp | Display or set the active code page number. |
| Chkdsk | Check a disk for errors and display a report. |
| Chkntfs | Display the status of volumes. Set or exclude volumes from automatic system checking during system boot. |
| Choice | Create a selection list from which users can select a choice in batch scripts. |
| Cls | Clear the console window. |
| Cmd | Start a new instance of the Windows command shell. |
| Color | Set the colors of the command-shell window. |
| Comp | Compare the contents of two files or sets of files. |
| Compact | Display or modify the compression of files or sets of files. |
| Convert | Convert FAT volumes to NTFS. |
| Copy | Copy or combine files. |
| Date | Display or set the system date. |
| Del | Delete one or more files. |
| Dir | Display a list of files and subdirectories within a directory. |
| Diskcomp | Compare the contents of two floppy disks. |
| Diskcopy | Copy the contents of one floppy disk to another. |
| Diskpart | Invoke a text-mode command interpreter so that you can manage disks, partitions, and volumes using a separate command prompt and commands that are internal to Diskpart. |
| Doskey | Edit command lines, recall Windows commands, and create macros. |
| Driverquery | Display the current device driver properties and status. |
| Echo | Display messages, or turns command echoing on or off. |
| Endlocal | End localization of environment changes in a batch file. |
| Erase | See Del. |
| Exit | Exit the command interpreter. |
| Expand | Uncompress files. |
| FC | Compare two files and display the differences between them. |
| Find/Findstr | Search for a text string in files. |
| For | Run a specified command for each file in a set of files. |
| Format | Format a floppy disk or hard drive. |
| Fsutil | File system utility – displays and configures file system properties. |
| Ftp | Transfer files. |
| Ftype | Display or modify file types used in file extension associations |
| Goto | Direct the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a script. |
| Gpresult | Display Group Policy information for a machine or user. |
| Graftabl | Enable Windows to display extended character sets in graphics mode. |
| Help | Display Help information for Windows commands. |
| Hostname | Display the computer name. |
| ICACLS | Display, modify, backup, and restore ACLs for files and directories. |
| IF | Perform conditional processing in batch programs. |
| Ipconfig | Display TCP/IP configuration. |
| Label | Create, change, or delete the volume label of a disk. |
| Md/Mkdir | Create a directory or subdirectory. |
| Mklink | Create symbolic and hard links. |
| Mode | Configure a system device. |
| More | Display output one screen at a time. |
| Mountvol | Manage a volume mount point. |
| Move | Move files from one directory to another directory on the same drive. |
| Openfiles | Display files opened by remote users for a file share. |
| Nbtstat | Display status of NetBIOS. |
| Net Accounts | Manage user account and password policies. |
| Net Computer | Add or remove computers from a domain. |
| Net Config Server | Display or modify configuration of Server service. |
| Net Config Workstation | Display or modify configuration of Workstation service. |
| Net Continue | Resume a paused service. |
| Net File | Display or manage open files on a server. |
| Net Group | Display or manage global groups. |
| Net Localgroup | Display or manage local group accounts. |
| Net Pause | Suspend a service. |
| Net Print | Display or manage print jobs and shared queues. |
| Net Session | List or disconnect sessions. |
| Net Share | Display or manage shared printers and directories. |
| Net Start | List or start network services. |
| Net Statistics | Display workstation and server statistics. |
| Net Stop | Stop services. |
| Net Time | Display or synchronize network time. |
| Net Use | Display or manage remote connections. |
| Net User | Display or manage local user accounts. |
| Net View | Display network resources or computers. |
| Netsh | Invoke a separate command prompt that allows you to manage the configuration of various network services on local and remote computers. |
| Netstat | Display status of network connections. |
| Path | Display or set a search path for executable files in the current command window. |
| Pathping | Trace routes and provides packet loss information. |
| Pause | Suspend processing of a script and wait for keyboard input. |
| Ping | Determine if a network connection can be established. |
| Popd | Change to the directory stored by Pushd. |
| Print a text file. | |
| Prompt | Change the Windows command prompt. |
| Pushd | Save the current directory then changes to a new directory. |
| Rd/Rmdir | Remove a directory. |
| Recover | Recover readable information from a bad or defective disk. |
| Reg Add | Add a new subkey or entry to the Registry. |
| Reg Compare | Compare Registry subkeys or entries. |
| Reg Copy | Copy a Registry entry to a specified key path on a local or remote system. |
| Reg Delete | Delete a subkey or entries from the Registry. |
| Reg Query | List the entries under a key and the names of subkeys (if any). |
| Reg Restore | Write saved subkeys and entries back to the Registry. |
| Reg Save | Save a copy of specified subkeys, entries, and values to a file. |
| Regsvr32 | Register and unregister DLLs. |
| Rem | Add comments to scripts. |
| Ren | Rename a file. |
| Replace | Replace a file. |
| Route | Manage network routing tables. |
| Rmdir | Remove a directory. |
| Set | Display or modify Windows environment variables. Also used to evaluate numeric expressions at the command line. |
| Setlocal | Begin localization of environment changes in a batch file. | Sc | Display and configure background processes (services). | Schtasks | Schedule commands and programs to run on a system. | Sfc | Scans and verifies protected operating system files. | Shift | Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in scripts. | Shutdown | Perform system shutdown. | Sort | Sort input. | Start | Start a new command-shell window to run a specified program or command. | Subst | Maps a path to a drive letter. | Systeminfo | Display machine properties and configuration. | Tasklist | Display currently running tasks and services. | Taskkill | Kill or stop a running process or application. | Time | Display or sets the system time. | Title | Sets the title for the command-shell window. | Tracert | Display the path between computers. | Tree | Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path. | Type | Display the contents of a text file. | Ver | Display the Windows version. | Verify | Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk. | Vol | Display a disk volume label and serial number. | Xcopy | Copy files and directories. | WMI | Display WMI information. |
Displaying a List of Commands
A list of commands may be obtained at any time by typing help into the command prompt window.
Obtaining Help Information about Command-line Tools
Help on command line tools can be obtained using the Help system as follows:
help ftp
help xcopy
Alternatively enter the name of the command followed by ‘/?’. For example, to display help information for the Net command:
net /?
To obtain information on a particular command line argument for a command simply enter the command name, the argument and the ‘/?’:
net time /?/td