Windows – Useful Command-line Commands on Windows

The aim for this Wiki is to promote using a command to open up commonly used applications without having to go through many mouse clicks – thus saving time on monitoring and troubleshooting Windows machines.

Answer entries need to specify

• Application name
• Commands
• Screenshot (Optional)

Shortcut to commands

• && – Command Chaining
• %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\rcimlby.exe -LaunchRA – Remote Assistance (Windows XP)
• appwiz.cpl – Programs and Features (Formerly Known as "Add or Remove Programs")
• appwiz.cpl @,2 – Turn Windows Features On and Off (Add/Remove Windows Components pane)
• arp – Displays and modifies the IP-to-Physical address translation tables used by address resolution protocol (ARP)
• at – Schedule tasks either locally or remotely without using Scheduled Tasks
• bootsect.exe – Updates the master boot code for hard disk partitions to switch between BOOTMGR and NTLDR
• cacls – Change Access Control List (ACL) permissions on a directory, its subcontents, or files
• calc – Calculator
• chkdsk – Check/Fix the disk surface for physical errors or bad sectors
• cipher – Displays or alters the encryption of directories [files] on NTFS partitions
• cleanmgr.exe – Disk Cleanup
• clip – Redirects output of command line tools to the Windows clipboard
• cls – clear the command line screen
• cmd /k – Run command with command extensions enabled
• color – Sets the default console foreground and background colors in console
• command.com – Default Operating System Shell
• compmgmt.msc – Computer Management
• control.exe /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter – Network and Sharing Center
• control keyboard – Keyboard Properties
• control mouse(or main.cpl) – Mouse Properties
• control sysdm.cpl,@0,3 – Advanced Tab of the System Properties dialog
• control userpasswords2 – Opens the classic User Accounts dialog
• desk.cpl – opens the display properties
• devmgmt.msc – Device Manager
• diskmgmt.msc – Disk Management
• diskpart – Disk management from the command line
• dsa.msc – Opens active directory users and computers
• dsquery – Finds any objects in the directory according to criteria
• dxdiag – DirectX Diagnostic Tool
• eventvwr – Windows Event Log (Event Viewer)
• explorer . – Open explorer with the current folder selected.
• explorer /e, . – Open explorer, with folder tree, with current folder selected.
• F7 – View command history
• find – Searches for a text string in a file or files
• findstr – Find a string in a file
• firewall.cpl – Opens the Windows Firewall settings
• fsmgmt.msc – Shared Folders
• fsutil – Perform tasks related to FAT and NTFS file systems
• ftp – Transfers files to and from a computer running an FTP server service
• getmac – Shows the mac address(es) of your network adapter(s)
• gpedit.msc – Group Policy Editor
• gpresult – Displays the Resultant Set of Policy (RSoP) information for a target user and computer
• httpcfg.exe – HTTP Configuration Utility
• iisreset – To restart IIS
• InetMgr.exe – Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager 7
• InetMgr6.exe – Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager 6
• intl.cpl – Regional and Language Options
• ipconfig – Internet protocol configuration
• lusrmgr.msc – Local Users and Groups Administrator
• msconfig – System Configuration
• notepad – Notepad? 😉
• mmsys.cpl – Sound/Recording/Playback properties
• mode – Configure system devices
• more – Displays one screen of output at a time
• mrt – Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
• mstsc.exe – Remote Desktop Connection
• nbstat – displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT
• ncpa.cpl – Network Connections
• netsh – Display or modify the network configuration of a computer that is currently running
• netstat – Network Statistics
• net statistics – Check computer up time
• net stop – Stops a running service.
• net use – Connects a computer to or disconnects a computer from a shared resource, displays information about computer connections, or mounts a local share with different privileges (documentation)
• odbcad32.exe – ODBC Data Source Administrator
• pathping – A traceroute that collects detailed packet loss stats
• perfmon – Opens Reliability and Performance Monitor
• ping – Determine whether a remote computer is accessible over the network
• powercfg.cpl – Power management control panel applet
• qfecheck – Shows installed Hotfixes applied to the server/workstation.
• quser – Display information about user sessions on a terminal server
• qwinsta – See disconnected remote desktop sessions
• reg.exe – Console Registry Tool for Windows
• regedit – Registry Editor
• rasdial – Connects to a VPN or a dialup network
• robocopy – Backup/Restore/Copy large amounts of files reliably
• rsop.msc – Resultant Set of Policy (shows the combined effect of all group policies active on the current system/login)
• runas – Run specific tools and programs with different permissions than the user's current logon provides
• sc – Manage anything you want to do with services.
• schtasks – Enables an administrator to create, delete, query, change, run and end scheduled tasks on a local or remote system.
• secpol.msc – Local Security Settings
• services.msc – Services control panel
• set – Displays, sets, or removes cmd.exe environment variables.
• set DIRCMD – Preset dir parameter in cmd.exe
• start – Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command
• start. – opens the current directory in the Windows Explorer.
• shutdown.exe – Shutdown or Reboot a local/remote machine
• subst.exe – Associates a path with a drive letter, including local drives
• systeminfo -Displays a comprehensive information about the system
• taskkill – terminate tasks by process id (PID) or image name
• tasklist.exe – List Processes on local or a remote machine
• taskmgr.exe – Task Manager
• telephon.cpl – Telephone and Modem properties
• timedate.cpl – Date and Time
• title – Change the title of the CMD window you have open
• tracert – Trace route
• whoami /all – Display Current User/Group/Privilege Information
• wmic – Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line
• winver.exe – Find Windows Version
• wscui.cpl – Windows Security Center
• wuauclt.exe – Windows Update AutoUpdate Client