Command Prompt

Command Prompt is the name for the program provided with the Windows operating system which allows the user to access the computer shell, that is, a text-based (command-line) control system.

One can open the Command Prompt window by clicking the Start button, clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, and then clicking Command Prompt. Alternatively, "cmd.exe" can be entered into the Run/Search box to start it immediately.

About Commands

These commands are applicable in Windows 7 operating systems and later

Command	Function	Notes
ASSOC	Displays or modifies file extension associations.
ATTRIB	Displays or changes file attributes.
BREAK	Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking.
BCDEDIT	Sets properties in boot database to control boot loading.
CACLS	Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files.
CALL	Calls one batch program from another.
CD	Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHCP	Displays or sets the active code page number.
CHDIR	Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHKDSK	Checks a disk and displays a status report.	Sometimes used instead of the GUI check-disk option since it provides information about problems found, and which ones where fixed (if /R is used)
CHKNTFS	Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time.
CLS	Clears the screen.
CMD	Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter.
COLOR	Sets the default console foreground and background colors.
COMP	Compares the contents of two files or sets of files.
COMPACT	Displays or alters the compression of files on NTFS partitions.
CONVERT	Converts FAT volumes to NTFS. You cannot convert the current drive.
COPY	Copies one or more files to another location.	For more options, see XCOPY
DATE	Displays or sets the date.
DEL	Deletes one or more files.	Same as the ERASE command
DIR	Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.	For a more organized layout, use TREE
DISKCOMP	Compares the contents of two floppy disks.
DISKCOPY	Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another.
DISKPART	Displays or configures Disk Partition properties.
DOSKEY	Edits command lines, recalls Windows commands, and creates macros.
DRIVERQUERY	Displays current device driver status and properties.
ECHO	Displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
ENDLOCAL	Ends localization of environment changes in a batch file.
ERASE	Deletes one or more files.	Same as the DEL command
EXIT	Quits the CMD.EXE program (command interpreter).
FC	Compares two files or sets of files, and displays the differences between them.
FIND	Searches for a text string in a file or files.	For more options, try FINDSTR (below)
FINDSTR	Searches for strings in files.
FOR	Runs a specified command for each file in a set of files.
FORMAT	Formats a disk for use with Windows.
FSUTIL	Displays or configures the file system properties.
FTYPE	Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.
GOTO	Directs the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a batch program.
GPRESULT	Displays Group Policy information for machine or user.
GRAFTABL	Enables Windows to display an extended character set in graphics mode.
HELP	Provides Help information for Windows commands.	This is where most or all of this list came from
ICACLS	Display, modify, backup, or restore ACLs for files and directories.
IF	Performs conditional processing in batch programs.
LABEL	Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.
MD	Creates a directory.	Same as MKDIR
MKDIR	Creates a directory.	Same as MD
MKLINK	Creates Symbolic Links and Hard Links	Same as MD
MODE	Configures a system device.
MORE	Displays output one screen at a time.	Auto-applies the PAUSE command when the screen fills
MOVE	Moves one or more files from one directory to another directory.	XCOPY offers more options
OPENFILES	Displays files opened by remote users for a file share.
PATH	Displays or sets a search path for executable files.
PAUSE	Suspends processing of a batch file and displays a message.
POPD	Restores the previous value of the current directory saved by PUSHD.
PRINT	Prints a text file (to screen).
PROMPT	Changes the Windows command prompt.
PUSHD	Saves the current directory then changes it.	Change the working directory
RD	Removes a directory.	Use the "/s" switch if it has sub-directories, or this will fail. Same function as RMDIR
RECOVER	Recovers readable information from a bad or defective disk.
REM	Records comments (remarks) in batch files or CONFIG.SYS.
REN	Renames a file or files.	Same as RENAME (below)
RENAME	Renames a file or files.	Same as REN (above)
REPLACE	Replaces files.
RMDIR	Removes a directory.	Use the "/s" switch if it has sub-directories, or this will fail. Same function as RD
ROBOCOPY	Advanced utility to copy files and directory trees
SET	Displays, sets, or removes Windows environment variables.
SETX	Set environment variables	Somewhat similar to SET
SETLOCAL	Begins localization of environment changes in a batch file.
SC	Displays or configures services (background processes).
SCHTASKS	Schedules commands and programs to run on a computer.
SHIFT	Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in batch files.
SHUTDOWN	Allows proper local or remote shutdown, restart, or logoff
SORT	Sorts input.
START	Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command.
SUBST	Associates a path with a drive letter .
SYSTEMINFO	Displays machine specific properties and configuration.
TASKLIST	Displays all currently running tasks including services.
TASKKILL	Kill or stop a running process or application.	Use TASKLIST if you need to check the exact name. Always include the program file extension, like ".exe"
TIME	Displays or sets the system time.	In older Windows versions, the /d switch would show the date
TITLE	Sets the window title for a CMD.EXE session.
TREE	Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path.	Similar in function to DIR
TYPE	Displays the contents of a text file.
VER	Displays the Windows version.
VERIFY	Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk.
VOL	Displays a disk volume label and serial number.
XCOPY	Copies files and directory trees.	Can be used for move or copy, and offers a lot of options.
WMIC	Displays WMI information inside interactive command shell.

Most of these and/or other commands specific to your system can be viewed by entering the word "help" into the command-line

For almost any command, one may enter and forward slash followed by a question mark (/?) after a base command to see addition information, generally including a description, syntax, and switches (with a description of each)

External Links

More complete command list on ss64.com