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.[1] Alternatively, "cmd.exe" can be entered into the Run/Search box to start it immediately.
About Commands
These commands are generally 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. | Edit the computer's bootloader | |
CACLS | Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files. | ||
CALL | Calls one batch program from another. | Similar to "Start," except the called file is run in the same window | |
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 sub-directories 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. | Useful for retrieving information saved to a file and setting it to a variable. Unlike PRINT, the retrieved data is readily usable | |
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 | ||
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. | ||
Prints a text file (to screen). | Retrieved data must be piped to be used as a variable. If anything other than simple output is required, see FINDSTR | ||
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 | |
TIMEOUT | Waits a set amount of time before continuing | By default, a key may be pressed to skip the delay. However, the /NOBREAK switch may be used to force the delay without a skip option. Also, using -t -1 is the same as PAUSE | |
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. | This information is also shown when Command Prompt is opened. | |
VERIFY | Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk. | On most computers, the default is off | |
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 additional information, generally including a description, syntax, and switches (with a description of each)
Variables
Variables are locations where data may be temporally stored on the RAM for use within a program or in this case, batch file or CMD session. When variable are set in CMD, the name is listed by it self (like set variable=10
) When referenced, however, percent signs are placed on each side (like echo The value is %variable%
)
References
- ↑ http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Open-a-Command-Prompt-window
- ↑ Windows 7 Command Prompt - "help" command