Command Prompt

Introduction

• One of the terminal programs in windows.
• To launch it send cmd in run window.

Advantages of Command Line Interfaces

• Low resource usage
• Automation
• Remote management

Basic commands

• set - Check your path from the command line.
• ver - Find windows operating system version.
• systeminfo - Shows more detailed information about the system.
• more - Pipe this command to view the output of any command page by page if the output is too long.
  • driverquery | more to view the output page by page.
• help - Provides help information about a command.
• cls - Clears the command prompt screen.
• hostname - Shows the machine name of the system.

Network Troubleshooting

• ipconfig - Displays ip address, subnet mask and default gateway.
• ipconfig /all - Displays additional information such as the MAC address, DNS servers, DHCP details, etc.
• ping target_name - Checks if a server can be accessed.
• tracert target_name - Also called trace route. Traces the network route traversed by the given target.
• nslookup example.com - Returns the IP address of the given host or domain.
• netstat -abon target_name - Displays current network connections and listening ports.
  • -a - Displays all connnections and ports
  • -b - Displays the associated program.
  • -o - Displays the process ID associated with the connection.
  • -n - Uses the numerical form for addresses and port numbers.

File and Disk Management

• cd - Change directory.
• dir - View child directories.
  • dir /a - Displays hidden and system files.
  • dir /s - Displays files in current directory and all subdirectories.
• tree - Visual representation of directories and subdirectories.
• mkdir - Create directory.
• rmdir - Remove directory.

Working with Files

• echo "This is a test" > test.txt - Creates a file.
• type - Print the contents of the file in command prompt. Similar to cat command in linux.
• copy - Copy files from one location to another.
• move - Moves files from one location to another.
• del or erase - Delete files.
• * - Use wildcards to refer multiple files.

Task and Process Management

• tasklist - Displays all the running tasks.
  • tasklist /FI "imagename eq notepad.exe" - Filters notepad tasks.
• taskkill - Kills the task.
  • taskkill /PID 123 - Kills the task with process id 123.

Miscellaneous

• chkdsk - Checks the filesystem and disks for errors.
• driverquery - Displays all installed device drivers.
• sfc /scannow - Scans system files for corruption and repairs them if possible.
• /? - Displays help information for a command.