Windows Command Syntax Key and List of Commands
General Knowledge
Windows Command Syntax Key1
Format / Notation
Description
Notes
Text is Bold, or outside of brackets [ ] or braces { }
Items to be typed as shown
Italic, or <Within angle brackets> < >
Placeholder which requires a value
[Text is between brackets] [ ]
Optional item
{ Text is between braces} { }
Set of required items; choose one
Pipe = a vertical bar |
Separates mutually exclusive items
Ellipsis = three dots …
Items that can be repeated in a command
Example:
xcopy Source [Destination] [/w] [/p] [/c] [/v] [/q] [/f] [/l] [/g] [/d[:mm-dd-yyyy]] [/u] [/i] [/s [/e]] [/t] [/k] [/r] [/h] [{/a|/m}] [/n] [/o]
[/x] [/exclude:file1[+[file2]] [+[file3]] [{/y|/-y}] [/z]
For more information on:
 All commands, see the Command Reference Over in Help and Support, or online here.
 A specific command, type command-name /? or HELP command-name
Commands Included with Windows 7
p = parent command, has multiple sub-commands
b = built-in (internal) command
Command
Description
Notes
@
Prevents echoing the command it prefixes.
Link
arp
Displays and modifies the ARP IP-to-Physical address translation tables.
Link
assoc (b)
Displays or modifies file name extension associations.
Link
at
Schedules commands and programs to run at a specified time and date.
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attrib
Displays, sets, or removes attributes assigned to files or directories.
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auditpol (p)
Displays information about and performs functions to manage audit policies.
autochk
Runs when the computer starts, to verify the logical integrity of a file system.
autoconv
Converts FAT and FAT32 volumes to NTFS.
autofmt
Formats a drive or partition through the Windows Recovery Console.
bcdboot
Sets up a system partition, or repairs boot environment on system partition.
bcdedit
Provides a store to describe boot applications and boot application settings.
bdehdcfg (p)
Partitions a hard drive as needed for BitLocker Drive Encryption.
bitsadmin (p)
Creates download or upload jobs and monitors their progress.
bootcfg (p)
Configures, queries, or changes Boot.ini file settings.
cacls
Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files.
call (b)
Calls one batch program from another.
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cd or chdir (b)
Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
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Windows Command-Line Syntax Key and Core Commands
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Windows Command Syntax Key and List of Commands
Command
General Knowledge
Description
Notes
certreq
Manages certificate activities with a certification authority (CA).
certutil
Manage and configure CA information.
change (p)
Changes Remote Desktop logon, COM port map, and install mode settings.
chcp (b)
Displays or sets the active code page number.
chglogon
Enable, disable, or drain session logins.
chgport
Lists or changes the COM port mappings to be compatible with MS-DOS applications.
chusr
Changes the install mode for the Remote Desktop Session Host (RD Session Host) server.
chkdsk
Checks a disk and displays a status report.
Link
chkntfs
Displays or modifies automatic disk checking when the computer is started.
Link
choice
Prompts user to select one item from a list of single-character choices in a batch program.
Link
cipher
Displays or alters the encryption of directories [files] on NTFS partitions.
Link
clip
Redirects output of command line tools to the Windows clipboard, for later use.
Link
cls (b)
Clears the Command Prompt window.
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cluadmin
Enables you to connect to a failover cluster (formerly known as server cluster).
cluster
Creates a new cluster or configures an existing cluster.
cmd
Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter.
cmdkey
Creates, lists, and deletes stored user names and passwords or credentials.
color (b)
Sets the default console foreground and background colors for the current session.
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 (b)
Copies one or more files to another location.
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date (b)
Displays or sets the date.
Link
defrag
Runs Disk Defragmenter in CLI mode
Link
del (b)
Deletes one or more files.
Link
dir (b)
Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.
Link
diskpart (p)
Displays or configures Disk Partition properties.
Link
doskey
Edits command lines, recalls Windows commands, and creates macros.
Link
driverquery
Displays current device driver status and properties.
Link
echo (b)
Displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
Link
endlocal (b)
Ends localization of environment changes in a batch file.
exit (b)
Quits the CMD.EXE command interpreter.
Link
fc
Compares and displays differences between two files or sets of files.
Link
find
Searches for a text string in a file or files.
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Windows Command-Line Syntax Key and Core Commands
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Windows Command Syntax Key and List of Commands
Command
Description
General Knowledge
Notes
findstr
Searches for strings in files.
for (b)
Runs a specified command for each file in a set of files.
Link
forfiles
Selects a file (or set of files) and executes a command on that file (or set).
Link
format
Formats a disk for use with Windows.
Link
fsutil
Displays or configures the file system properties.
Link
ftype (b)
Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.
Link
getmac
Display the MAC address for network adapters on a system.
Link
goto
Directs the command interpreter to a labeled line in a batch program.
Link
gpresult
Displays Group Policy information for machine or user.
graftabl
Enables Windows to display an extended character set in graphics mode.
help or /?
Provides help information for Windows commands.
Link
hostname
Prints the name of the current or local host.
Link
Icacls (p)
Display, modify, backup, or restore ACLs for files and directories.
if (b)
Performs conditional processing in batch programs.
Link
ipconfig
Displays / allows modifying a host's IP address info. Best used with /all option.
Link
label
Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.
md or mkdir (b)
Creates a directory.
mklink
Creates Symbolic Links and Hard Links
mode
Configures a system device.
more
Displays output one screen at a time.
Link
move (b)
Moves one or more files from one directory to another directory.
Link
msinfo32
Opens the System Information tool.
Link
mstc
Start a Remote Desktop Connection.
Details here.
net (p)
Used for managing file shares, printer shares and sessions.
Link
netsh
Shell for managing network configuration on local or remote hosts.
Link
netstat
Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP network connections.
Link
nltest
Performs network administrative tasks.
Link
nslookup
Verifies that DNS name resolution is working correctly.
Link
openfiles
List / disconnect files opened on a system.
Link
path (b)
Displays or sets a search path for executable files.
Link
pathping
Like PING, but provides descriptive info on nature of failure.
Link
pause (b)
Suspends processing of a batch file and displays a message.
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ping
Verifies TCP/IP connectivity to a host; requires ICMP traffic between hosts.
Link
pnpunattend
Driver management tool.
Windows Command-Line Syntax Key and Core Commands
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Windows Command Syntax Key and List of Commands
Command
General Knowledge
Description
Notes
popd (b)
Restores the previous value of the current directory saved by PUSHD.
print
Prints a text file.
prompt (b)
Changes the Windows command prompt.
pushd
Saves the current directory then changes it.
rd or rmdir (b)
Removes a directory.
recover
Recovers readable information from a bad or defective disk.
reg (p)
Performs operations on registry subkey info and values in registry entries.
Link
rem (b)
Records comments (remarks) in batch files or CONFIG.SYS.
Link
ren or rename (b)
Renames a file or files.
Link
replace
Replaces files.
rstrui
Start System Restore to allow you to undo changes to your computer.
Link
robocopy
Advanced utility to copy files and directory trees. See also RichCopy.
Link
runas
Allows the user to run programs with permissions other than what the user's logon provides.
Link
set (b)
Displays, sets, or removes Windows environment variables.
Link
setlocal (b)
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.
Link
sfc
Scans protected system files, replaces incorrect versions with correct ones.
Link
shift (b)
Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in batch files.
shutdown
Allows proper local or remote shutdown of machine.
Link
sigverif
Lists and verifies signed and unsigned device drivers.
Link
sort
Sorts input.
Link
start (b)
Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command.
Link
subst
Associates a path with a drive letter.
systeminfo
Displays OS configuration info for a local or remote machine.
Link
tasklist
Displays all currently running tasks including services.
Link
taskkill
Kill or stop a running process or application.
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time (b)
Displays or sets the system time.
Link
title (b)
Sets the window title for a CMD.EXE session.
tree
Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path.
Link
type (b)
Displays the contents of a text file.
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ver (b)
Displays the Windows version.
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verify (b)
Tells cmd.exe whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk.
Windows Command-Line Syntax Key and Core Commands
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Windows Command Syntax Key and List of Commands
Command
Description
vol (b)
Displays the disk volume label and serial number, if they exist.
xcopy
Copies files and directory trees.
wbadmin
Enables backup and restore from a command prompt.
where
Displays the location of files that match the search pattern.
wmic
Displays WMI information inside interactive command shell.
Command
General Knowledge
Notes
Link
Link
Application
calc
Calculator
charmap
Character Map
cleanmgr
Disk Cleanup
computerdefaults
Set Program Access and Computer Defaults
compmgmtlauncher
Computer Management
control
Control Panel
credwiz
Stored User Names and Passwords
cttune
ClearType Text Tuner
dccw
Display Color Calibration Wizard
defrag
Disk Defragmenter (CLI version)
dfrgui
Disk Defragmenter (GUI version)
dvdplay
DVD Player
dxdiag
DirectX Diagnostic Tool
explorer
Windows Explorer
iexplore
Internet Explorer
iexpress
IExpress Wizard
isoburn
Windows Disc Image Burner
eventvwr
Event Viewer
fsquirt
Bluetooth File Transfer
magnify
Magnifier
mdsched
Windows Memory Diagnostic
mmc
Microsoft Management Console
mrt
Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
msconfig
System Configuration Utility
msg
Message utility
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Windows Command Syntax Key and List of Commands
Command
General Knowledge
Application
Msiexec
Windows Installer
mspaint
Paint
mstsc
Remote Desktop Connection
narrator
Narrator
netplwiz
User Accounts
notepad
Notepad
ocsetup
Optional Component Setup
optionalfeatures
Windows Features Management
osk
On-Screen Keyboard
outlook
Microsoft Outlook
perfmon
Performance Monitor
pkgmgr
Windows Package Manager
powerpnt
Microsoft PowerPoint
regedit
Registry Editor
write
WordPad
Sources
Command-Line Reference:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc754340.aspx
Discover the Power of Windows 7 Hidden VBScript Print Utilities:
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/discover-the-power-of-windows-7-hidden-vbscript-print-utilities/5645/
Windows Command-Line Syntax Key and Core Commands
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