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Command Prompt Reference

This is a reference to the commands available by default in Windows XP/Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista/Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7/Windows 2008 R2.

It includes the original Microsoft supplied text, plus additional notes, examples and links to related commands. Some commands have been merged in to a single page as they do the same thing.

Note: When running a command, if it appears to do something that you are not expecting, press CTRL-C to stop it.

ASSOCDisplays or modifies file extension associations.
ATTRIBDisplays or changes file attributes.
BREAKSets or clears extended CTRL+C checking. No effect under Windows.
BCDEDITSets properties in boot database to control boot loading.
CACLSDisplays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files. DEPRECIATED - Use ICACLS instead.
CALLCalls one batch program from another.
CDDisplays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHCPDisplays or sets the active code page number.
CHDIRDisplays the name of or changes the current directory. See CD
CHKDSKChecks a disk and displays a status report.
CHKNTFSDisplays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time.
CLSClears the screen.
CMDStarts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter.
COLORSets the default console foreground and background colors.
COMPCompares the contents of two files or sets of files.
COMPACTDisplays or alters the compression of files on NTFS partitions.
CONVERTConverts FAT volumes to NTFS. You cannot convert the current drive.
COPYCopies one or more files to another location.
DATEDisplays or sets the date.
DELDeletes one or more files.
DIRDisplays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.
DISKCOMPCompares the contents of two floppy disks.
DISKCOPYCopies the contents of one floppy disk to another.
DISKPARTDisplays or configures Disk Partition properties.
DOSKEYEdits command lines, recalls Windows commands, and creates macros.
DRIVERQUERYDisplays current device driver status and properties.
ECHODisplays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
ENDLOCALEnds localization of environment changes in a batch file.
ERASEDeletes one or more files. See DEL
EXITQuits the CMD.EXE program (command interpreter).
FCCompares two files or sets of files, and displays the differences between them.
FINDSearches for a text string in a file or files.
FINDSTRSearches for strings in files.
FOR Runs a specified command for each file in a set of files.
FORFILESSelects a file (or set of files) and executes a command on that file. This is helpful for batch jobs.
FORMATFormats a disk for use with Windows.
FSUTILDisplays or configures the file system properties.
FTYPEDisplays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.
GOTODirects the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a batch program.
GPRESULTDisplays Group Policy information for machine or user.
GRAFTABLEnables Windows to display an extended character set in graphics mode.
HELPProvides Help information for Windows commands.
ICACLSDisplay, modify, backup, or restore ACLs for files and directories.
IFPerforms conditional processing in batch programs.
LABEL Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.
MDCreates a directory.
MKDIRCreates a directory. See MD
MKLINKCreates Symbolic Links and Hard Links
MODEConfigures a system device.
MOREDisplays output one screen at a time.
MOVEMoves one or more files from one directory to another directory.
OPENFILESDisplays files opened by remote users for a file share.
PATHDisplays or sets a search path for executable files.
PAUSESuspends processing of a batch file and displays a message.
POPDRestores the previous value of the current directory saved by PUSHD.
PRINTPrints a text file.
PROMPTChanges the Windows command prompt.
PUSHDSaves the current directory then changes it.
RDRemoves a directory.
RECOVERRecovers readable information from a bad or defective disk.
REMRecords comments (remarks) in batch files or CONFIG.SYS.
RENRenames a file or files.
RENAMERenames a file or files. See REN
REPLACEReplaces files.
RMDIRRemoves a directory. See RD.
ROBOCOPYAdvanced utility to copy files and directory trees
SCDisplays or configures services (background processes).
SCHTASKSSchedules commands and programs to run on a computer.
SETDisplays, sets, or removes Windows environment variables.
SETLOCALBegins localization of environment changes in a batch file.
SFCScans the integrity of all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions
SHIFTShifts the position of replaceable parameters in batch files.
SHUTDOWNAllows proper local or remote shutdown of machine.
SORTSorts input.
STARTStarts a separate window to run a specified program or command.
SUBSTAssociates a path with a drive letter.
SYSTEMINFODisplays machine specific properties and configuration.
TASKLISTDisplays all currently running tasks including services.
TASKKILLKill or stop a running process or application.
TIMEDisplays or sets the system time.
TITLESets the window title for a CMD.EXE session.
TREEGraphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path.
TYPEDisplays the contents of a text file.
VERDisplays the Windows version.
VERIFYTells Windows whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk.
VOLDisplays a disk volume label and serial number.
XCOPYCopies files and directory trees.
WMICDisplays WMI information inside interactive command shell.

 

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