Windows Quick Guide

 
 
This guide contains useful Windows commands.







DOS commands.



Information
Useful DOS commands.

Procedure
The DOS commands can be invoked in the DOS window or by:
Select: Start | Run


command Description
ansi.sys Defines functions that change display graphics, control cursor movement, and reassign keys.
append Causes MS-DOS to look in other directories when editing a file or running a command.
arp Displays, adds, and removes arp information from network devices.
assign Assign a drive letter to an alternate letter.
assoc View the file associations.
at Schedule a time to execute commands or programs.
attrib Display and change file attributes.
break Enable / disable CTRL + C feature.
cacls View and modify file ACL's.
call Calls a batch file from another batch file.
cd Changes directories.
chcp Supplement the International keyboard and character set information.
chdir Changes directories.
chkdsk Check the hard disk drive running FAT for errors.
chkntfs Check the hard disk drive running NTFS for errors.
choice Specify a listing of multiple options within a batch file.
cls Clears the screen.
cmd Opens the command interpreter.
color Easily change the foreground and background color of the MS-DOS window.
command Opens the command interpreter.
comp Compares files.
compact Compresses and uncompress files.
control Open control panel icons from the MS-DOS prompt.
convert Convert FAT to NTFS.
copy Copy one or more files to an alternate location.
ctty Change the computers input/output devices.
date View or change the systems date.
debug Debug utility to create assembly programs to modify hardware settings.
defrag Re-arrange the hard disk drive to help with loading programs.
del Deletes one or more files.
deltree Deletes one or more files and/or directories.
dir List the contents of one or more directory.
diskcomp Compare a disk with another disk.
diskcopy Copy the contents of one disk and place them on another disk.
doskey Command to view and execute commands that have been run in the past.
dosshell A GUI to help with early MS-DOS users.
drivparm Enables overwrite of original device drivers.
echo Displays messages and enables and disables echo.
edit View and edit files.
edlin View and edit files.
emm386 Load extended Memory Manager.
erase Erase files from computer.
exit Exit from the command interpreter.
expand Expand a Microsoft Windows file back to it's original format.
extract Extract files from the Microsoft Windows cabinets.
fasthelp Displays a listing of MS-DOS commands and information about them.
fc Compare files.
fdisk Utility used to create partitions on the hard disk drive.
find Search for text within a file.
for Boolean used in batch files.
format Command to erase and prepare a disk drive.
ftp Command to connect and operate on a FTP server.
graftabl Show extended characters in graphics mode.
help Display a listing of commands and brief explanation.
ifshlp.sys 32-bit file manager
ipconfig Network command to view network adapter settings and assigned values.
keyb Change layout of keyboard.
label Change the label of a disk drive.
lh Load a device driver in to high memory.
loadfix Load a program above the first 64k.
loadhigh Load a device driver in to high memory.
lock Lock the hard disk drive.
md Command to create a new directory.
mem Display memory on system.
mkdir Command to create a new directory.
mode Modify the port or display settings.
more Display one page at a time.
move Move one or more files from one directory to another directory.
msav Early Microsoft Virus scanner.
msd Diagnostics utility.
mscdex Utility used to load and provide access to the CD-ROM.
nbtstat Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT
net Update, fix, or view the network or network settings
netstat Display the TCP/IP network protocol statistics and information.
nlsfuc Load country specific information.
nslookup Look up an IP address of a domain or host on a network.
path View and modify the computers path location.
pathping View and locate locations of network latency.
pause Command used in batch files to stop the processing of a command.
ping Test / send information to another network computer or network device.
power Conserve power with computer portables.
print Prints data to a printer port.
prompt View and change the MS-DOS prompt.
qbasic Open the QBasic.
rd Removes an empty directory.
ren Renames a file or directory.
rename Renames a file or directory.
rmdir Removes an empty directory.
route View and configure windows network route tables.
scandisk Run the scandisk utility.
scanreg Scan registry and recover registry from errors.
set Change one variable or string to another.
setver Change MS-DOS version to trick older MS-DOS programs.
share Installs support for file sharing and locking capabilities.
shutdown Shutdown the computer from the MS-DOS prompt.
smartdrv Create a disk cache in conventional memory or extended memory.
sort Sorts the input and displays the output to the screen.
start Start a separate window in Windows from the MS-DOS prompt.
subst Substitute a folder on your computer for another drive letter.
switches Remove add functions from MS-DOS.
sys Transfer system files to disk drive.
time View or modify the system time.
title Change the title of their MS-DOS window.
tracert Visually view a network packets route across a network.
tree View a visual tree of the hard disk drive.
type Display the contents of a file.
undelete Undelete a file that has been deleted.
unformat Unformat a hard disk drive.
unlock Unlock a disk drive.
ver Display the version information.
verify Enables or disables the feature to determine if files have been written properly.
vol Displays the volume information about the designated drive.
xcopy Copy multiple files, directories, and/or drives from one location to another.