Basic Windows CMD Commands List

IT experts and several everyday users utilize CMD commands quite frequently. The CMD command features are an influential component of the Window systems.

The CMD commands vary over time, and several newer commands are issued, but the feature as a whole continues to thrive. While several commands are basic knowledge, there are quite a few commands that you might not know but can use.

Why use commands in Windows?

Initially, computers required text-based commands to interact with systems that did not have a graphical user interface. Various computers required mouseless navigation. Using commands was the way to interact with these computers and the use of directory structures to rely on the carrying of the commands.

Now, while remarkably advanced computers are present that have a notably great graphical interface, the command line persists.

Here are a few basic Window CMD commands that you should know:-

1. Bitsadmin

This CMD command allows you to monitor all your downloads and uploads. By using this in the CMD, you can create, control, pause, or delete any uploads and downloads as you will. This command is compatible with most newer Windows like Windows 7, 8, and 10. You can also use this command in Windows Vista.

2. ASSOC

By using the ASSOC command, you can view files associations of your computer. File association is the ability of your computer to assess what files to which program.

For example, if you open a doc file, your computer will automatically know to use Microsoft Word, or it will know to associate a pdf file with Adobe.

Hence, by using the ASSOC command in the command window, you can view all program associations of your computer.

3. call

The call command is peculiar as it cannot be used in the command window but is only effective when you use it in a batch file.

The call command is used when you need to call a batch file in another batch file. It is compatible with all Windows and DOS.

4. FC

The FC command stands for file comparison. It helps you compare altered and changed files over time. You can use it to compare both ASCII files and binary comparison, too. It will hence list all the differences that it finds between the files that might otherwise skip from human memory.

Fc /a File1.txt File2.txt: You can compare two ASCII files with this command. Fc /b Picture1.jpg Picture2.jpg: You can compare two image files with this command.

5. dir

You can use the dir command to display all the content within a directory. Hence, you can view all the folders and files inside that particular directory.

You can look for particular attributes by using the (/A), simplify the list (/B) and see all files within subdirectories and the subdirectories itself (/S).

The command is compatible with DOS and all Windows.

6. IPCONFIG

This command is used to configure your IP address and view other connections settings to troubleshoot your network issues.

By typing in this command, you can view:

Current IP Address
Subnet Mask
Default Gateway IP
Current domain

7. Cipher

Cipher.exe is an order line instrument incorporated into the Windows working system that can be utilized to encode or decode information on NTFS drives.

Erasing records on a mechanical hard drive doesn't really erase them. However, it denotes the documents as out of reach and represents the space they consume as free space.

The records are as yet accessible for restoration until the system overwrites them with new information, which might take some time.

Nonetheless, this command (cipher) clears the catalog by composing arbitrary information to the index.

For instance, to eradicate the C drive, you need to utilize the code/w:d order, which will delete the accessible space.

Overwrite the recuperated information with the goal that you don't erase the necessary documents by running this order.

8. schtasks

This command lets administrators erase, start, question, alter, make, and end planned errands on remote or local frameworks.

It is a command prompt access to Task Scheduler, which is one of the many belittled Windows the board devices.

Although you can utilize the graphical UI to oversee planned undertakings, the order line permits you to reorder complex orders to set up numerous comparable tasks without clicking various options.

Ultimately, when you assign key parameters to the store, it will be much easier to use.

9. Tasklist

This command is used to display the currently running tasks on the computer.

TASKLIST shows the cycle ID of each task running in the background, the name of the executable program that started the task, and the title of the window (if accessible).

Although this order is somewhat repetitive for the task manager, it can now and again discover tasks that are not displayed in this utility.

There is additionally an assortment of modifiers to browse. The svc task list shows the administrations related to each task.

Use the v tasklist to get more nitty-gritty data about each task, while the m tasklist will discover the DLL related to the dynamic task.

These orders are valuable for cutting-edge troubleshooting.

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