[Windows Tip] Master List of All Commands to Use Command Prompt Like a Pro

[Matrix]

Most of us use Windows operating system in our computers but very few of us are aware of Command Prompt program which comes bundled with Windows OS. Command Prompt is also known by various other names, some of them are MS DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System), Command Shell, Windows Shell, Console, Command Line, CMD, CLI, etc.

When there was no GUI (Graphical User Interface) present in Microsoft's operating system, only MS DOS existed which provided only command line interface. Later it was included as Command Prompt with Windows operating system which provided a GUI to the end users (like program windows, menus, dialog box, buttons, etc).

Command Prompt allows users to interact with the operating system by executing built-in commands. You just need to launch Command Prompt window which can be done by selecting Command Prompt shortcut from Start Menu or by using CMD command in RUN dialog box. After that you can type commands and press Enter key to perform various tasks. There are several commands provided by Command Prompt which can be used by users. You can manage hard disk partitions, manage files and folders (such as create, copy, move, delete files and folders), manage boot loader, run hard disk scan, manage networking and so on.

Command Prompt provides so many commands to users which can be used to perform several system as well as normal tasks and activities which can also be done using the graphical user interface. Command Prompt is mainly used by system administrators and sometimes it might be used to perform troubleshooting tasks when your Windows is not bootable and you have to repair it.

In good ol' days of Windows 98, when we had to install Windows in computers, we had to use Command Prompt window to create/format partitions (remember fdisk command?) and to run Windows setup installer program. So a good knowledge of Command Prompt was required to be able to install and manage Windows OS in those old days. Now-a-days installing newer Windows versions is very easy and doesn't require any knowledge of CLI (Command Line Interface).

So you see Command Prompt program is very useful and everyone should have at least some basic knowledge of this program like how to use it and how to execute important commands, etc.

Command Prompt provides a command Help which can be used to get a list of available commands but the list is not complete, only a few important commands are listed. Also if you want to learn more about a command, you can use /? after command name to get information about the command, for example xcopy /? will show information about xcopy command.

If you want to learn more about Command Prompt and its commands, Microsoft has provided a master list of all available commands to public.

Microsoft has released a PDF document named "ws-commands.pdf" which contains total of 948 pages and lists all available commands which can be used in Command Prompt window.

This document might help you in using Command Prompt like a Pro. You might be already aware of some commands listed in the document such as bcdedit, copy, diskcopy, edit, find, move, rd, xcopy, etc.

This official document is very useful. It provides complete information about every command such as use of command, list of all parameters which can be used with the command, examples, remarks, etc. So learning all commands with the help of this document is very easy.

It also lists commands which can be used to create a batch script to automate tasks.

The document mentions that the information is applicable to Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows Server operating systems only. But most of the commands will work in all Windows versions such as Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.

So if you want to master Command Prompt in Windows OS and want to use Command Prompt like a professional, download the official PDF file from following link:

Download PDF Document Containing Master List of All Commands in Command Prompt

Also check out our exclusive list of useful keyboard shortcuts for Command Prompt given at following link:

List of Useful Keyboard Shortcuts for Command Prompt in Windows

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[vitorio]

This is an old "art" that should not be forgot, specially the new generations.

Even today can solved many situations that otherwise can be difficult to resolved.

Like say above:

"Command Prompt program is very useful and everyone should have at least some basic knowledge of this program"

 

[Rickta]

Very handy reference tool thanks Dony