Windows XP (like all versions of Windows) has a built-in set of commands that you can run from the command line prompt. These tools allow you to manually perform administration tasks on your system. The command interpreter can be started by first clicking the Start button. Select the 'Run' option. Then, type 'cmd' into the box and press Return. The command interpreter window should then open on your screen. Place your cursor inside of this window and click once. You should see a blinking cursor next to the command prompt.
To display more Help information about a command, or to see what options and parameters that you can use with a command, type help, a space, and then the <command> name followed by pressing the Return key. For example: help cd
| ASSOC | Displays or modifies file extension associations |
| AT | Schedules commands and programs to run on a computer |
| ATTRIB | Displays or changes file attributes |
| BREAK | Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking |
| BOOTCFG | Configure, query, change or delete the boot entry settings in the BOOT.INI file |
| CACLS | Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files |
| CALL | Calls one batch program from another |
| CD | Displays the name of or changes the current directory |
| CHCP | Displays or sets the active code page number |
| CHDIR | Displays the name of or changes the current directory |
| CHKDSK | Checks a disk and displays a status report |
| CHKNTFS | Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time |
| CIPHER | Configure file and folder encryption options on NTFS file systems |
| CLS | Clears the screen |
| CMD | Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter |
| COLOR | Sets the default console foreground and background colors |
| 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 | Copies one or more files to another location |
| CSCRIPT | Run a CSCRIPT script file <scriptfilenamevbs> |
| DATE | Displays or sets the date |
| DEFRAG | Defragment a disk drive |
| DEL | Deletes one or more files |
| DELPROF | Deletes a User Profile |
| DIR | Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory |
| DISKCOMP | Compares the contents of two floppy disks |
| DISKCOPY | Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another |
| DISKPART | Disk and Volume maintenance tool |
| DOSKEY | Edits command lines, recalls Windows commands, and creates macros |
| DRIVERQUERY | Enumerate and query device drivers |
| ECHO | Displays messages or turns command echoing on or off |
| ENDLOCAL | Ends localization of environment changes in a batch file |
| ERASE | Deletes one or more files |
| EXIT | Quits the CMDEXE program (command interpreter) |
| FC | Compares two files, or sets of files, and displays the differences between them |
| FIND | Searches for a text string in a file or files |
| FINDSTR | Searches for strings in files |
| FOR | Runs a specified command for each file in a set of files |
| FORMAT | Formats a disk for use with Windows |
| FSUTIL | File System maintenance tool |
| FTYPE | Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations |
| GETMAC | Get MAC address(es) of installed network adapters |
| GOTO | Directs the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a batch program |
| GRAFTABL | Enables Windows to display an extended character set in graphics mode |
| HELP | Provides Help information for Windows commands |
| HELPCTR | NOTE: use RUN command to launch – Starts GUI Help & Support Center |
| IF | Performs conditional processing in batch programs |
| IPSECCMD | Tools for configuring & troubleshooting IPSec protocol |
| LABEL | Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk |
| LOGMAN | Logman manages the "Performance Logs and Alerts" service |
| MD | Creates a directory |
| MKDIR | Creates a directory |
| MMC | Start a new Microsoft Management Console |
| MODE | Configures a system device |
| MORE | Displays output one screen at a time |
| MOVE | Moves one or more files from one directory to another directory |
| MSCONFIG | NOTE: use RUN command to launch – System configuration tool GUI |
| MSIEXEC | Windows installer command line tool |
| MSIZAP | Windows Installer Cleanup Wizard that removes WI settings from failed installs |
| NETSH | Manage network configuration tasks |
| NETSTAT | Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP network connections |
| OPENFILES | Enables an administrator to list or disconnect open files and folders |
| PAGEFILECONFIG | CSCRIPT command to manage the pagefile(s) |
| PATH | Displays or sets a search path for executable files |
| PAUSE | Suspends processing of a batch file and displays a message |
| PERFMON | NOTE: use RUN command to launch – GUI performance monitor tool |
| POPD | Restores the previous value of the current directory saved by PUSHD |
| Prints a text file | |
| PRNCNFG | CSCRIPT command to run Printer configuration tool |
| PRNJOBS | CSCRIPT command to run Printer configuration tool |
| PRNMNGR | CSCRIPT command to run Printer configuration tool |
| PRNPORT | CSCRIPT command to run Printer configuration tool |
| PRNQCTL | CSCRIPT command to run Printer configuration tool |
| PROMPT | Changes the Windows command prompt |
| PUSHD | Saves the current directory then changes it |
| RD | Removes a directory |
| RECOVER | Recovers readable information from a bad or defective disk |
| RELOG | Creates new performance logs from data in existing performance logs |
| REM | Record user comments in batch files or in CONFIGSYS |
| REN | Renames a file or files |
| RENAME | Renames a file or files |
| REPLACE | Replaces files |
| RMDIR | Removes a directory |
| RUNAS | Run in a different user security context |
| SC | SC is a command line program used for communicating with the NT Service Controller |
| SCHTASKS | Create, delete, query, change, run and end scheduled tasks on a local or remote system. (NOTE: Replaces the AT command) |
| SET | Displays, sets, or removes Windows environment variables |
| SETLOCAL | Begins localization of environment changes in a batch file |
| SHIFT | Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in batch files |
| SHUTDOWN | Shutdown the system |
| SORT | Sorts input |
| START | Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command |
| SUBST | Associates a path with a drive letter |
| SYSPREP | System image preparation tool for building system images |
| SYSTEMINFO | Query for basic system configuration information |
| TASKKILL | Tool used to end one or more processes |
| TASKLIST | Tool used to list all running tasks and processes |
| TIME | Displays or sets the system time |
| TITLE | Sets the window title for a CMDEXE session |
| TRACERPT | Processes binary Event Trace Session log files or real-time streams from instrumented Event Trace providers |
| TREE | Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path |
| TYPE | Displays the contents of a text file |
| TYPEPERF | Writes performance data to the command window or to a log file |
| VER | Displays the Windows version (text format) |
| VERIFY | Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk |
| VOL | Displays a disk volume label and serial number |
| WINNT32 | Manual OS installation & configuration tool |
| WINVER | Displays the Windows version (GUI format) |
| WMIC | Windows Management Instrumentation & Configuration tools |
| XCOPY | Copies files and directory trees to a new location |