Command
|
Description
|
Type
|
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Defines functions that change display
graphics, control cursor movement, and reassign keys.
|
File
|
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Causes MS-DOS to look in other
directories when editing a file or running a command.
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Displays, adds, and removes arp information from network devices.
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Assign a drive letter to an alternate
letter.
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View the file associations.
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Schedule a time to execute commands
or programs.
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Lists connections and addresses seen
by Windows ATM
call manager.
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Display and change file attributes.
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Recovery console command that
executes a series of commands in a file.
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Recovery console command that allows
a user to view, modify, and rebuild the boot.ini
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Enable and disable CTRL + C feature.
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View and modify file ACL's.
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Calls a batch file from another batch
file.
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Changes directories.
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Supplement the International keyboard
and character set information.
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Changes directories.
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Check the hard drive running FAT for errors.
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Check the hard drive running NTFS for errors.
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Specify a listing of multiple options
within a batch file.
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Clears the screen.
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Opens the command interpreter.
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Change the foreground and background
color of the MS-DOS window.
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Opens the command interpreter.
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Compares files.
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Compresses and uncompress files.
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Open Control Panel icons from the
MS-DOS prompt.
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Copy one or more files to an
alternate location.
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Change the computers input/output
devices.
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View or change the systems date.
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Debug utility to create assembly
programs to modify hardware settings.
|
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Re-arrange the hard drive to help
with loading programs.
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Deletes one or more files.
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Recovery console command that deletes
a file.
|
|
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Deletes one or more files or
directories.
|
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List the contents of one or more
directory.
|
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Recovery console command that
disables Windows system services or drivers.
|
|
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Compare a disk with another disk.
|
|
|
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Copy the contents of one disk and
place them on another disk.
|
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Command to view and execute commands
that have been run in the past.
|
|
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A GUI to help with early MS-DOS
users.
|
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Enables overwrite of original device
drivers.
|
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Displays messages and enables and
disables echo.
|
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View and edit files.
|
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View and edit files.
|
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Load extended Memory Manager.
|
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Recovery console command to enable a
disable service or driver.
|
|
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Stops the localization of the
environment changes enabled by the setlocal
command.
|
|
|
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Erase files from computer.
|
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|
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Exit from the command interpreter.
|
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|
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Expand a Microsoft Windows file back
to it's original format.
|
|
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Extract files from the Microsoft Windows
cabinets.
|
|
|
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Displays a listing of MS-DOS commands
and information about them.
|
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Compare files.
|
|
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Utility used to create partitions on
the hard drive.
|
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Search for text within a file.
|
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Searches for a string of text within
a file.
|
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Writes a new boot sector.
|
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Writes a new boot record to a disk drive.
|
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Boolean used in batch files.
|
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Command to erase and prepare a disk
drive.
|
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Command to connect and operate on a FTP server.
|
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Displays or modifies file types used
in file extension associations.
|
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Moves a batch file to a specific
label or location.
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Show extended characters in graphics
mode.
|
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Display a listing of commands and
brief explanation.
|
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Allows for batch
files to perform
conditional processing.
|
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32-bit file manager.
|
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Network command to view network
adapter settings and assigned values.
|
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Change layout of keyboard.
|
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Change the label of a disk drive.
|
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Load a device driver in to high
memory.
|
|
|
|
Recovery console command that
displays the services and drivers.
|
|
|
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Load a program above the first 64k.
|
|
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Load a device driver in to high
memory.
|
|
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Lock the hard drive.
|
|
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Logoff the currently profile using
the computer.
|
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Recovery console command to list
installations and enable administrator login.
|
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|
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Displays the device name of a drive.
|
|
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Command to create a new directory.
|
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Display memory on system.
|
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Command to create a new directory.
|
|
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Modify the port or display settings.
|
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Display one page at a time.
|
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Move one or more files from one
directory to another directory.
|
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Early Microsoft Virus scanner.
|
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Diagnostics utility.
|
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Utility used to load and provide
access to the CD-ROM.
|
|
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Displays protocol statistics and
current TCP/IP connections using NBT
|
|
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Update, fix, or view the network or
network settings
|
|
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Configure dynamic and static network
information from MS-DOS.
|
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Display the TCP/IP network protocol statistics and
information.
|
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Load country specific information.
|
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Look up an IP address of a domain or
host on a network.
|
|
|
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View and modify the computers path
location.
|
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View and locate locations of network
latency.
|
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Command used in batch files to stop
the processing of a command.
|
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Test and send information to another
network computer or network device.
|
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Changes to the directory or network
path stored by the pushd command.
|
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Conserve power with computer
portables.
|
|
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Prints data to a printer port.
|
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|
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View and change the MS-DOS prompt.
|
|
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Stores a directory or network path in
memory so it can be returned to at any time.
|
|
|
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Open the QBasic.
|
|
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Removes an empty directory.
|
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Renames a file or directory.
|
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Renames a file or directory.
|
|
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Removes an empty directory.
|
|
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A robust file copy command for the
Windows command line.
|
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View and configure windows network
route tables.
|
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Enables a user to run a program as a
different user.
|
|
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Run the scandisk utility.
|
|
|
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Scan registry and recover registry
from errors.
|
|
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Change one variable or string to
another.
|
|
|
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Enables local environments to be
changed without affecting anything else.
|
|
|
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Change MS-DOS version to trick older
MS-DOS programs.
|
|
|
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Installs support for file sharing and
locking capabilities.
|
|
|
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Changes the position of replaceable
parameters in a batch program.
|
|
|
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Shutdown the computer from the MS-DOS
prompt.
|
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Create a disk cache in conventional
memory or extended memory.
|
|
|
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Sorts the input and displays the
output to the screen.
|
|
|
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Start a separate window in Windows
from the MS-DOS prompt.
|
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Substitute a folder on your computer
for another drive letter.
|
|
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Remove add functions from MS-DOS.
|
|
|
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Transfer system files to disk drive.
|
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|
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Telnet to another computer or device from
the prompt.
|
|
|
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View or modify the system time.
|
|
|
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Change the title of their MS-DOS
window.
|
|
|
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Visually view a network packets route
across a network.
|
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View a visual tree of the hard drive.
|
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Display the contents of a file.
|
|
|
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Undelete a file that has been
deleted.
|
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Unformat a hard drive.
|
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Unlock a disk drive.
|
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Display the version information.
|
|
|
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Enables or disables the feature to
determine if files have been written properly.
|
|
|
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Displays the volume information about
the designated drive.
|
|
|
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Copy multiple files, directories, or
drives from one location to another.
|
|
Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.
SYNTAX
DIR [drive:][path][filename] [/P] [/W] [/A[[:]attributes]] [/O[[:]sortorder]]
[/S] [/B] [/L] [/V]
- [drive:][path][filename]
Specifies drive, directory, and/or files to list.
- /P Pauses
after each screenful of information.
- /W Uses
wide list format.
- /A
displays only files with these attributes:
D Directories
R Read-only files
H Hidden files
A Files ready for archiving
S System files
- Prefix meaning not: can be added to above attributes
- /O List by
files in sorted order, sortorder:
N By name (alphabetic)
S By size (smallest first)
E By extension (alphabetic)
D By date & time (earliest first)
G Group directories first
A By Last Access Date (earliest first)
- Prefix to reverse order: put in front of above
- /S
Displays files in specified directory and all subdirectories.
- /B Uses
bare format (no heading information or summary).
- /L Uses
lowercase.
- /V Verbose
mode.
EXAMPLES
dir - Lists
all files and directories in the directory that you are currently in.
dir /s - Lists the files in the directory that you
are in and all sub directories after that directory.
dir /p - If the directory has a lot of files and
you cannot read all the files you can use this command and it will display all
files one page at a time.
dir /w - Lists just the files and directories,
going horizontal, and taking as little as space needed.
dir /a:-s - This would list all the files that
aren't system files in the current directory.
Changes the current directory
SYNTAX
CD [drive:][path]
CD[..]
EXAMPLES
cd \ -
Changes current directory to the highest level of the current drive (the root
directory).
cd .. - Goes up one directory. For example if you
are within the C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND>
directory this would take you to C:\WINDOWS>
cd windows - Changes to the Windows
subdirectory of the current directory (if it exists).
Note: If you want to change to a different drive, CD will not
switch to it. CD only changes directories in the current drive. To change
drives, type the drive letter followed by a colon. i.e. cd
d: will not switch to the d drive, but d:
will switch drives.
Copies one or more files to another location.
See note on DOS vs. Windows file names above. If trying to copy
files longer the 8 characters, DOS will truncate them with normal COPY. Also
COPY will not move all files, it will leave Hidden and System files alone. Use XCOPY instead
to solve both of these issues.
SYNTAX
COPY [/A | /B] source [/A | /B] [+ source [/A | /B] [+ ...]] [destination] [/A
| /B]] [/V] [/Y | /-Y]
- source
Specifies the file or files to be copied.
- /A
Indicates an ASCII text file.
- /B
Indicates a binary file.
- destination
Specifies the directory and/or filename for the new file(s).
- /V
Verifies that new files are written correctly.
- /Y
Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an existing
destination file.
- /-Y Causes
prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an existing destination file.
To append
files, specify a single file for destination, but multiple files for source
(using wildcards or file1+file2+file3 format).
EXAMPLES
copy *.* a: -
This would copy all files in the current directory to the floppy disk in drive
a:
copy autoexec.bat c:\windows - Copies autoexec.bat
from the current directory to the Windows
directory of the C: drive.
copy file1.txt+file2.txt+file3.txt newfile.txt /v -
This would add together (concatenate) file1.txt, file2.txt
and file3.txt and store the results in newfile.txt,
then verify that it copied correctly.
Deletes one or more files.
SYNTAX
DEL [drive:][path]filename [/P]
- [drive:][path]filename
- Specifies the file(s) to delete. Specify multiple files by using
wildcards.
- /P -
Prompts for confirmation before deleting each file.
EXAMPLES
del test.tmp
- Deletes test.tmp from the directory you
are currently in (if it exists).
del c:\windows\test.tmp - Deletes test.tmp
from the C:\Windows directory (if it
exists).
del c:\windows\temp\*.* /P - Deletes all files in
the C:\Windows\temp directory, and requires
confirmation for each file.
Xcopy is a powerful version of the copy command with
additional features. It has the ability to move files, directories and even
whole drives from one destination to another. It also can preserve file
attributes and long file names.
Note: XCOPY is in all versions of Windows, but may not run unless
it is located in the command Path. Please see the note on Paths
above. The actual file is called xcopy.exe
and is located on Windows 98 and ME in the C:\Windows\Command
directory on Windows NT and 2000 in the C:\Winnt\system32
and on Windows XP in the C:\Windows\system32
directory.
SYNTAX
XCOPY source [destination] [/A | /M] [/D[:date]] [/P] [/S [/E]] [/W] [/C] [/I]
[/Q] [/F] [/L] [/H] [/R] [/T] [/U] [/K] [/N]
- source -
Specifies the file(s) to copy.
- destination
- Specifies the location and/or name of new files.
- /A -
Copies files with the archive attribute set, doesn't change the attribute.
- /M -
Copies files with the archive attribute set, turns off the archive
attribute.
- /D:date -
Copies files changed on or after the specified date. If no date is given,
copies only those files whose source time is newer than the destination
time.
- /P Prompts
you before creating each destination file.
- /S Copies
directories and subdirectories except empty ones.
- /E Copies
directories and subdirectories, including empty ones.
- /W Prompts
you to press a key before copying.
- /C
Continues copying even if errors occur.
- /I If
destination does not exist and copying more than one file, assumes that
destination must be a directory.
- /Q Does
not display file names while copying.
- /F
Displays full source and destination file names while copying.
- /L
Displays files that would be copied.
- /H Copies
hidden and system files also.
- /R
Overwrites read-only files.
- /T Creates
directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not include empty
directories or sub directories. /T /E includes empty directories and sub
directories.
- /U Updates
the files that already exist in destination.
- /K Copies
attributes. Normal xcopy will reset read-only attributes.
- /Y
Overwrites existing files without prompting.
- /-Y
Prompts you before overwriting existing files.
- /N Copy
using the generated short names.
EXAMPLES
xcopy h:\*.* /a /e /k
- Copies everything located on the H drive to the current drive.
xcopy c:\windows\desktop c:\desktop /a /e /f /h /k -
Copies all files and folders in the C:\Windows\Desktop
folder to the C:\Desktop folder.
Deletes a directory and all the subdirectories and files in
it.
Note: DELTREE is in all versions of Windows with the exception of
Windows NT, 2000 and XP, but may not run unless it is located in the command path.
Please see the note on Paths
above. The actual file is called deltree.exe
and is located in the C:\Windows\Command
directory.
SYNTAX
DELTREE [/Y] [drive:]path [[drive:]path[...]]
- /Y - Suppresses
prompting to confirm you want to delete the subdirectory.
- [drive:]path
- Specifies the name of the directory you want to delete. More then one
path can be specified.
Note: Use
DELTREE cautiously. Every file and subdirectory within the specified directory
will be deleted. Once deleted you cannot recover the information.
EXAMPLES
deltree c:\windows\fake010
= Deletes the fake010 directory and
everything in it.
Moves files and renames files and directories.
SYNTAX
To move one or more files: MOVE [/Y | /-Y]
[drive:][path]filename1[,...]destination
To rename a directory: MOVE [/Y | /-Y] [drive:][path]dirname1 dirname2
[drive:][path]
- [drive:][path]filename1
- Specifies the location and name of the file or files you want to move.
(Multiple files separated by a comma)
- [drive:][path]Destination
- Specifies the new location of the file. Destination can consist of a
drive letter and colon, a directory name, or a combination.
- [drive:][path]dirname1
- Specifies the directory you want to rename.
- dirname2
[drive:][path] - Specifies the new name of the directory.
- /Y -
Suppresses prompting to confirm creation of a directory or overwriting of
the destination.
- /-Y Causes
prompting to confirm creation of a directory or overwriting of the
destination.
EXAMPLES
move c:\windows\temp\*.*
c:\temp - Moves all files from the C:\Windows\temp
folder to the C:\temp folder.
move /Y c:\temp temp2 - Moves the C:\temp
directory and all contents to the C:\temp2
directory and suppress confirmation.
Renames a file/directory or files/directories.
SYNTAX
REN [drive:][path][directoryname1 | filename1] [directoryname2 | filename2]
Note: you cannot specify a new drive or path for your destination.
You can only rename files in the same directory
- [drive:][path]filename1
- is the source file to rename.
- [drive:][path]directoryname1
- is the source directory to rename.
- filename2
- is the new name of the file.
- directoryname2
- is the new name of the file.
EXAMPLES
ren c:\chope hope
- Rename the directory chope to hope.
ren *.txt *.bak - Rename all text files to files
with .bak extension.
ren * 1_* - Rename all files to begin with 1_. The
asterisk (*) in this example is a wild character this means all files.
Creates a directory.
SYNTAX
MKDIR [drive:]path
MD [drive:]path
EXAMPLES
md test -
Creates a directory called test inside the current
directory.
Removes (deletes) a directory.
SYNTAX
RMDIR [drive:]path RD [drive:]path
EXAMPLES
rmdir c:\test
- Removes the test directory if empty.
Displays or changes file attributes such as read only,
hidden, system, and archive. Attrib is necessary to use most other commands
that do not work when some of these attributes are set.
Note: ATTRIB is in all versions of Windows, but may not run unless
it is located in the command Path. Please see the note on Paths
above. The actual file is called attrib.exe
and is located on Windows 98 and ME in the C:\Windows\Command
directory on Windows NT and 2000 in the C:\Winnt\system32
and on Windows XP in the C:\Windows\system32
directory.
SYNTAX
ATTRIB [+R | -R] [+A | -A] [+S | -S] [+H | -H] [[drive:][path]filename] [/S]
- + Sets an
attribute.
- - Clears
an attribute.
- R
Read-only file attribute.
- A Archive
file attribute.
- S System
file attribute.
- H Hidden
file attribute.
- /S Processes
files in all directories in the specified path.
EXAMPLES
attrib autoexec.bat
- Show the attributes of the autoexec.bat file.
attrib +r autoexec.bat - Makes the autoexec.bat
so it cannot be modified until the read only attribute is taken off.
attrib +h config.sys - Hides config.sys
from a normal directory listing. However, hidden files are always visible to
the attrib command.
attrib -h config.sys - This command does the
opposite of the above command. Instead of hiding the file it will unhide it if
currently hidden.
Ping is used to determine if a connection exists between
your computer, and another computer connected via TCP/IP. It sends small
packets of information to the other computer, which are returned if the
connection is found, and lost otherwise. Ping is a powerful utility to help
determine network related problems.
SYNTAX
ping [-t] [-a] [-n count] [-l size] [-f] [-i TTL] [-v TOS] [-r count] [-s
count] [[-j host-list] | [-k host-list]] [-w timeout] destination-list
- -t - Pings
the specified host until stopped.
To see statistics and continue - type Control-Break;
To stop - type Control-C.
- -a -
Resolve addresses to hostnames.
- -n - count
Number of echo requests to send.
- -l - size
Send buffer size.
- -f - Set
Don't Fragment flag in packet.
- -i TTL -
Time To Live.
- -v TOS -
Type Of Service.
- -r count -
Record route for count hops.
- -s count -
Timestamp for count hops.
- -j
host-list - Loose source route along host-list.
- -k
host-list - Strict source route along host-list.
- -w timeout
- Timeout in milliseconds to wait for each reply.
EXAMPLES
ping localhost - Pings the
localhost (127.0.0.1). This determines whether the ethernet card is able to
send and receive data. Note that this does not send information over a network,
so its main use is troubleshooting network card problems.
C:\>ping localhost
Pinging 127.0.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time Reply
from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128
Ping statistics for 127.0.0.1:
Packets: Sent=4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms
ping xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx - Allows you to ping another
computer where the x's are located are where you would place the IP address of
the computer you are attempting to ping. If this is not able to complete this
should relay back an unsuccessful message (request timed out) which could be an
indication of cable issues, network card issues, hub issue, etc.
ping helpdesk.doit.wisc.edu - can be used to see if
computer is connected to the internet by sending a packet to a known web site,
in this case the DoIT Helpdesk page.
C:\>ping helpdesk.doit.wisc.edu
Pinging helpdesk.doit.wisc.edu[144.92.9.69] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 144.92.9.69: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=254
Reply from 144.92.9.69: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=254
Reply from 144.92.9.69: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=254
Reply from 144.92.9.69: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=254
Ping statistics for 144.92.9.69:
Packets: Sent=4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 1ms, Maximum = 2ms, Average = 1ms
The tracert command is very similar to ping, and is used to
visually see a network packet being sent and received and the amount of hops
required for that packet to get to its destination. It shows you exactly how
far a packet can go before it fails. This will help you know if the connection
problem is close, or more towards the destination.
SYNTAX
tracert [-d] [-h maximum_hops] [-j host-list] [-w timeout] target_name
- -d - Do
not resolve addresses to hostnames.
- -h -
maximum_hops Maximum number of hops to search for target.
- -j -
host-list Loose source route along host-list.
- -w -
timeout Wait timeout milliseconds for each reply.
EXAMPLES
The following is an example when we
used tracert on helpdesk.doit.wisc.edu. As you can see in the below example we
had a very short list / time to get to its destination because we are so close
to the web server.
C:\>tracert helpdesk.doit.wisc.edu
Tracing route to helpdesk.doit.wisc.edu [144.92.9.69]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 2
Trace complete.
Here is another tracert to Google.com, a much further destination.
C:\>tracert www.google.com
Tracing route to google.lb.google.com [216.239.37.100]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 2 3 4 5 40 ms 40 ms 40 ms aads.above.net [206.220.243.71]
6 40 ms 30 ms 51 ms core1-core2-oc3-2.ord1.above.net [209.249.0.129]
7 40 ms 50 ms 50 ms core2-ord1-oc48.ord2.above.net [208.185.0.202]
8 50 ms 60 ms 60 ms lga1-ord2-oc48.lga1.above.net [208.185.156.158]
9 80 ms 80 ms 81 ms iad1-lga1-oc48-2.iad1.above.net [216.200.127.61]
10 90 ms 80 ms 90 ms core2-iad1-oc48.iad4.above.net [208.185.0.134]
11 80 ms 90 ms 80 ms main2colo1-core2-oc12.iad4.above.net [208.185.0 70]
12 61 ms 70 ms 60 ms 64.124.113.173.available.google.com [64.124.113 173]
13 60 ms 70 ms 60 ms 216.239.47.26
14 91 ms 100 ms 100 ms www.google.com [216.239.37.100]
Trace complete.
