DOS and Windows command line
overview
Below is a full list of each of the MS-DOS and Windows
command line commands listed on Computer Hope with a brief
explanation. This list contains every command ever made
available, which means not all the commands are going to
work with your version of MS-DOS or Windows. Click the
command to view a full help page.
Command Description Type
ansi.sys Defines functions that change display File
graphics, control cursor movement,
and reassign keys.
append Causes MS-DOS to look in other External
directories when editing a file or
running a command.
arp Displays, adds, and External
removes arp information from
network devices.
assign Assign a drive letter to an alternate External
letter.
assoc View the file associations. Internal
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at Schedule a time to execute External
commands or programs.
atmadm Lists connections and addresses seen Internal
by Windows ATM (ascynchronous
transfer mode) call manager.
attrib Display and change file attributes. External
batch Recovery console command that Recovery
executes several commands in a file.
bcdedit Modify the boot configuration data External
store.
bootcfg Recovery console command that Recovery
allows a user to view, modify, and
rebuild the boot.ini file.
break Enable and disable Ctrl+C feature. Internal
cacls View and modify file ACL's. External
call Calls a batch file from another batch Internal
file.
cd Changes directories. Internal
chcp Supplement the External
international keyboard and character
set information.
chdir Changes directories. Internal
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chkdsk Check the hard drive running FAT (file External
allocation table) for errors.
chkntfs Check the hard drive External
running NTFS (NTFS file system) for
errors.
choice Specify a listing of multiple options External
within a batch file.
clip Redirect command line output to the External
Windows clipboard.
cls Clears the screen. Internal
cmd Opens the command-line Internal
interpreter called command.com.
color Change Internal
the foreground and background color
of the MS-DOS window.
command Opens the command interpreter. Internal
comp Compares files. External
compact Compresses and uncompress files. External
control Open Control Panel icons from the External
MS-DOS prompt.
convert Convert FAT to NTFS. External
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copy Copy one or more files to an alternate Internal
location.
ctty Change the computer's input/output Internal
devices.
date View or change the systems date. Internal
debug Debug utility to create assembly External
language programs to modify
hardware settings.
defrag Re-arrange the hard drive to help with External
loading programs.
del Deletes one or more files. Internal
delete Recovery console command that Internal
deletes a file.
deltree Deletes one or more files or External
directories.
dir List the contents of one or Internal
more directory.
disable Recovery console command that Recovery
disables Windows system services or
drivers.
diskcomp Compare a disk with another disk. External
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diskcopy Copy the contents of one disk and External
place them on another disk.
dism Command for enumerating, installs, External
uninstalls, configures, and updates
features and packages in Windows
images.
doskey Command to view and execute External
commands that were ran in the past.
dosshell A GUI (graphical user interface) to External
help with early MS-DOS users.
driverquery Display a list of installed device External
drivers.
drivparm Enables overwrite of original device Internal
drivers.
echo Displays messages and enables and Internal
disables echo.
edit View and edit files. External
edlin View and edit files. External
emm386 Load extended memory manager. External
enable Recovery console command to enable Recovery
a disable service or driver.
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endlocal Stops the localization of the Internal
environment changes enabled by
the setlocal command.
erase Erase files from the computer. Internal
exit Exit from the command interpreter. Internal
expand Expand a Microsoft Windows file back External
to its original format.
extract Extract files from the Microsoft External
Windows cabinets.
fasthelp Displays a listing of MS-DOS External
commands and information about
them.
fc Compare files. External
fdisk Setup drive by create and External
managing partitions on the hard
drive.
find Search for text within a file. External
findstr Searches for a string of text within a External
file.
fixboot Writes a new boot sector. Recovery
fixmbr Writes a new boot record to a disk Recovery
drive.
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for Boolean used in batch files. Internal
format Command to erase and prepare a disk External
drive.
ftp Command to connect and operate on External
an FTP (file transfer protocol) server.
fType Displays or modifies file types used Recovery
in file extension associations.
goto Moves a batch file to a Internal
specific label or location.
graftabl Show extended characters in graphics External
mode.
help Display a listing of commands and External
brief explanation.
if Allows for batch files to perform Internal
conditional processing.
ifshlp.sys 32-bit file manager. External
ipconfig Network command to view network External
adapter settings and assigned values.
keyb Change layout of keyboard. External
label Change the label of a disk drive. External
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lh Load a device driver in to high Internal
memory.
listsvc Recovery console command that Recovery
displays the services and drivers.
loadfix Load a program above the first 64 k. External
loadhigh Load a device driver in to high Internal
memory.
lock Lock the hard drive. Internal
logoff Logoff the currently profile using the External
computer.
logon Recovery console command to list Recovery
installations and
enable administrator login.
map Displays the device name of a drive. Recovery
md Command to create a new directory. Internal
mem Display memory on system. External
mkdir Command to create a new directory. Internal
mklink Creates a symbolic link. Internal
mode Modify the port or display settings. External
more Display one page at a time. External
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move Move one or more files from one Internal
directory to another directory.
msav Early Microsoft virus scanner. External
msd Diagnostics utility. External
mscdex Utility used to load and access External
the CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-
Only Memory).
nbtstat Displays protocol statistics and External
current TCP/IP connections
using NBT (NetBIOS over TCP/IP).
net Update, fix, or view the network or External
network settings.
netsh Configure dynamic and static network External
information from MS-DOS.
netstat Display the TCP/IP network protocol External
statistics and information.
nlsfunc Load country specific information. External
nslookup Look up an IP address of a domain or External
host on a network.
path View and modify the Internal
computer's path location.
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pathping View and locate locations of External
network latency.
pause Command used in batch files to stop Internal
the processing of a command.
ping Test and send information to another External
network computer or network device.
popd Changes to the directory or network Internal
path stored by the pushd command.
power Conserve power with computer External
portables.
print Prints data to a printer port. External
prompt View and change the MS-DOS prompt. Internal
pushd Stores a directory or network path in Internal
memory so it can be returned to at
any time.
qbasic Open the QBasic. External
rd Removes an empty directory. Internal
ren Renames a file or directory. Internal
rename Renames a file or directory. Internal
rmdir Removes an empty directory. Internal
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robocopy A robust file copy command for the External
Windows command line.
route View and configure Windows External
network route tables.
runas Enables users to run a program as a External
different user.
sc Communicate with the Service Control External
Manager and services.
scandisk Run the ScanDisk utility. External
scanreg Scan registry and recover registry External
from errors.
set Change one variable or string to Internal
another.
setlocal Enables local environments to be Internal
changed without affecting anything
else.
setver Change MS-DOS version to trick older External
MS-DOS programs.
share Installs support for file sharing and External
locking capabilities.
shift Changes the position of Internal
replaceable parameters in a batch
program.
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shutdown Shutdown the computer from the MS- External
DOS prompt.
smartdrv Create a disk cache in conventional External
memory or extended memory.
sort Sorts the input and displays the External
output to the screen.
start Start a separate window in Windows Internal
from the MS-DOS prompt.
subst Substitute a directory on your External
computer for another drive letter.
switches Remove add functions from MS-DOS. Internal
sys Transfer system files to disk drive. External
telnet Telnet to another computer or device External
from the prompt.
time View or modify the system time. Internal
title Change the title of their MS-DOS Internal
window.
tracert Visually view a network packets route External
across a network.
tree View a visual tree of the hard drive. External
type Display the contents of a file. Internal
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undelete Undelete a file that was deleted. External
unformat Unformat a hard drive. External
unlock Unlock a disk drive. Internal
ver Display the version information. Internal
verify Enables or disables the feature to Internal
determine if files were written
properly.
vol Displays the volume information Internal
about the designated drive.
xcopy Copy multiple files, directories, or External
drives from one location to another.
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