There’s a good probability that if you use Windows, you’ve used the Command Prompt (CMD) a couple of times or more. Despite the Command Prompt’s intimidating appearance to some, it may be a useful tool for carrying out a variety of operations and resolving computer problems. This post will highlight 10 Windows Command Prompt (CMD) Commands You Must Know for you to use your Windows system, carry out simple maintenance chores, and even troubleshoot common issues. These commands will be useful whether you’re a seasoned Windows user or just starting started.
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1. ipconfig
You may access useful tools in the Windows Command Prompt (CMD), such as the ipconfig command, to learn more about the network settings of your machine. You may check your computer’s IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and other crucial networking information by using ipconfig.
Ipconfig is a particularly helpful command for analyzing network connectivity problems. Running ipconfig, for instance, can assist you in determining whether a problem with your computer’s network configuration, such as an invalid IP address or DNS server settings, is preventing you from connecting to the internet. Simply open the Command Prompt and type “ipconfig” followed by a space and one of the many options available, such as “/all” to display comprehensive information about all network devices or “/renew” to renew your IP address, to launch ipconfig.
2. Tracert
A helpful Windows Command Prompt (CMD) tool for tracing a packet’s route from your computer to a certain destination is the tracert command. This second Windows Command Prompt (CMD) Commands You Must Know is a useful tool for locating network delays or failures since it displays the IP address and hostname of each router or gateway that the packets transit through on the way to their destination as well as the duration of each hop.
Open CMD and type “tracert” followed by the location you wish to trace the route to in order to use the tracert command. The tracert command has a number of arguments that can be used to alter its behavior, such as configuring the number of hops to trace or translating IP addresses to host names.
3. Cipher
In Windows Command Prompt (CMD), the cipher command is used to manage and safely wipe data on hard drives. It lets you overwrite free disk space on a drive, making any previously deleted data difficult or impossible to recover. When you wish to securely erase sensitive information or block unauthorized access to deleted files, this is extremely helpful.
Open CMD and type “cipher” followed by the drive letter you wish to manage to utilize the cipher command. The cipher command can then be used with a variety of parameters to define what you want to achieve, such as “/w” to overwrite free disk space or “/e” to encrypt any drive files.
4. Powercfg
It is possible to manage and examine the power settings on your computer with the use of the powercfg function in Windows function Prompt (CMD). You can adjust power plans and regulate different power settings, such as when the computer goes to sleep or hibernates after a specific level of inactivity.
Open CMD and type “powercfg” followed by a number of arguments, such as “/list” to display a list of all available power plans or “/hibernate on” to activate hibernation, to utilize the powercfg command. The powercfg command can also be used to examine power settings and provide reports with comprehensive data on power use, battery life, and system sleep states.
5. Tasklist
You can use the tasklist command in Windows Command Prompt (CMD) to display a list of all the processes that are currently active on your computer. When trying to diagnose problems with a particular application or locate any potentially malicious or unknown processes, this can be useful.
Simply put “tasklist” into CMD to use the tasklist command. This will show a list of all currently active processes together with details such as memory utilization, process IDs (PIDs), and other data. The tasklist command also includes a number of parameters that can be used to sort or filter the results. For example, “/fi” can be used to filter the results based on a particular criterion, and “/svc” can be used to display the services that each process is linked to.
6. Ping
You can use the ping command in Windows Command Prompt (CMD) to check the connectivity of your computer with a certain IP address or domain name. You can assess the speed and dependability of the connection by sending data packets to the specified address and timing how long it takes for them to travel back and forth.
Simply open CMD and type “ping” followed by the IP address or domain name you want to test, then press Enter. This will provide the ping test results, along with the total number of packets sent and received, as well as the RTT in milliseconds.
7. Netstat
You can use the netstat command in Windows Command Prompt (CMD) to obtain details about the current network connections on your machine. It displays the current port number, local and remote IP addresses, and the status of each connection. When you want to figure out which applications or services are utilizing a specific network connection, this is especially helpful.
Open CMD and type “netstat” to execute the netstat command. This will show a list of all currently active network connections along with additional details like the protocol being used, the connection’s current status, and the process ID (PID) of the application or service linked to the connection.
8. Shutdown
You may restart or shut down your computer from the command line using the shutdown command in Windows Command Prompt (CMD). When you wish to schedule a shutdown or restart or when you need to shut down several machines at once, this is quite helpful.
Open CMD and type shutdown followed by one or more parameters, such as “/s” to shut down the machine, “/r” to restart it, or “/t” to define a delay before the shutdown or restart, to use the shutdown command. The shutdown command can also be used to compel apps to close or to display a message to users before the shutdown.
9. SFC (System File Checker)
You can use a tool called sfc (System File Checker) in Windows Command Prompt (CMD) to scan for and fix damaged system files on your computer. This is especially helpful if you believe that corrupted system files may be to blame for computer problems, such as errors or crashes.
Open CMD and type “sfc /scannow” to run the sfc command. By pressing this, a system scan to look for damaged or missing system files will be launched. The sfc command will make an effort to fix or replace any damaged files if any problems are discovered.
10. Systeminfo
You can use the systeminfo command in Windows Command Prompt (CMD) to display comprehensive details on the operating system, applications, and hardware of your machine. It shows details on the system uptime, installed hotfixes, installed operating system version, and more.
Simply put “systeminfo” into CMD to use the systeminfo command. This will show a list of specific details about your computer, such as the model and maker, the kind and speed of the processor, the quantity of RAM that is currently installed, and more.
Those are the 10 Windows Command Prompt (CMD) Commands You Must Know.
Conclusion
Learning the basics of the Windows Command Prompt is essential for anyone who wants to gain more control and efficiency over their computer. The 10 CMD commands we covered in this article are just the tip of the iceberg. Nevertheless, they represent some of the most commonly used and useful ones.
By using these commands, you can perform a variety of tasks, such as managing files and folders, diagnosing and troubleshooting problems, and executing programs quickly and easily. Understanding the Command Prompt can also help you better understand how your computer works and enhance your overall computer literacy.
In short, taking the time to familiarize yourself with these commands can be an investment in your productivity and technological literacy.