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Windows CLI

1. System Information and Environment Management

set

  • Description: Displays, sets, or removes environment variables.

  • Use Case: View system variables like PATH, USERNAME, TEMP.

  • Example:

    set
set PATH

    (Lists all or a specific environment variable)

ver

  • Description: Displays the current version of Windows.

  • Use Case: Verify OS version.

  • Example:

    ver

    (Example Output: Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.3930])

systeminfo

  • Description: Displays detailed configuration and system info.

  • Use Case: Get specs like BIOS version, RAM, domain, hotfixes.

  • Example:

    systeminfo
systeminfo | more
help

  • Description: Lists all available internal commands and syntax.

  • Use Case: Learn about a command’s usage quickly.

  • Example:

    help
help dir
cls

  • Description: Clears the terminal screen.

  • Use Case: Clean up messy output before new commands.

  • Example:

    cls

2. Network Commands

ipconfig

  • Description: Displays IP configuration for network interfaces.

  • Use Case: Troubleshoot network connectivity.

  • Example:

    ipconfig
ipconfig /all
ping

  • Description: Sends ICMP packets to test connectivity.

  • Use Case: Check if a host is reachable.

  • Example:

    ping google.com
ping 8.8.8.8 -t
tracert

  • Description: Traces the route to a network host.

  • Use Case: Identify network bottlenecks or latency.

  • Example:

    tracert google.com
nslookup

  • Description: Queries DNS servers.

  • Use Case: Check domain name resolution or DNS configuration.

  • Example:

    nslookup facebook.com
netstat

  • Description: Displays current TCP/UDP connections and ports.

  • Use Case: Analyze active connections or detect malware communication.

  • Options:

    • -a: Show all active connections and listening ports.

    • -b: Show executable responsible for each connection.

    • -n: Use numeric IPs and ports.

    • -o: Display the Process ID (PID).

    • -h: Display help.

  • Examples:

    netstat -a
netstat -b
netstat -an
netstat -o

3. Directory & File Operations

cd (Change Directory)

  • Description: Navigate between directories.

  • Example:

    cd C:\Users\Subrat\Documents
cd ..
dir

  • Description: Lists contents of the current directory.

  • Options:

    • /a: Shows hidden and system files.

    • /s: Shows contents recursively.

  • Example:

    dir
dir /a
dir /s
tree

  • Description: Graphically displays folder structure.

  • Use Case: Visualize nested folders.

  • Example:

    tree
tree D:\Projects
mkdir / md

  • Description: Creates a new folder.

  • Example:

    mkdir Reports2025
rmdir / rd

  • Description: Deletes a folder (only if it's empty).

  • Example:

    rmdir OldBackups
type

  • Description: Displays content of text files.

  • Example:

    type notes.txt
type logs.txt | more
move

  • Description: Moves files/folders to another location.

  • Example:

    move *.txt D:\TextFiles\
del or erase

  • Description: Deletes files.

  • Use Case: Delete temporary or outdated files.

  • Example:

    del temp.txt
erase *.log
copy (with wildcard)

  • Description: Copies files, can use wildcards (*) for batch copying.

  • Example:

    copy *.md C:\Markdown\

4. Task and Process Management

tasklist

  • Description: Lists all running processes.

  • Use Case: Identify running tasks, check memory usage.

  • Filter Syntax:

    tasklist /FI "imagename eq sshd.exe"
taskkill

  • Description: Terminates a running process using PID or image name.

  • Example:

    taskkill /PID 4567
taskkill /IM notepad.exe /F

5. System Health & Diagnostics

chkdsk

  • Description: Checks disk for file system errors and bad sectors.

  • Example:

    chkdsk C:
driverquery

  • Description: Lists all installed device drivers.

  • Example:

    driverquery
sfc /scannow

  • Description: Scans and repairs corrupted system files.

  • Example:

    sfc /scannow

6. Shutdown & Restart Management

shutdown
  • Purpose: Shuts down, restarts, logs off, or hibernates the system.
Command Description
shutdown /s Shutdown system
shutdown /r Restart system
shutdown /h Hibernate system
shutdown /l Log off current user
shutdown /a Abort scheduled shutdown

  • Example:

    shutdown /s /t 60
shutdown /a