| Command | Function | Available in | (3rd Party) Replacement | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOS | Win9x | WinNT..10 | OS/2 | |||
| ACINIUPD | Modify INI files (TS only) | N | N | Y | N | |
| ANSI.SYS | Text attributes, cursor & keyboard manipulation | Y | N | N | Y | 💾 ANSI.COM (DOS only TSR) |
| APPEND | Allows programs to open data files in specified directories as if they were in the current directory (DOS) | Y | Y | Y | Y | DPATH |
| ARP | Display or modify IP-to-Physical address translation tables used by ARP | N | Y | Y | Y | |
| ASSOC | Associate a file extension with a file type, or list all associations | N | N | Y | N | |
| AT | Command line scheduler | N | N | Y | Y | JT, SCHTASKS |
| ATTRIB | List & manipulate file attributes | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| AUTOFAIL | Suppress network connection error messages at startup | N | N | N | Y | |
| BACKUP | Backup files to floppy disks (requires RESTORE from the exact same DOS version) | Y | Y | N | Y | NTBACKUP, Several commercial image backup tools |
| BASICA | Basic interpreter for IBM PC-DOS | Y | N | N | N | GWBASIC, QBASIC |
| BCDEDIT | Sets properties in boot database to control boot loading (Windows 7) | N | N | W7 | N | |
| BOOTCFG | Edit Windows boot settings in BOOT.INI (XP) | N | N | XP | N | |
| BREAK | Enable/disable extended Ctrl+C checking (16-bits) | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| CACLS | Read and set file access permissions | N | N | Y | N | ICACLS (Windows 7), SECEDIT, SUBINACL, XCACLS |
| CALL | Run a batch file from within another batch file | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| CD | Show or change the current directory (same as CHDIR) | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| CDBURN | Write ISO images to CD (Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit tool) | N | N | 2K3RK | N | 💾 Image Burn |
| CERTREQ | Request certificates from a certification authority (Windows Server 2003) | N | N | Y | N | |
| CERTUTIL | Manage certificates (Windows Server 2003) | N | N | Y | N | |
| CHANGE | Change TS port mappings, install mode, or enable/disable TS logon | N | N | TS | N | |
| CHCP | Display or set the active Code Page | Y | Y | Y | Y | MODE |
| CHDIR | Show or change the current directory (same as CD) | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| CHGLOGON | Enable/disable TS logon | N | N | Y | N | |
| CHGPORT | Change TS port mappings | N | N | TS | N | |
| CHGUSR | Change TS install mode | N | N | TS | N | |
| CHKDSK | Check a disk for file system errors or bad sectors | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| CHKNTFS | Display or modify the checking of disk at boot time | N | N | Y | N | |
| CHOICE | Prompt user for to choose option from list of choices | 6 | Y | N | N | PMChoice |
| CIPHER | Display or alter the encryption of directories [files] on NTFS partitions | N | N | Y | N | |
| CLEANMGR | Automate cleanup of temporary files, IE cache, downloaded files & recycle bin (XP) | N | N | XP | N | |
| CLS | Clear the screen/window | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| CMD.EXE | Command interpreter (32-bits or 64-bits) | N | N | Y | Y | |
| CMDKEY | Manage stored user names and passwords (Windows Server 2003 and later) | N | N | 2K3 | N | |
| COLOR | Change text and background color in console | N | N | Y | N | KOLOR |
| COMMAND.COM | Command interpreter (16-bits) | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| COMP | Compare files | Y | Y | Y | Y | FC, 💾 TxtComp, WINDIFF (GUI) |
| COMPACT | Display or modify file compression on NTFS partitions | N | N | Y | N | |
| %COMSPEC% | Command interpreter specification in master environment | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| CONTROL | Start Control Panel or a Control Panel applet | N | Y | Y | Y | RUNDLL32 SHELL32.DLL,Control_RunDLL |
| CONVERT | Convert a FAT volume to NTFS | N | N | Y | N | |
| COPY | Copy files | Y | Y | Y | Y | ROBOCOPY, XCOPY |
| CPROFILE | Clean profiles of wasted space (Windows Server 2003) | N | N | 2K3 | N | |
| CSCRIPT | Console mode interpreter for VBScript/JScript | N | Y | Y | N | |
| CSVDE | Import/export data from Active Directory in CSV format | N | N | 2K | N | |
| CTTY | Redirect all input and output to a file or (serial, parallel or null) device | Y | N | N | N | |
| DATE | Display & manipulate system date | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| DEBUG | Debugger & assembler | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| DEFRAG | Locate and consolidate fragmented boot files, data files, and folders on local volumes | Y | Y | Y | N | |
| DEL | Delete one or more files | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| DELTREE | Delete an entire folder including files and subfolders | Y | Y | N | N | RD /S |
| DEVCON | Command line Device Manager (free Microsoft download) | N | N | Y | N | |
| DHCPLOC | Discover rogue DHCP servers | N | N | XP | N | |
| DIANTZ | Compress and add files to new or existing .CAB files(equivalent of MAKECAB) | N | N | Y | N | MAKECAB |
| DIR | List files & directories | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| DISKCOMP | Compare two floppy disks on a track by track basis | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| DISKCOPY | Copy a floppy disks on a track by track basis | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| DISKPART | Manipulate harddisk partitions and logical drives | N | N | 2K | N | Acronis Disk Director |
| DOSKEY | Edit or recall command lines, or create command line macros | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| DPATH | Allows programs to open data files in specified directories as if they were in the current directory (Windows 7, OS/2) | N | N | W7 | Y | APPEND |
| DRIVERQUERY | List installed drivers (Windows XP) | N | N | XP | N | |
| DSADD | Add objects to (active) directory | N | N | 2K | N | |
| DSGET | Display (active) directory object properties | N | N | 2K | N | |
| DSMOD | Modify objects in (active) directory | N | N | 2K | N | |
| DSMOVE | Move or rename objects in (active) directory | N | N | 2K | N | |
| DSQUERY | Query (active) directory | N | N | 2K | N | |
| DSRM | Remove object from (active) directory | N | N | 2K | N | |
| DVDBURN | Write ISO images to DVD (Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit tool) | N | N | 2K3RK | N | 💾 Image Burn |
| ECHO | Display text on screen | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| EDIT | Text editor in MS-DOS 5+ (requires QBASIC) | Y | Y | Y | N | EDLIN |
| EDLIN | Line editor in MS-DOS 4- | Y | N | N | N | EDIT, COPY CON, many programmers' editors |
| ENDLOCAL | Terminate local environment | N | N | Y | Y | |
| EPAL | Elevated Priviliges Application Launcher (free Microsoft download) | N | N | Y | N | RUNAS, 💾 CPAU, 💾 PSEXEC |
| ERASE | Delete one or more files | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| EVENTCREATE | Write an event in one of the event logs | N | N | XP | N | |
| EVENTQUERY.VBS | List events and event properties | N | N | XP | N | |
| EVENTTRIGGERS | Display and configure "Event Triggers" that monitor and act upon the occurrence of NT Log Events of given criteria | N | N | XP | N | |
| EXIT | Terminate a batch file or command prompt | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| EXPAND | Expand compressed files or folders on NTFS volumes | N | N | Y | Y | |
| EXPLORER | Open a folder in an Explorer window | N | Y | Y | N | |
| EXTRACT | Extract compressed files | N | Y | Y | N | 💾 7-Zip, 💾 WinRAR |
| EXE2BIN | Convert .EXE files to binary format (DOS) | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| FASTOPEN | Open DOS programs faster by memorizing their locations on disk (DOS) | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| FC | Compare files | Y | Y | Y | Y | COMP, TxtComp, WINDIFF (GUI) |
| FDISK | Manipulate harddisk partitions and logical drives | Y | Y | N | Y | DISKPART, Acronis Disk Director |
| FILEVER | Display a program file's version | N | N | Y | N | Located in the Support Tools folder on the Windows XP installation CD, 💾 download XP SP2 Support Tools |
| FIND | Search files or standard output | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| FINDRAMD | Find the RAM drive letter | N | Y | N | N | |
| FINDSTR | Search files or standard output with advanced options | N | N | Y | Y | 💾 EGREP |
| FOR | Loop through a set of files or variables | Y | Y | Y | Y | FORFILES (W2K3) |
| FORCEDOS | Force XP to start the specified program in the MS-DOS subsystem | N | N | XP | N | |
| FORFILES | Selects and executes a command on a file or set of files | N | N | 2K3 | N | FOR |
| FORMAT | Format disks (intialize file system) | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| FSUTIL | Manage FAT and NTFS file systems (XP) | N | N | XP | N | |
| FTP | File Transfer Protocol client | N | N | Y | Y | TFTP, FileZilla |
| FTYPE | Display or define the "Open" command for a file type | N | N | Y | N | |
| GETMAC | Display MAC address for local or remote network adapters (XP and later) | N | N | XP | N | 💾 MacAddr |
| GETTYPE | Queries the OS type, version or SP and returns it as an errorlevel (Resource Kit tool) | N | N | Y | N | |
| GOTO | Jump to a label or subroutine | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| GPRESULT | Enable display of extended character set in graphics mode | N | N | XP | N | |
| GRAFTABL | Enable display of extended character set in graphics mode | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| GWBASIC | Basic interpreter for MS-DOS up to version 4 | Y | N | N | N | BASICA, QBASIC |
| HELP | Display help text for a command | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| ICACLS | Display, modify, backup, or restore ACLs for files and directories (Windows 7) | N | N | W7 | N | CACLS, SECEDIT, SUBINACL, XCACLS |
| IEXPRESS | (Installation) script packager (XP) | N | N | XP | N | |
| IF | Test statement | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| IFCONFIG | Configure network adapters | N | N | N | Y | |
| INUSE | Replace locked files on the next reboot (Resource Kit tool) | N | N | Y | N | |
| IPCONFIG | Configure network adapters | N | Y | Y | N | |
| JT | Command line scheduler for Windows 2000 and later (Resource Kit utility) | N | N | 2K | N | AT, SCHTASKS |
| LABEL | Show or set a disk's volume label | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| LFNFOR | Tells the FOR command to use either "8.3" or long file names | N | Y | N | N | |
| LH | Load TSRs in high memory (same as LOADHIGH) | Y | Y | N | N | |
| LOADHIGH | Load TSRs in high memory (same as LH) | Y | Y | N | N | |
| LOCK | Grant 16-bits DOS programs direct access to a disk | N | Y | N | N | |
| LOGMAN | Command line Performance Monitor management tool | N | N | W2K8 | N | |
| LOGOFF | Logoff/terminate Windows TS sessions or (local) OS/2 | N | N | TS | Y | |
| MAKECAB | Compress and add files to new or existing .CAB files (equivalent of DIANTZ) | N | N | Y | N | DIANTZ |
| MD | Create a new (sub)directory (same as MKDIR) | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| MEM | Check memory usage (MS-DOS and 16-bits sessions only) | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| MKDIR | Create a new (sub)directory (same as MD) | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| MKLINK | Create a symbolic link | N | N | W7 | N | 💾JUNCTION |
| MODE | Configures system devices | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| MORE | Displays output one screen at a time | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| MOUNTVOL | Create, delete or list volume mount points (XP) | N | N | XP | N | |
| MOVE | Move or rename files or folders | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| MSD | Query for basic system configuration information (MS-DOS 6 & 7) | Y | Y | N | N | several (commercial) system inventory tools |
| MSG | Send a popup message to TS users/sessions | N | N | TS | N | |
| MSIEXEC | Install, modify, and perform operations on Windows Installer from the command line | N | Y | Y | N | |
| MSINFO32 | Query for basic system configuration information (Windows 2000+) | N | Y | 2K | N | SYSTEMINFO, WINMSD, several (commercial) system inventory tools |
| NBTSTAT | Display protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT | N | N | Y | N | |
| NET | Command line NetBIOS tool | N | Y | Y | Y | |
| NETDOM | Manage domains and trust relationships (join computers to a domain, rename computers, and more) | N | N | XP | N | |
| NETSH | Command line network configuration tool for Windows XP and later | N | N | XP | N | |
| NETSTAT | Command line NetBIOS tool | N | Y | Y | Y | |
| NLTEST | Command line Netlogon management tool | N | N | XP | N | |
| NOTEPAD | Text editor (GUI editing, command line & GUI printing) | N | Y | Y | N | Many programmers' editors |
| NSLOOKUP | Diagnose DNS infrastructure | N | N | Y | N | (PING -a for finding host names) |
| NTBACKUP | Backup files to any Windows supported media | N | N | Y | N | Several commercial image backup tools |
| OCSETUP | Windows Optional Component Setup (Windows 7) | N | N | Vista | N | |
| ODBCCONF | MDAC ODBC configuration tool | N | N | Y | N | |
| OPENFILES | List or disconnect open files and folders | N | N | Y | N | |
| PATH | Display or change the program search path | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| PATHPING | Extended PING utility | N | N | 2K | N | TRACERT |
| PAUSE | Wait until a key is pressed | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| PENTNT | Detects floating point division error (if present) in the Pentium chip, disables floating point hardware, and turns on floating point emulation | N | N | Y | N | |
| PING | Check the TCP/IP connection to a remote IP address | N | Y | Y | Y | |
| PING6 | IPv6 version of PING | N | N | Y | N | |
| PKGMGR | Command line package manager | N | N | Vista | N | |
| POPD | Move back to the last directory that was "pushed" on the stack by PUSHD | N | N | Y | Y | |
| POWERCFG | Configure power management (Windows Server 2003) | N | N | 2K3 | Y | |
| Print a text file | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||
| PRINTUI.EXE | Shorthand command for RUNDLL32 PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry (Windows 7) | Y | Y | W7 | Y | |
| PRNCFG.VBS | Configure or display printer configuration information | N | N | 2K | N | |
| PRNDRVR.VBS | Add, delete, or list printer drivers | N | N | 2K | N | |
| PRNJOBS.VBS | Pause, resume, cancel, or list print jobs | N | N | 2K | N | |
| PRNMNGR.VBS | Add, delete, or lists printers or printer connections; set or display default printer | N | N | 2K | N | |
| PRNPORT.VBS | Create, delete, or lists standard TCP/IP printer ports; display or change port configuration | N | N | 2K | N | |
| PRNQCTL.VBS | Print a test page; pause or resume a printer; clear a printer queue | N | N | 2K | N | |
| PROMPT | Configure the DOS prompt string | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| PUBPRN.VBS | Publish a printer in Active Directory | N | N | 2K | N | |
| PUSHD | Move to a new directory, "pushing" the current directory on the stack | N | N | Y | Y | |
| QAPPSRV | Query available TS application servers | N | N | TS | N | |
| QBASIC | Basic interpreter for MS-DOS 5+ | Y | N | N | N | BASICA, GWBASIC |
| QCHAIN | Install multiple hotfixes with only a single reboot | N | N | Y | N | |
| QFARM | Query local TS farm | N | N | TS | N | |
| QPROCESS | Query TS servers for running processes | N | N | TS | N | |
| QSERVER | Query available ICA-enabled TS servers | N | N | TS | N | |
| QUERY | Query TS resources | N | N | TS | N | |
| QUSER | Query logged on TS users | N | N | TS | N | |
| QWINSTA | Query TS sessions | N | N | TS | N | |
| RASDIAL | Use existing RAS/DUN connections | N | N | Y | N | |
| RASPHONE | Manage RAS/DUN connections | N | N | Y | N | |
| RD | Remove a (sub)directory (same as RMDIR) | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| READLINE | Read a single line from standard output | N | N | N | Y | |
| RECIMG | Configures the recovery image Windows uses to refresh your PC | N | N | W7 | N | |
| RECOVER | Recover readable information from a bad or defective disk (may sometimes destroy other files in the process) | Y | Y | Y | Y | 💾 STRINGS, Several commercial undelete & file recovery tools |
| REG | Read and write the registry (W2K and later) | N | N | 2K | N | |
| REGEDIT | Read and write the registry (GUI as well as command line) | N | Y | Y | Y | |
| REGEDT32 | Read and write the registry (includes setting access permissions) | N | N | Y | N | REG, REGEDIT, SECEDIT |
| REGINI | Read and write the registry, including permissions (NT4 Resource Kit, native in XP) | N | N | Y | N | SUBINACL, SECEDIT |
| REGSVR32 | Register .DLL & .OCX files as command components in the registry | N | N | Y | N | |
| REM | Insert comment line | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| REN | Rename a file or folder (same as RENAME) | Y | Y | Y | Y | 💾 Bulk Rename Command, 💾 Bulk Rename (GUI) |
| RENAME | Rename a file or folder (same as REN) | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| REPLACE | Copy only files that already exist in the target directory, or copy only files that don't exist yet | Y | Y | Y | Y | XCOPY /U |
| RESET SESSION | Reset TS session subsystem defaults | N | N | TS | N | |
| RESTORE | Restore files backed up with BACKUP (from the exact same DOS version) | Y | Y | N | Y | NTBACKUP, Several commercial image backup tools |
| RMDIR | Remove a (sub)directory (same as RD) | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| ROBOCOPY | Copy directories, optionally including subdirectory trees and/or permissions, and optionally deleting removed files in the target directory (Resource Kit utility, native in Windows 7) | N | N | Y | N | |
| ROUTE | Display and modify the entries in the local IP routing table | N | N | Y | Y | |
| RUNAS | Run a command with different credentials (will always prompt for a password; use CPAU if you need to make this unattended) | N | N | 2K | N | 💾 CPAU, EPAL, 💾 PSEXEC, 💾 RunAs Pro |
| RUNDLL | Command line wrapper for 16-bit DLL routines | N | Y | Y | Y | |
| RUNDLL32 | Command line wrapper for 32-bit DLL routines | N | Y | Y | N | |
| SC | Command line services managment (XP) | N | N | 2K | N | SERVICES.MSC (GUI), SUBINACL |
| SCHTASKS | Command line task scheduler (XP) | N | N | XP | N | AT, JT |
| SECEDIT | Configure and analyze system security by comparing your current configuration to a template (Windows 2000+) | N | N | 2K | N | CACLS, ICACLS (Windows 7), REGINI, SUBINACL, XCACLS |
| SET | Manipulate environment variables | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| SETLOCAL | Start local environment | N | N | Y | Y | |
| SFC | Scans the integrity of all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct ones. | N | N | 2K | N | |
| SHADOW | Monitor or take over a TS session | N | N | TS | N | |
| SHELL | Primary command interpreter specification in CONFIG.SYS | Y | Y | N | Y | |
| SHIFT | Parse command line variables in batch files | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| SHUTDOWN | Shutdown a computer (Resource Kit utility for NT 4 and 2000, native in XP and later) | N | N | Y | N | TSSHUTDN, 💾 PSSHUTDOWN |
| SORT | Read a file or standard input and return it sorted alphabetically | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| START | Run a command in a separate process, or run a file with its default associated application | N | Y | Y | Y | |
| SUBINACL | Display/modify ACEs for file and folder permissions, ownership and domain (Resource Kit utility) | N | N | Y | N | CACLS, ICACLS (Windows 7), REGINI, SC, SECEDIT, XCACLS |
| SUBST | Associate or disassociate a drive alias with a path | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| SYSTEMINFO | Query for basic system configuration information | N | N | XP | N | WINMSD, several (commercial) system inventory tools |
| TASKKILL | Kill an active process (XP) | N | N | XP | N | 💾 PSKILL |
| TASKLIST | List active processes (XP) | N | N | XP | N | 💾 PSLIST |
| TIME | Display & manipulate system time | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| TITLE | Set the window title for the command prompt window | N | N | Y | N | |
| TRACERT | Analyze the response times on the route to a remote IP address | N | Y | Y | N | |
| TRACERT6 | IPv6 version of TRACERT | N | N | Y | N | |
| TRACERTE | Analyze the response times on the route to a remote IP address (OS/2) | N | N | N | Y | |
| TREE | "Graphically" display the folder structure of a drive or path | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| TRUENAME | Display the real fully qualified path | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| TSCON | Attach a TS user session to a terminal session | N | N | TS | N | |
| TSDISCON | Disconnect a TS terminal session | N | N | TS | N | |
| TSKILL | Terminate a process in a TS session | N | N | TS | N | 💾 PSKILL |
| TSPROF | Copy/update TS user configuration information | N | N | TS | N | |
| TSSHUTDN | Shut down or reboot a TS server | N | N | TS | N | 💾 PSSHUTDOWN |
| TYPE | Display text file content in console | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| TZCHANGE | Configure/edit time zones | N | N | XP | N | |
| UNLOCK | Revoke 16-bits direct disk access granted by the LOCK command | N | Y | N | N | |
| VER | Display the OS version | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| VERIFY | Enable/disable verification of disk write operations | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| VHDMOUNT | Mount and access VHD files as virtual disk drives (part of Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1) | N | N | 2K | N | |
| VOL | Display a disk's volume label | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| WIAACMGR | Start the scanner's "New scan" dialog |
N | N | W7 | N | |
| WINMSD | Query for basic system configuration information (for Windows NT 4; in Windows 2000 WINMSD was replaced by MSINFO32) | N | N | NT4 | N | MSINFO32, SYSTEMINFO, several (commercial) system inventory tools |
| WINMSDP | Command line helper tool for WINMSD | N | N | NT4 | N | |
| WINSAT | Assess various features, capabilities, and attributes of a computer (Windows Vista and later) | N | N | Y | N | |
| WMIC | Query & manipulate objects in WMI (Windows XP Pro and later) | N | N | Y | N | |
| WSCRIPT | GUI mode interpreter for VBScript/JScript | N | Y | Y | N | |
| WUPDMGR | Start Windows Update | N | Y | 2K/XP | N | Use CONTROL /Name Microsoft.WindowsUpdate for Windows 7..10 |
| XCACLS | Read and set file access permissions (improved CACLS from the Resource Kits) | Y | Y | Y | Y | CACLS, ICACLS (Windows 7), SECEDIT, 💾 SUBINACL |
| XCOPY | Copy files & directories with advanced options | Y | Y | Y | Y | ROBOCOPY, 💾 XXCOPY |
| Notes: | (1) | This list is by no means complete. Only a selection of all commands that can be run in unattended mode from the command line is listed. For a complete list, download and run my AllHelp.vbs (or AllHelp.bat) to create your own custom version of allhelp.html. |
| (2) | Not all commands are available in all OS versions: CHOICE for example, is available in MS-DOS versions 6.* and 7.* (Windows 95/98) only, TSSHUTDN and other TS commands are available only on Terminal Servers and TS client PCs, DSADD and other AD commands are available only on Active Directory servers and client PCs with the Windows 2000/2003 administrator tools ADMINPAK.MSI) installed, etc. | |
| (3) | For an up-to-date listing of commands available in the latest Windows versions, see Microsoft's Command-line reference A-Z. | |
| (4) | To everyone who sent me corrections: thanks for helping me keep this list accurate. |
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