Think you know it all, huh!? Talking about Windows commands… Look at the list below and think twice! 
Here is the list of Windows "keyboard" commands that come very handy when working with (mostly fixing or configuring) something in Windows. Quick example on how to run these commands: go to "Start -> Run" type the command name, and … magic! a corresponding GUI window appears in front of your eyes!
For example to see "network connections" window all you need to do is to go to "Start -> Run", type "ncpa.cpl" and click Enter as shown above – that’s all!
Here is the magic list of commands compiled by xakep.ru and updated by me. Enjoy:
| Accessibility Controls | access.cpl |
| Add Hardware Wizard | hdwwiz.cpl |
| Add/Remove Programs | appwiz.cpl |
| Administrative Tools | control admintools |
| Automatic Updates | wuaucpl.cpl |
| Bluetooth Transfer Wizard | fsquirt |
| Calculator | calc |
| Certificate Manager | certmgr.msc |
| Character Map | charmap |
| Check Disk Utility | chkdsk |
| Clipboard Viewer | clipbrd |
| Command Prompt | cmd |
| Component Services | dcomcnfg |
| Computer Management | compmgmt.msc |
| Control Panel | control panel |
| Date and Time Properties | timedate.cpl |
| DDE Share | ddeshare |
| Device Manager | devmgmt.msc |
| Direct X Control Panel (If Installed)* | directx.cpl |
| Direct X Troubleshooter | dxdiag |
| Disk Cleanup Utility | cleanmgr |
| Disk Defragment | dfrg.msc |
| Disk Management | diskmgmt.msc |
| Disk Partition Manager | diskpart |
| Display Properties | control desktop |
| Display Properties | desk.cpl |
| Display Properties (w/Appearance Tab Preselected) | control color |
| Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility | drwtsn32 |
| Driver Verifier Utility | verifier |
| Event Viewer | eventvwr.msc |
| File Signature Verification Tool | sigverif |
| Findfast | findfast.cpl |
| Folders Properties | control folders |
| Fonts | control fonts |
| Fonts Folder | fonts |
| Free Cell Card Game | freecell |
| Game Controllers | joy.cpl |
| Group Policy Editor (XP Prof) | gpedit.msc |
| Hearts Card Game | mshearts |
| Iexpress Wizard | iexpress |
| Indexing Service | ciadv.msc |
| Internet Properties | inetcpl.cpl |
| IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration) | ipconfig /all |
| IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents) | ipconfig /displaydns |
| IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents) | ipconfig /flushdns |
| IP Configuration (Release All Connections) | ipconfig /release |
| IP Configuration (Renew All Connections) | ipconfig /renew |
| IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS) | ipconfig /registerdns |
| IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID) | ipconfig /showclassid |
| IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID) | ipconfig /setclassid |
| Java Control Panel (If Installed) | jpicpl32.cpl |
| Java Control Panel (If Installed) | javaws |
| Keyboard Properties | control keyboard |
| Local Security Settings | secpol.msc |
| Local Users and Groups | lusrmgr.msc |
| Logs You Out Of Windows | logoff |
| Microsoft Chat | winchat |
| Minesweeper Game | winmine |
| Mouse Properties | control mouse |
| Mouse Properties | main.cpl |
| Network Connections | control netconnections |
| Network Connections | ncpa.cpl |
| Network Setup Wizard | netsetup.cpl |
| Notepad | notepad |
| Nview Desktop Manager (If Installed) | nvtuicpl.cpl |
| Object Packager | packager |
| ODBC Data Source Administrator | odbccp32.cpl |
| On Screen Keyboard | osk |
| Opens AC3 Filter (If Installed) | ac3filter.cpl |
| Password Properties | password.cpl |
| Performance Monitor | perfmon.msc |
| Performance Monitor | perfmon |
| Phone and Modem Options | telephon.cpl |
| Power Configuration | powercfg.cpl |
| Printers and Faxes | control printers |
| Printers Folder | printers |
| Private Character Editor | eudcedit |
| Quicktime (If Installed) | QuickTime.cpl |
| Regional Settings | intl.cpl |
| Registry Editor | regedit |
| Registry Editor | regedit32 |
| Remote Desktop | mstsc |
| Removable Storage | ntmsmgr.msc |
| Removable Storage Operator Requests | ntmsoprq.msc |
| Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof) | rsop.msc |
| Scanners and Cameras | sticpl.cpl |
| Scheduled Tasks | control schedtasks |
| Security Center | wscui.cpl |
| Services | services.msc |
| Shared Folders | fsmgmt.msc |
| Shuts Down Windows | shutdown |
| Sounds and Audio | mmsys.cpl |
| Spider Solitare Card Game | spider |
| SQL Client Configuration | cliconfg |
| System Configuration Editor | sysedit |
| System Configuration Utility | msconfig |
| System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately) | sfc /scannow |
| System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot) | sfc /scanonce |
| System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot) | sfc /scanboot |
| System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Setting) | sfc /revert |
| System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache) | sfc /purgecache |
| System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to size x) | sfc /cachesize=x |
| System Properties | sysdm.cpl |
| Task Manager | taskmgr |
| Telnet Client | telnet |
| User Account Management | nusrmgr.cpl |
| Utility Manager | utilman |
| Windows Explorer | explorer |
| Windows Firewall | firewall.cpl |
| Windows Magnifier | magnify |
| Windows Management Infrastructure | wmimgmt.msc |
| Windows System Security Tool | syskey |
| Windows Update Launches | wupdmgr |
| Windows Version | winver |
| Windows XP Tour Wizard | tourstart |
| Wordpad | write |
Think you don’t need that cause you use Linux or Mac? Well, I use Ubuntu myself, but guess what – still deal with Windows machines on a daily bases, and trust me – Windows is not going anywhere… well at least untilt tomorrow it is not 
quite a list, man – thx!
I like “winver” a lot, cause on the old and faulty Windows box it takes time to retrieve this info with mouse.
Like it! “tourstart” is cool – I’ll use it next time I am in a computer store (BestBuy…) or malls- should be fun to load all the PCs with it
Who needs this crap!?
Windows is obsolete the way I look at it. I love my Mac, and do not interact with MS PCs anymore, which makes me very happy!
This is a very nice list, however it misses som stuff like “iexplorer” for Internet Explorer, etc..
Well, yea – make sure you can type “firefox” alright, and forget “iexplorer”
MAC’S SUCK ASS. I’m sorry, but they do. I use Unbuntu. iexplorer doesn’t open a browser, dumbass. BTW, If you don’t use firefox, you are in fact computer retarded.
The irony kills me. Get a life twat.
wtf wrote:
“MAC’S SUCK ASS. I’m sorry, but they do. I use Unbuntu. iexplorer doesn’t open a browser, dumbass. BTW, If you don’t use firefox, you are in fact computer retarded.”
@Jenk Yoki & Edward Ten:
Actually, it’s not ‘iexplorer;’ it’s ‘iexplore.’
Great list. Thanks-
Sucks to be you Mac and Linux users. I’m going to play the latest cutting edge games while you stare at your desktop! Suck it!
J/K =)
Instead of making idiot remarks about other peoples OS why don’t you give reasons why you think it’s better than any other OS. I’ve used linux a lot BUT I can’t get any of the games I play to work no matter what. (Yes i’ve used wine). I’ve never used a mac before simply because.. Why? My windows box can do anything a mac can do for what I need it for. But that doesn’t mean I won’t love it if I ever get the opportunity to get one! Anyway good article.
There’s a program that let’s you make you own commands: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Programming/Other-Programming-Files/Batch-File-Maker.shtml
@tsk tsk- u tried Cedega? yea u have to pay for it but i hear its good for making game work on linux.
my personal choice for gaming tho is my 360 leaving my linux pc for game programming ^^
@drezta
Thanks for the tip. I checked it out (cedega) and it seems to be 55 dollars a year, or 5 dollars a month depending on your options.
As for consoles I have no money haha. I’m currently going to school for computer networking and have a 3 year old and another on the way! I’m still trying to scrape money to take my certifications! So maybe in a year or so I can get a console. Everybody else I know has a PS3 or 360 and I’m jealous.
@ Andrew
Thanks I’ll have to check it out
I think it’s great that the on screen keyboard has a shortcut except for the fact that if you need the on screen keyboard you can’t type in the shortcut lol
I’ve never published my personal list except for on a private forum of mine but you guys may like, I apologize for duplicates from above but I’m not going to go through to delete all the duplicates:
Firefox Shortcuts
Spacebar (page down)
Shift-Spacebar (page up)
Ctrl+K (go to search box)
Ctrl+L (go to address bar)
Ctrl+F (find)
Alt-N (find next)
Ctrl+D (bookmark page)
Ctrl+T (new tab)
Ctrl+= (increase text size)
Ctrl+- (decrease text size)
Ctrl-W (close tab)
F5 (reload)
Alt-Home (go to home page)
Go to the address bar (Control-L) and type the name of the site without the “www” or the “.com”. Let’s say “google”. Then press Control-Enter, and it will automatically fill in the “www” and the “.com” and take you there – like magic! For .net addresses, press Shift-Enter, and for .org addresses, press Control-Shift-Enter.
Open a command window executing a command leaving window up
cmd /k commandhere
ex: cmd /k ipconfig
tip: combine multiple commands with & ipconfig & ping 192.168.1.1
View Last Reboot Time
net statistics server | more
Open a command window executing a command closing window
cmd /c commandhere
ex: cmd /c ipconfig>C:\ipconfig.txt (saves ipconfig to ipconfig.txt then closes cmd window)
Run a program as another user
runas /user:domain\username appname
ex: runas /user:jeffk cmd.exe
Tip: it’s useful to open a cmd.exe and run all your commands from this cmd.exe as all children will be ran with it’s credentials. Then just goto task manager and right click the cmd.exe and kill the tree so you don’t leave any privledged programs up
Tip2: Since you can’t do a runas on explorer.exe you can run internet explorer with runas credentials and then type the path in like C: in the location bar you then are effectively in a runas of explorer
Note: You must have the Secondary Logon Service on for this to work
Reset a local users Password:
net user USERNAME *
ex: net user jeffk *
Remote Desktop into Console of specific computer
Mstsc /v:computername /console
Ex: mstsc /v:deserver /console
Map a network Drive
Net use drivename: \\server\share
Net use z: \\daserver\music
Force network credentials
Net use \\server\sharename /user:domain\user
Ex: net user \\daserver\music /user:jeffk
Tip: Before using this you may want to issue net use * /d to delete previously stored credentials, or you can view your credentials by just typing net use
Find Current Hostname
In cmd.exe type hostname
Tip:use cmd /k hostname from run
Windows Key Shortcuts
Windows+D (Show Desktop)
Windows+R (Same as clicking start>Run)
Windows+L (Lock Computer)
Windows+Pause/Break (System Properties)
Windows+E (Explorer)
Misc Shortcuts
\ – When typed at the Run dialog brings you to your root drive.
Home/End – Begining/End of line, not really a shortcut but overlooked
Ctrl+Home/End – Position the cursor to the very first/last position in the file.
F2 – Rename A file (while file is selected)
F3 Open Search/Find
Shift+F5 (Refresh Page and Cache in IE)
F4 Pull down drop down list in explorer
F6 Select Location Bar in IE and firefox
Shift+Del – Delete with sending to recycling bin
Ctrl+H Is Search & Replace in most editors
Alt+Space (Bring Up Minimize Maximize context window)
Ctrl+Esc (Windows Key Equivalent)
Ctrl+Alt+End (Send Ctrl+Alt+Del to remote desktop)
Ctrl+Shift+Esc (Task Manager)
Ctrl+Ins (Copy Text from Message Box)
Alt+Printscreen (Printscreen only the focused window)
Ctrl+Arrow Key (Left or Right) (Move the cursor over one word at a time, hold shift also to select the words)
ALT+Double Click on an Icon (Open Properties)
Ctrl+Drag (Copy Whatever is selected to dropped location, works on text, files, icons…)
Ctrl+Scroll Wheel (Increase/Decrease font size in IE/Firefox)
Ctrl+Enter in the location bar in IE (adds www. and .com to whatever you typed)
Ctrl+G Takes you to a specific line in notepad
Regjump from sysinternals (jumps you to a specific key in the registry)
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Miscellaneous/Regjump.mspx
Put regjump.exe in your %windir%\system32 folder…
Start>run regjump keyname
Ex: regjump hklm\software
Environmental Variables (use these at start>run to quickly goto or anywhere in explorer) (Also see This)
Tip: Type set to see your variables
%windir%
%systemdrive%
%appdata%
%userprofile%
%programfiles%
%allusersprofile%
Start>Run>system or Start>Run>system32 {enter} to bring up the corresponding folder
Tip: Sadly some people don’t know that when asked to save you can type in a drive letter or an environmental variable and press enter it’ll take you to that folder/drive then you can specify a filename to save.
Tip2: When Saving a file if you type the filename in quotes it doesn’t matter what you select in the drop down list to save as so put like “blah.cmd” in notepad when saving it and it’ll save it as .cmd not .txt without having to select *.* from the drop down
Tip3: In explorer when saving or opening you can filter them by typing *.extension. For example to view only mp3 files type *.mp3 and press enter
Tip4:
In explorer make sure one icon is selected then just start typing the filename and it’ll take you to it.
Tip5: The icons in the top left of the title bar in explorer are fully functional, so if you right click it you’ll have the same options as if you’d right click the folder up a level.
Create a new folder
Do this in sequence: Right Click>press w>press f
Create a new text file
Do this in sequence: Right Click>press w>press t
For all the commands below click Start>Run or press Windows+R then type the following:
Control Panel Applets
appwiz.cpl (Add/Remove Programs)
ncpa.cpl (Network Connections)
sysdm.cpl (System)
nusrmgr.cpl (User Account Management)
desk.cpl (Display Properties)
inetcpl.cpl (Internet Settings)
powercfg.cpl (Power Configuration Settings)
firewall.cpl (Firewall Settings)
Domain Administration (Install support tools)
dsa.msc (Active Directory Users and computers)
dssite.msc (Active Directory Sites & Services)
adsiedit.msc (ADSI edit)
wuauclt /detectnow (automatically detect if new WSUS updates are available)
GPResult (Resultant Set of Policy)
Gpupdate /force /boot /logoff /target:computername
dsquery computer -name %hostname% (Find the OU the computer resides in)
dsquery user -name %username% (Finds the OU the user resides in)
dsquery computer -desc “text here*” (Finds a computer name based on info in the desc)
Other MMC stuff
fsmgmt.msc (Shared Folders)
compmgmt.msc (Computer Management)
gpedit.msc (Policy Editor)
devmgmt.msc (Device Manager)
diskmgmt.msc (Disk Management)
lusrmgr.msc (Local User Management)
Misc Run Commands
shutdown –a (Abort a shutdown)
control (Open the Control Panel)
control folders (Folder Options)
control printers (Printer Folder)
logoff (Log Off Windows)
eventvwr (Event Viewer)
winver (Show Your Version Of Windows)
firefox
photoshop
excel
winword
nero
pbrush – Microsoft Paint
taskmgr – Task Manager
tasklist – Task Manager
wmplayer (Windows Media Player)
odbcad32 (ODBC Administrator)
sndvol32 – Launch Volume control
osk – On Screen Keyboard
control schedtasks – Scheduled Tasks
wupdmgr – Launch windows update
Thank you “kacklinator”, great list! Feels like there is a lot of your own time behind it..
It really is a very cool addition to my post – thank you!
Toly
In Windows XP Pro you can type
wmic csproduct > csproduct.txt
This creates a text file with info about your PC System info like Motherboard type and serial number, etc.
wmic cpu > cpu.txt (gives alot of info about your processor(s))
Type WMIC /? for all the nifty things you can query on your PC. Some of the information is displayed in a very wide format so it’s good to pipe it into a txt file so you can scroll to the right.
Good one. Thank you for all these commands!
Very cool I like it so much Good work
nice stuff yo
http://squidoo.com/japanesegrammar89/
Very nice. I have needed some of these in the past. thanks
kacklinator
great list! you just give me a lot a very useful tips, thank you very much
The original post is good but it´s a little easier to find, thanks anyway
Great list. Thanks!
There is one more command to direct bootup without typing password: just type “Control Userpasswords2″ without “.
nice list, probably handy when i need to fix something, but surely I wont remember where i founf it when that happens..
omg, can we not talk about which is the best OS? whatever, let each one use the one they like! man…
I own 8 Windows computers (3 laptops, a couple servers, 3 desktops) with O/S incl Vista, XP, Win2k, WinME. I also own 2 MACs … OSX (MacBookPro) and OS 8.5
Before I get flamed with wise-ass questions like “why?”, it’s because I’m a network engineer and use this home network to recreate real world problems.
Bottom line is that MACs are essentially for simplistic people that don’t “Get it”. If you crawled out from under a rock yesterday and do not have the mind/will to invest in a learning curve, the MAC is for you. There’s a reason Windows dominates the rest of the world … it’s relatively open and far more robust. Linux / Unix are far leaner and you get more bang for your buck, but there’s far less apps avail for this platform.
MACs have some cool features … some of which are cool enough to even show up in Vista. Widgets, for instance, are a very handy tool. But overall, MACs are anemic. And if you use Safari for your browser, you’re really hating life.
People that invest in MACs feel the need to justify their position, so they make stupid remarks like the one you see elsewhere on this page. Just blow them off and smile … they deserve the waste of money and narrow perspective they support.
On windows or guidos whatever you may prefer, the best thing ever is to get freedom from mouse and click – that’s what these commands (CLI) are all about.
Wnnna get real freedom while on gui – get “launchy”. and what not you can do.
Believe me not but you yourself, try launchy once and you will love the keyboard. Tell me if not.
btw, launchy ver 2.0 is not cool, its chilly man.
oh yes you will need all those command (the fuel) to drive this super car – launchy.
You could also make a folder and then make these shortcuts.
Great Post! I really like ipconfig /displaydns and ipconfig /registerdns. Thanks Again!
Great info. Thanks for sharing
You should Add:
Power Options Properties — PowerCfg.cpl
i never see this one on any of these “list’s”.
Always like running my most common apps from the start run. Nice list thanks
This list can be found a lots of places without any problem. whats new in this list?
http://www.itoperationz.com/2010/01/ultimate-list-of-windows-commands/
Here is a list of windows 7 commands;
http://www.itoperationz.com/2010/01/windows-7-a-comprehensive-list-of-commands/
Here is another list of commands;
http://www.itoperationz.com/2010/01/advantages-of-wmic-command-in-windows/