Command prompts for Windows

Last update on July 4, 2009 01:44 PM by fahd_zboot
Published by netty5

Command prompts for Windows




Some of these command below can cause harmful an undesirable functions, leading to the formatting of your hard disk and data loss, while others will not run under Windows XP. As for Windows Vista the Run Tab is not visible in the start up menu. Windows Vista specific command prompts are not included.

Feel free to add any additional information and tips, you think necessary.

Here is a list of commands you can use under Microsoft Windows prearranged depending of their functionality :



Control Panel

  • CONTROL: opens the control panel window
  • CONTROL ADMINTOOLS: opens the administrative tools
  • CONTROL KEYBOARD: opens keyboard properties
  • CONTROL COLOUR: opens display properties.Appearance tab
  • CONTROL FOLDERS: opens folder options
  • CONTROL FONTS: opens font policy management
  • CONTROL INTERNATIONAL or INTL.CPL: opens Regional and Language option
  • CONTROL MOUSE or MAIN.CPL: opens mouse properties
  • CONTROL USERPASSWORDS: opens User Accounts editor
  • CONTROL USERPASSWORDS2 or NETPLWIZ: User account access restrictions
  • CONTROL PRINTERS: opens faxes and printers available
  • APPWIZ.CPL: opens Add or Remove programs utility tool
  • OPTIONALFEATURES: opens Add or Remove Windows component utility
  • DESK.CPL: opens display properties. Themes tab
  • HDWWIZ.CPL: opens add hardware wizard
  • IRPROPS.CPL: infrared utility tool
  • JOY.CP: opens game controllers settings
  • MMSYS.CPL: opens Sound and Audio device Properties. Volume tab
  • SYSDM.CPL: opens System properties
  • TELEPHON.CPL: Opens phone and Modem options
  • TIMEDATE.CPL: Date and Time properties
  • WSCUI.CPL: opens Windows Security Center
  • ACCESS.CPL: opens Accessibility Options
  • WUAUCPL.CPL: opens Automatic Updates
  • POWERCFG.CPL: opens Power Options Properties
  • AZMAN.MSC: opens authorisation management utility tool
  • CERTMGR.MSC: opens certificate management tool
  • COMPMGMT.MSC: opens the Computer management tool
  • COMEXP.MSC or DCOMCNFG: opens the Computer Services management tool
  • DEVMGMT.MSC: opens Device Manager
  • EVENTVWR or EVENTVWR.MSC: opens Event Viewer
  • FSMGMT.MSC: opens Shared Folders
  • NAPCLCFG.MSC: NAP Client configuration utility tool
  • SERVICES.MSC: opens Service manager
  • TASKSCHD.MSC or CONTROL SCHEDTASKS: opens Schedule Tasks manager
  • GPEDIT.MSC: opens Group Policy utility tool
  • LUSRMGR.MSC: opens Local Users and Groups
  • SECPOL.MSC: opens local security settings
  • CIADV.MSC: opens indexing service
  • NTMSMGR.MSC: removable storage manager
  • NTMSOPRQ.MSC: removable storage operator requests
  • WMIMGMT.MSC: opens (WMI) Window Management Instrumentation
  • PERFMON or PERFMON.MSC: opens the Performance monitor
  • MMC: opens empty Console
  • MDSCHED: opens memory diagnostics tools
  • DXDIAG: opens DirectX diagnostics tools
  • ODBCAD32: opens ODBC Data source Administrator
  • REGEDIT or REGEDT32: opens Registry Editor
  • DRWTSN32: opens Dr. Watson
  • VERIFIER: opens Driver Verifier Manager
  • CLICONFG: opens SQL Server Client Network Utility
  • UTILMAN: opens Utility Manager
  • COLORCPL: opens color management
  • CREDWIZ: back up and recovery tool for user passwords
  • MOBSYNC: opens Synchronization center
  • MSCONFIG: opens System Configuration Utility
  • SYSEDIT: opens System Configuration Editor (careful while using this command)
  • SYSKEY: Windows Account Database Security management (careful while using this command)

Windows utility and applications

  • EPLORER: Opens windows Explorer
  • IEXPLORER: Opens Internet explorer
  • WAB: opens Contacts
  • CHARMAP: opens Character Map
  • WRITE: opens WordPad
  • NOTEPAD: opens Notepad
  • CALC: opens Calculator
  • CLIPBRD: opens Clipbook Viewer
  • WINCHAT: opens Microsoft Chat Interface
  • SOUNDRECORDER: opens sound recording tool
  • DVDPLAY: run CD or DVD
  • WMPLAYER: opens Windows Media Player
  • MOVIEMK: Opens untitled Windows Movie Maker
  • OSK: opens on-screen Keyboard
  • MAGNIFY: opens Magnifier
  • WINCAL: opens Calendar
  • DIALER: opens phone Dialer
  • EUDCEDIT: opens Private Character Editor
  • NDVOL: opens the mixer volume
  • RSTRUI : opens Tool System Restore (For Vista only)
  • %WINDIR%\SYSTEM32\RESTORE\rstrui.exe: opens Tool System Restore (for XP only).
  • MSINFO32: Opens the System Information
  • MRT : launches the utility removal of malware.
  • Taskmgr : Opens the Windows Task Manager
  • CMD: opens a command prompt
  • MIGWIZ: Opens the tool for transferring files and settings from Windows (Vista only)
  • Migwiz.exe: Opens the tool for transferring files and settings from Windows (for XP only)
  • SIDEBAR: Open the Windows (Vista only)
  • Sigverif : Opens the tool for verification of signatures of files
  • Winver : Opens the window for your Windows version
  • FSQUIRT: Bluetooth Transfer Wizard
  • IExpress opens the wizard for creating self-extracting archives. Tutorial HERE
  • MBLCTR: opens the mobility center (Windows Vista only)
  • MSRA : Opens the Windows Remote Assistance
  • Mstsc : opens the tool connection Remote Desktop
  • MSDT: opens the diagnostic tools and support Microsoft
  • WERCON: opens the reporting tool and solutions to problems (for Vista only)
  • WINDOWSANYTIMEUPGRADE: Enables the upgrade of Windows Vista
  • WINWORD : opens Word (if installed)
  • PRINTBRMUI : Opens migration wizard printer (Vista only)

Disk management

  • DISKMGMT.MSC: opens disk management utility
  • CLEANMGR: opens disk drive clean up utility
  • DFRG.MSC: opens disk defragmenter
  • CHKDSK: complete analysis of disk partition
  • DISKPART: disk partitioning tool

Connection management

  • IPCONFIG: list the configuration of IP addresses on your PC (for more information type IPCONFIG/? in the CMD menu)
  • INETCPL.CPL: opens internet properties
  • FIREWALL.CPL: opens windows firewall
  • NETSETUP.CPL: opens network setup wizard

Miscellaneous commands

  • JAVAWS: View the cover of JAVA software (if installed)
  • AC3FILTER.CPL: Opens the properties AC3 Filter (if installed)
  • FIREFOX: Mozilla launches Firefox (if installed)
  • NETPROJ: allow or not connecting to a network projector (For Vista only)
  • LOGOFF: closes the current session
  • SHUTDOWN: shut down Windows
  • SHUTDOWN-A: to interrupt Windows shutdown
  • %WINDIR% or %SYSTEMROOT%: opens the Windows installation
  • %PROGRAMFILES%: Opens the folder where you installed other programs (Program Files)
  • %USERPROFILE%: opens the profile of the user currently logged
  • %HOMEDRIVE%: opens the browser on the partition or the operating system is installed
  • %HOMEPATH%: opens the currently logged user C: \ Documents and Settings \ [username]
  • %TEMP%: opens the temporary folder
  • VSP1CLN: deletes the cache for installation of the service pack 1 for Vista
  • System File Checker (Requires Windows CD if the cache is not available):
    • SFC / scannow: immediately scans all system files and repairs damaged files
    • SFC / VERIFYONLY: scans only those files system
    • SFC / Scanfil = "name and file path": scans the specified file, and repaired if damaged
    • SFC / VERIFYFILE = "name and file path": Scans only the file specified
    • SFC / scanonce: scans the system files on the next restart
    • SFC / REVERT: return the initial configuration (For more information, type SFC /? In the command prompt CMD.
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