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Terminal Environments / Windows CMD & PowerShell

June 18, 2025 00:18

cli

cmd

commandline

systemadmin

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Core Fundamentals: Navigation & System Info

NAVIGATION & FILES

`cd <directory>`	Change Directory. Navigate to a specified folder. Examples: `cd C:\Users\Public` `cd ..` (Go up one level) `cd \` (Go to root of current drive)
`dir`	List directory contents. Examples: `dir` (List files/folders in current directory) `dir /w` (Wide format) `dir /s` (Subdirectories) `dir *.log` (Files with .log extension)
`tree`	Display directory structure as a tree. Examples: `tree` `tree /f` (Display files as well)
`copy <source> <destination>`	Copy files or directories. Examples: `copy report.txt C:\Backup` `copy *.doc C:\Documents\Reports` (Wildcard)
`move <source> <destination>`	Move files or directories. Examples: `move old_file.txt new_location\new_file.txt` `move C:\Temp\* D:\Archive` (Move all from Temp)
`del <file(s)>`	Delete files. Examples: `del unwanted.tmp` `del .bak /q` (Quiet delete all .bak files) `del /s /q C:\Logs\.log` (Delete logs recursively)
`ren <old_name> <new_name>`	Rename files or directories. Example: `ren report.txt final_report.txt`
Wildcards & Paths	`` (Any characters) `?` (Any single character) Absolute Path:* `C:\Program Files\App` (Starts from root) Relative Path: `..\folder\file.txt` (Relative to current directory) Pro Tip: Use `Tab` for autocompletion of file and directory names.

SYSTEM INFO & TASKS

`systeminfo`	Display detailed system configuration information. Example: `systeminfo \| more` (Pipe to more for pagination)
`tasklist`	List all running processes. Examples: `tasklist` `tasklist /svc` (Show services hosted by processes) `tasklist /fi "IMAGENAME eq chrome.exe"` (Filter by image name)
`taskkill /pid <PID> /f`	Terminate a process by Process ID (PID) or image name. Examples: `taskkill /pid 1234 /f` (Force kill process with PID 1234) `taskkill /im notepad.exe /f` (Force kill Notepad)
`hostname`	Display the name of the host computer. Example: `hostname`
`echo <message>`	Display messages or turn command echoing on/off in scripts. Examples: `echo Hello World!` `echo %PATH%` (Display PATH environment variable)
`set`	Display, set, or remove CMD environment variables. Examples: `set` (List all environment variables) `set MYVAR=Hello` (Set a new variable) `echo %MYVAR%` (Display variable)
Viewing Environment Variables	Use `set` to see all variables or `echo %VAR_NAME%` for specific ones. Example: `echo %USERNAME%` Pro Tip: For persistent environment variable changes, use `System Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables`.

Network & Disk Management

NETWORKING

`ipconfig`	Display current TCP/IP network configuration. Examples: `ipconfig` (Basic info) `ipconfig /all` (Detailed info) `ipconfig /release` (Release IP address) `ipconfig /renew` (Renew IP address)
`ping <destination>`	Test network connectivity to a host. Examples: `ping google.com` `ping 192.168.1.1` `ping -t 8.8.8.8` (Continuous ping, Ctrl+C to stop)
`tracert <destination>`	Trace the route packets take to a network host. Example: `tracert google.com`
`netstat -ano`	Display active TCP connections, listening ports, and associated process IDs. Examples: `netstat -ano` `netstat -ano \| findstr "LISTENING"` (Show only listening ports) `netstat -an \| findstr ":80"` (Find connections on port 80)
`nslookup <hostname/IP>`	Query DNS for domain name or IP address mapping. Examples: `nslookup google.com` `nslookup 8.8.8.8`
`net use`	Connects to or disconnects from shared network resources. Examples: `net use Z: \\SERVER\Share` (Map a network drive) `net use Z: /delete` (Disconnect network drive) `net use` (List current network connections) Pro Tip: `ipconfig /flushdns` can often resolve website loading issues by clearing your local DNS cache.

DISK & FILE MANAGEMENT

`chkdsk <drive> /f`	Check a disk for errors and fix them. Examples: `chkdsk C: /f` (Fix errors on C: drive, requires reboot if in use) `chkdsk D: /r` (Locate bad sectors and recover readable information)
`diskpart`	Disk partitioning utility. Enters a separate interactive shell. Basic Steps: `list disk` `select disk <n>` `list partition` `exit` Warning: Use with extreme caution, as incorrect commands can lead to data loss.
`format <drive> /fs:<filesystem>`	Format a disk or partition. Examples: `format E: /fs:NTFS` (Format E: drive as NTFS) `format F: /q /fs:FAT32` (Quick format F: as FAT32)
`attrib [+R\|-R] [+A\|-A] [+S\|-S] [+H\|-H] <file/folder>`	Display or change file attributes. Attributes: `R` - Read-only `A` - Archive `S` - System `H` - Hidden Examples: `attrib +h secret.txt` (Hide file) `attrib -h secret.txt` (Unhide file) `attrib +r important.doc` (Make read-only)
`xcopy <source> <destination> /E /I /H /K /O /X`	Advanced file copy utility, supports copying directories and subdirectories. Common Switches: `/E` - Copy directories and subdirectories, including empty ones. `/I` - If destination doesn’t exist and copying multiple files, assume destination is a directory. `/H` - Copy hidden and system files. `/K` - Copy attributes. `/O` - Copy file ownership and ACL information. `/X` - Copy file audit settings. Example: `xcopy C:\MyDocs D:\Backup /E /H`
`robocopy <source> <destination> [options]`	Robust File Copy. More powerful than xcopy, designed for reliable copying, especially over networks. Common Options: `/S` - Copy subdirectories (excluding empty ones). `/E` - Copy subdirectories (including empty ones). `/MT[:n]` - Multithreaded copy (default 8 threads). `/Z` - Restartable mode (for unreliable networks). `/MIR` - Mirror a directory tree (delete files in dest that don’t exist in source). Examples: `robocopy C:\Data D:\Backup /E /MT:16` `robocopy \\Server\Share C:\LocalSync /MIR /Z` Pro Tip: `robocopy` is your best friend for large syncs or backups, especially `/MIR` for maintaining exact copies.

User Management & Automation

USER & PERMISSIONS

`net user`	Manage user accounts. Examples: `net user` (List all local user accounts) `net user <username>` (Display info for a specific user) `net user JohnDoe password123 /add` (Add new user) `net user JohnDoe /delete` (Delete user)
`whoami`	Display the current user’s domain and username. Example: `whoami` `whoami /groups` (Show groups the user belongs to) `whoami /priv` (Show privileges)
`runas /user:<username> "<command>"`	Run a command or program as a different user. Example: `runas /user:Administrator "cmd.exe"` (Open CMD as Administrator, prompts for password) Pro Tip: To open an administrative CMD directly, search for “cmd” in the Start Menu, right-click, and select “Run as administrator”.
Changing User Passwords	To change a local user’s password: `net user <username> <new_password>` Example: `net user Guest NewPassword123` To force a password change at next login: `net user <username> /logonpasswordchg:yes`
Checking User Groups	Use `whoami /groups` to see all groups the current user is a member of. To check groups for another user (local): `net localgroup` (List all local groups) `net localgroup Administrators` (List members of Administrators group) Pro Tip: Understanding user permissions and groups is crucial for security. Always follow the principle of least privilege.

BATCH & AUTOMATION

.bat Scripting Basics	Batch files (`.bat` or `.cmd`) are sequences of CMD commands executed line by line. Syntax: `@echo off` - Prevents commands from being displayed. `REM <comment>` - Add comments. `:: <comment>` - Another way to add comments. `echo <message>` - Display text. `pause` - Pause script execution until a key is pressed. Example `my_script.bat`: `@echo off REM This is a sample batch script echo Hello, User! set /p USER_NAME="Enter your name: " echo Nice to meet you, %USER_NAME%! pause`
`if` statement	Conditional execution. Syntax: `IF [NOT] EXIST <filename> <command>` `IF %variable%==<string> <command>` `IF ERRORLEVEL <number> <command>` Examples: `IF EXIST C:\file.txt echo File exists.` `IF "%OS%"=="Windows_NT" echo Running on Windows.` `IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 echo An error occurred.`
`for` loop	Iterate over sets of files, directories, or numbers. Syntax (files): `FOR %%variable IN (set) DO command` Examples: `FOR %%f IN (.txt) DO echo %%f` (List all .txt files) `FOR /D %%d IN () DO echo %%d` (List all directories) `FOR /L %%i IN (1,1,10) DO echo %%i` (Loop from 1 to 10)
`pause`	Pauses the execution of a batch program and displays a message to the user to press any key to continue. Example: `echo This part will execute first. pause echo This part will execute after you press a key.`
`goto <label>`	Directs the batch program to a line identified by a label. Syntax: `:label_name` Example: `@echo off goto START :ERROR_HANDLER echo An error occurred! goto END :START echo Starting script... rem Simulate an error exit /b 1 :END echo Script finished. pause` Pro Tip: Use `call` to execute another batch script and return to the current one, rather than `goto` which will not return.
`schtasks`	Schedule commands or programs to run at specified times. Examples: `schtasks /create /tn "DailyBackup" /tr "C:\scripts\backup.bat" /sc daily /st 03:00` (Create a daily task) `schtasks /query /tn "DailyBackup" /v` (View task details) `schtasks /run /tn "DailyBackup"` (Run task immediately) `schtasks /delete /tn "DailyBackup" /f` (Delete task) Pro Tip: For complex schedules, the Task Scheduler GUI (`taskschd.msc`) is often easier to use, but `schtasks` is great for scripting and automation.