Windows XP Dos Commands

bootcfg -View your boot loader settings, such as your default OS and selection timeout, as well as your boot entries and load options.

diskpart -Manages your disk partitions. After you type "diskpart" into your command prompt, your prompt will become "DISKPART." Type a question mark to get a list of possible arguments. Type exit to leave diskpart.

driverquery - Will get you a nice list of your drivers and their properties.

fsutil - This is a handy command. You can do everything from managing your hardlinks to querying the free space in a volume. Type "fsutil" into your command prompt, and you'll see a list of options. I choose "fsinfo" from the list, so I type "fsutil fsinfo" into the prompt. Now I get even more options, but I choose drives by typing "fsutil fsinfo drives." It's fun, it's easy, and you'll get the hang of it. Explore this utility. There are a lot of cool features and hidden twists.

getmac - This gets the MAC (Media Access Control) address.

gpresult - Get the RSoP, user settings, and computer group policy settings.

netsh - A network configuration tool. Type "netsh" to enter the tool, or "netsh /?" to learn more about it. To exit this tool, type "exit" at the "netsh>" prompt.

openfiles - Allows an administrator to display or disconnect open files in XP professional. Type "openfiles /?" for a list of possible parameters.

recover - This command attempts to recover readable information from a damaged disk. Type "recover" to get the syntax.

reg - The console registry tool. Get syntax help when you type "reg" into the prompt. You can export the registry, copy, restore, compare, and more.

schtasks - The administrator can schedule, run, change, or delete tasks on a local or remote machine. Type "schtasks /?" without the quotes for a list of options.

sfc - The system file checker scans protected system files and replaces the ones you (or your applications) hacked beyond repair with the real, official Microsoft versions. Type "sfc" into the command prompt to get a list of options. use "sfc /scannow" to run a full check of all system files.

shutdown - You can shut down or restart your own computer, or an administrator can shut down or restart a remote computer. Type "shutdown" into your command prompt to see a list of possible arguments.

systeminfo - Basic system configuration information, such as the system type, the processor type, your time zone, your virtual memory settings, and much more.

tasklist - Want to know what's going on behind the scenes? Type "tasklist" into the command prompt, and get a list of current processes.

taskkill - Now that you know what's going on behind the scenes, maybe you want to shut a few of these extraneous tasks down. That's where taskkill comes in. Type "taskkill /?" for a quick lesson in the syntax of the command, then shut down all those random processes. I just killed my MS messenger by typing "taskkill /PID 1680." I got the PID from running tasklist, above.