In this article I will give a list of a thousand Command line commands, and how to write a simple program using those commands.
Below is a table of 1,000 Windows Command Prompt (CMD) commands, complete with descriptions, administrative rights requirements, and direct links to their argument documentation, is a substantial undertaking. While I can provide a detailed list of commonly used commands along with their descriptions and administrative requirements, compiling 1,000 unique commands exceeds the scope of this format.
𧰠Top Windows CMD Commands with Descriptions and Admin Rights
Below is a selection of essential Windows CMD commands, their descriptions, administrative rights requirements, and links to their official documentation or help pages:
| Command | Description | Admin Rights Required? | Documentation Link |
| assoc | Displays or modifies file extension associations. | No | assoc |
| attrib | Displays or changes file attributes. | No | attrib |
| auditpol | Displays or sets audit policies. | Yes | auditpol |
| bcdedit | Sets properties in boot database. | Yes | bcdedit |
| bootcfg | Configures boot options. | Yes | bootcfg |
| call | Calls one batch program from another. | No | call |
| certmgr | Manages certificates. | Yes | certmgr |
| chkdsk | Checks a disk and displays a status report. | Yes | chkdsk |
| cipher | Displays or alters the encryption of directories and files. | Yes | cipher |
| cls | Clears the screen. | No | cls |
| cmd | Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter. | No | cmd |
| color | Sets the default console foreground and background colors. | No | color |
| comp | Compares the contents of two files or sets of files byte by byte. | No | comp |
| convert | Converts FAT volumes to NTFS. | Yes | convert |
| copy | Copies one or more files to another location. | No | copy |
| date | Displays or sets the date. | Yes | date |
| del | Deletes one or more files. | No | del |
| dir | Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory. | No | dir |
| diskpart | Manages disks, partitions, and volumes. | Yes | diskpart |
| echo | Displays messages or turns command echoing on or off. | No | echo |
| exit | Exits the command prompt or a batch file. | No | exit |
| expand | Extracts files from compressed files. | No | expand |
| fc | Compares two files or sets of files and displays the differences. | No | fc |
| find | Searches for a text string in a file or files. | No | find |
| findstr | Searches for strings in files using regular expressions. | No | findstr |
| format | Formats a disk for use with Windows. | Yes | format |
| fsutil | Displays or configures file system properties. | Yes | fsutil |
| ftype | Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations. | Yes | ftype |
| getmac | Displays the MAC address for network adapters. | No | getmac |
| goto | Directs the command interpreter to a labeled line in a batch program. | No | goto |
| gpresult | Displays Group Policy information for a machine or user. | Yes | gpresult |
| gpupdate | Updates Group |
𧰠Elevate to CMD to an Admin CMD
- Search for cmd
- Right click on Command Prompt and choose Run as Administer or select Run as Administrator from the selection on right.
𧰠Create a Batch File
Now you have a lot of Windowsâ command it is time to tell you can write batch file(a Windows command line program).
Here’s a simple example:
@echo off
echo Hello! This is my batch file.
pause
This will:
- Hide command output (@echo off)
- Print Hello! This is my batch file.
- Wait for a keypress (pause)
𧰠Great Resources
Below are 7 websites that provide alot of useful information.
- 50 Basic Windows Commands with Examples – Active Directory Pro
- 50+ Most Useful CMD Commands to Boost Your Windows Productivity | RUSTCODE
- Windows commands | Microsoft Learn
- The Complete List of Command Prompt (CMD) Commands
- 100 Popular Windows Commands (MS-DOS Commands) â WebNots
- Learn the Command Line | Codecademy
- 113 Windows Run Commands | Windows Run Commands PDF
𧰠Conclusion
In conclusion knowing your way around the Windows command line will make you a Windows power user.
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