9 Most essential CMD Console Commands.

Here is a list with some of the command prompt commands that I found to be either extremely helpful or terribly fascinating.

1.Tasklist

tasklist

Tasklist command, which acts pretty much just like the task manager, displaying all the processes that are currently running on your Windows. (Just type "tasklist" in the console and press Enter.) The list contains the name, PID, Session Name, Session Number and Memory Usage of each entry on the list. If you were wondering why the PID is useful, I'll tell you. You can type "taskkill -PID <ID number>" and terminate the respective process. (For example, if you take a look at the image to the right, if I typed killtask -PID 508 the console would terminate the Winlogon process.

2.Assoc

Assoc 

Assoc is a very simple yet handy command which gives you detailed information about all the current associations between file types and the applications on your PC. In simple terms, you can easily find out which application is set to automatically open each extension using this instruction. If you type "assoc" into the console and then press Enter, you will see a list with every extension along with the program designated to deal with it, while if you type "assoc .doc=" you will see which of your applications opens your .DOC documents. (The second example works with any of the extensions you saw in the complete list.)

3.Cipher

Cipher

If you didn't already know, when you ask Windows to delete a file or a folder, the operating system doesn't really erase the data but instead marks it as inaccessible, and the space it occupies will be seen as free. However, till the several disk sector (where the file is) gets overwritten, the info continues to be redeemable. Cipher may be a very cool command that instructs your computer to write all the deleted files from a nominal location (drive or folder), therefore creating them more durable to retrieve. Here's AN example of a way to use it: "cipher /w:c" (this can write all the deleted files from your C partition). And you do not ought to worry, this command solely overwrites the files marked as deleted, departure all the other files on your pc just as they're.

4. Powercfg

powercfg

In case if you didn't figure it from its name, Powercfg is a command which gives you information and helps you manage your computer's power-related settings. For example, typing "powercfg /a" in the CMD console and pressing Enter will display all the power-saving options that are currently available to you. As I said, you can also manage these setting: "powercfg /sleep off" will disable the sleep command for your PC. Additionally, you can use "powercfg /devicequery s1_supported", which will display a list with all the devices on your network that support connected standby (meaning that they can remotely put your computer to sleep or wake it). Lastly, "powercfg /lastwake" will show you which connected device woke up your PC the most recently.

5. Netstat

Netstat

In case if you think you have been infected with some sort of Trojan, or if you're thinking that that somebody else is additionally connected to your computer you'll check things out by using Netstat. This command displays your current ip along with a list of all of your opened ports and connected ip addresses, Moreover, the console will tell you if each of the listed ports ar listening, established or closed. (This time we don't need an example; simply type the command into the prompt window and press Enter.)

6. Ping

Ping

Out of all the available commands, Ping is the one i use more often. This instruction permits you to send a data package to a given URL or ip address and check how long it takes for it to return to your pc. In easier terms, this command can assist you verify if you have a working link an internet site or another laptop on your network and also verify how well that connection is working. Here are 2 examples of how to use it: "ping 196.168.1.1" (for an informatics address) or "ping -t web.google.com" (for a website; -t means this command won't stop mechanically and can need you to manually turn it off).

Additionally there are 2 more closely related commands which might assist you out in case something seems to be wrong. If a ping does not return and you want to figure out what's the matter, you'll find out wherever it stops by using the Pathping. This command can show you each hop through which the packet is bounced until it reaches its final destination, therefore enabling you to see precisely where the connection breaks. (Example: "pathping web.google.com".) just in case you wish to find out which of the hops is particularly slow you'll use Tracert. This command works a similar as Pathping, however additionally displays the time it takes for the package to arrive to every of the hops on the manner. (Example: "tracert web.yahoo.com".)

7. Ipconfig

ipconfig

Ipconfig is a command you'll often use to quickly get info related to your network / web connection and the hardware that makes it possible. If you sort ipconfig /all into the console and press Enter, you'll see a comprehensive list of data as well as your mac address, your ip address, the server's ip address, the DNS server address, the Subnet mask, etc. what is more, in case if you get a warning message saying that there is an science conflict on the network, you'll be able to sort ipconfig /release (then press Enter) followed by ipconfig /renew to force the software package to present you a replacement science address. Lastly, you'll be able to use ipconfig /flushdns to refresh the DNS address, but you'll rarely would like this.

8. systemfile checker

system file checker

System File Checker (sfc) is a command that instructs your Windows to check and repair the system files. in order to use this instruction you will need to give the command prompt console administrator privileges, but the function is quite helpful, because it tries to automatically replace missing system files and repair those that are corrupted. To use this command type "sfc /scannow" into the CMD console and press Enter.

9. shutdown

shutdown

In Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, the Command Prompt console can also be used to shut down your PC. I know that there are easier ways to do this, but if your type "shutdown" into the console your computer will be shutdown. However, when used with additional parameters, this command can actually be useful. For example, typing "shutdown /r /o" and pressing Enter will instruct your PC to restart and automatically open the Advanced Options Start Menu on startup (it's the place where you can choose to start your Windows in Safe Mode).