I need help with the command prompt?

Question

What are the commands for the prompt and what EXACTLY do they do?

Answer 1

You can make/delete folders, create text files, find files and folders on your computer, run tests, ask what your IP address is, and lots more if you know the commands.

Some things are just quicker and easier if you know your way around DOS and some are more practical.  If I want a list of files in a folder, I use the command prompt to create a text file list for me.

You can get help on any command in DOS by typing the command followed by /?

Examples:

dir/?

ipconfig/?

ping/?

netstat/?

Those are ones I use commonly, especially ping and ipconfig when we are having connection problems.

Commands can be used with parameters and/or switches.

**********

A switch is preceeded by the / character.  Switches can be used to NOT get certain results by putting the minus sign - in front of them.

dir /ah

means find all files with the A_ttribute of H_idden.

dir /a-h

means all files that DON'T have the A_ttribute of H_idden.

***********************

A parameter is a "string" of characters that limits the command, e.g.:

dir *.exe

dir means search the DIR_ectory (folder) and list the files.  Adding *.exe tells it that you only want files that end in .exe - the asterisk * means the name can be anything.

********

A switch with dir could be:

dir /w

OR

dir /p

OR EVEN BOTH

dir /p /w

/p means stop at the end of each P_age and wait until I press a key before showing the next P_age of information.

/w means use W_ide format.

************

Here's a good reference:

http://www.computerhope.com/msdos.htm

********

And for my command to get a folder listing easily:

dir /s /b *.* > files.txt

/s means check the S_ubdirectories as well.  /b means B_ald format - don't give me every detail, just the basics.  > is like an arrow head pointing to where you want the results put.  Although most times when you type in a command and "execute" it you expect to see results, this command is one where I don't expect to see any results show up on screen.  If I get any message come up about it, it's always an error message - oops!

I find that one to be really useful when I want to make up a web page of photos but I won't usually add the /s then because I figure that the amount of pictures is enough file size for one web page to load.

Anyway, that's just a rough outline of some things you can do to get you started.

Answer 2

There are hundreds of commands, which ones are you talking about.

Answer 3

If all you want to do is get to the command prompt click on start-run then put cmd in the box and hit enter.  You will get what looks like the old DOS prompt and most of the DOS commands (not all) will work.  For a list get any DOS book or type ? at the command prompt.