Command Prompt (CMD) -1

          Command Prompt, better known as cmd.exe or just cmd (after its executable file name), is the command-line interpreter on OS/2 and eComStation, Windows CE and Windows NT operating systems (including Windows 2000 and later).

          Command Prompt is a command line interpreter application
available in most Windows operating systems. Command Prompt is officially called Windows Command Processor but is also sometimes called the command shell or by its file name cmd.exe.

     Command Prompt is used to execute entered commands. Command Prompt is most commonly used to execute batch files, perform advanced administrative functions, and troubleshoot and solve certain kinds of Windows issues.
  Command prompt can be opened using the following ways;

• Click on "start" button and type command prompt or cmd
• Press the windows key and "R" on the keyboard .This brings up the "RUN" dialog. Then type CMD

Command prompt or CMD is used to execute different commands. There are some commands that remain useful, and Windows 8 even added new features. Here are the commands every Windows user needs to know.

Cipher
    Deleting files on a mechanical hard drive doesn’t really delete them at all. Instead, it marks the files as no longer accessible and the space they took up as free. The files remain recoverable until they’re overwritten with new data, which can take some time. However using the Cipher command in cmd deletes information on the disk totally.
Ping
     Sometimes, you need to know whether or not packets are making it to a specific networked device. That’s where ping comes in handy. Typing “ping” followed by an IP address or web domain will send a series of test packets to the specified address. If they arrive and are returned, you know the device is capable of communicating with your PC; if it fails, you know that there’s something blocking communication between the device and your computer. This can help you decide if an issue is caused by improper configuration or a failure of network hardware.
Pathping
     This is a more advanced version of ping that’s useful if there are multiple routers between your PC and the device you’re testing. Like ping, you use this command by typing “pathping” followed by the IP address, but unlike ping, pathping also relays some information about the route the test packets take.
Tracert
     The “tracert” command is similar to pathping. Once again, type “tracert” followed by the IP address or domain you’d like to trace. You’ll receive information about each step in the route between your PC and the target. Unlike pathping, however, tracert also tracks how much time (in milliseconds) each hop between servers or devices takes.
Ipconfig
         This command relays the IP address that your computer is currently using. However, if you’re behind a router (like most computers today), you’ll instead receive the local network address of the router.Still, ipconfig is useful because of its extensions. “ipconfig /release” followed by “ipconfig /renew” can force your Windows PC into asking for a new IP address, which is useful if your computer claims one isn’t available. You can also use “ipconfig /flushdns” to refresh your DNS address. These commands are great if the Windows network troubleshooter chokes, which does happen on occasion.
Telnet
  The telnet command in cmd is used to connect telnet servers. However before you can connect to a telnet server you have to enable telnet services in the "windows feature on and off" in control panel.
Netstat
    Entering the command “netstat” will provide you with a list of currently open ports and related IP addresses. You’ll also be told what state the port is in – listening, established or closed. This is a great command if you’re trying to troubleshoot the devices your PC is connected to or you’re afraid you’re infected with a Trojan and are trying to locate a malicious connection.

Click here to move to the next tutorial on Command Prompt


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