XP Pro's new shell commands

 

XP Pro's new shell commands
Barrie Sosinsky

While administrators can use a GUI for running systems, often a command-line interface is quicker. This is especially true for those old hands who never quite got over DOS commands, or even older variants of a CLI such as CPM's and earlier.

Windows XP has many new commands that you can use to make life quicker and easier. They can run either from the GUI, or from a DOS box with the CLI.

Windows XP Professional comes with many new command-line tools that will give you instant access to system utilities. When the command supports the GUI, you can use the Run command from the Start command to launch that utility using the command. When the command requires a DOS Prompt compatibility box, then you should open a DOS window by entering CMD into the Run dialog box, and pressing the enter key. Check a command's syntax by entering the command line: <commandname> /?, and pressing the Enter key.

Among the new commands in XP are the following: bootcfg, driverquery, eventcreate, eventtriggers, fsutil, getmac, helpctr, ipseccmd, logman, openfiles, pagefileconfig, perfmon, prncnfg, prndrvr, prnjobs, prnmngr, prnport, prngctl, relog, sc, schtasks, systeminfo, taskkill, tasklist, traceprt, typeperf, and WMIC. These commands are explained in more detail in the Help topic "New command-line commands."

As an administrator it is well worth learning

    Requires Free Membership to View

    Login

these commands, as they can save you lots of time.

Barrie Sosinsky (barries@killerapps.com)is president of consulting company Sosinsky and Associates (Medfield MA). He has written extensively on a variety of computer topics. His company specializes in custom software (database and Web related), training and technical documentation.


This was first published in February 2002

Join the conversationComment

Share
Comments

    Results

    Contribute to the conversation

    All fields are required. Comments will appear at the bottom of the article.

    Disclaimer: Our Tips Exchange is a forum for you to share technical advice and expertise with your peers and to learn from other enterprise IT professionals. TechTarget provides the infrastructure to facilitate this sharing of information. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or validity of the material submitted. You agree that your use of the Ask The Expert services and your reliance on any questions, answers, information or other materials received through this Web site is at your own risk.

    Back to top