4/19/22, 1:39 PM Windows CMD commands: A list of command prompt codes - IONOS
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The command line (also called the console or terminal) is a text-based interface within the operating
system, that forwards commands from the user to the operating system. This makes it possible, for
example, to organize files, start programs, or run other commands linked to the operating system,
computer, or network.
In older operating systems (like MS-DOS), you had to work without a graphical user interface, and
oftentimes even navigate without a mouse. Instead, you had to type in all commands – the directory
structures were then displayed as plain text on the screen. But even after the switch to graphical operating
systems, the command line remained text-based.
In general, the connection between operating system – regardless of whether graphical (GUI = graphical
user interface) or text-based (CLI = command line interpreter) was condensed under the term “Shell.” The
default command line interpreter for Windows is called CMD.EXE. In addition, however, there’s also the
“PowerShell”: This offers more options than CMD.EXE. For example, automations can be created better
with PowerShell. In this way, users can create script programs with the PowerShell scripting language.
Note
Many Windows console commands are based on batch files. This are usually text files (with the
ending .bat or .cmd) that are run by the command line as batch processing. These files are generally
created to perform routine work and start other programs.
How do you open the command prompt?
There are various options for accessing the command line in Windows. Technically speaking, the commandTechnically speaking, the command
line is line is the CMD.EXE programthe CMD.EXE program. This executable file should be found in the system directory of your Windows. This executable file should be found in the system directory of your Windows
folder. (If you right-click on the file, Windows also gives you the option to start the program as anfolder.
administrator – in case you have the access data for this.) To reach the program more quickly, you can use
the search bar or the run menu. The latter is opened under Windows 7, 8, and 10 with the key combination
Win + R. Then all you have to do is type “cmd” into the search field and press the OK button.
The command prompt has long had a fixed spot in the Windows start menu as well. Under Windows 7 and
Windows 10, the program is found in the “System Tools” folder. With Windows 8, Microsoft replaced the
start menu with a start screen. But the command prompt is also found via the apps here. Alternatively,
Windows 8 as well as Windows 10 both offer the “Power User Tasks Menu.” You can open this with the key
combination Win + X. In this way, you can find the command prompt in the normal execution as well as the
administrator version.
How do you enter commands in the command prompt?
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