Useful Commands

Normally you would not associate Windows with commands. For everything, you have to navigate through a couple of menus using the mouse before getting to the concerned window/utility/tool. But Windows does come with commands that give you quick access to tools for configuring and fixing your computer. Some of these are very helpful if you prefer the use of keyboard more than your mouse and don’t like moving your hand back and forth between them or suddenly the touchpad of your laptop stops working/ behaves erratically. Just press [Win] +[R] to get the Run Command Indexing reduces search time, but is resource intensive Dialog box to get started.

 

Command	What it opens
%temp%	Temporary fi les folder. Your recently downloaded files, unzipped setup packages, etc. will be present here
appwiz.cpl	Add/Remove Programs window for uninstalling applications.
hdwwiz.cpl	Add Hardware Wizard for connecting any new piece of equipment you recently connected to your computer
fsquirt	Bluetooth File Transfer Wizard for sending and receiving files from your Bluetooth enabled mobile phone/ PMP
calc	Calculator
charmap	Character Map for inserting special characters such as copyright and trademark symbol
chkdsk	Check disc Utility
devmgmt.msc	Device Manager for troubleshooting hardware
cleanmgr	Disk Cleanup Utility for cleaning up your temporary files and retrieving wasted hard-disk space
dfrg.msc	Disk Defragment Utility
diskmgmt.msc	Disk Management to help you manage your hard-disk partitions and removable storage devices
diskpart	Disk Partition Manager
desk.cpl	Display properties for changing display resolution
gpedit.msc	Group Policy editor
ciadv.msc	Indexing Service settings
inetcpl.cpl	Internet Properties. Very helpful when you want to change your proxy settings without going through Internet Explorer
iexplore	Internet Explorer
logoff	Log off from your account
main.cpl	Opens Mouse Properties

main.cpl keyboard	Opens Keyboard Properties
ncpa.cpl	Network Connections Window to manage your networks
netsetup.cpl	Network Setup Wizard to create an ad hoc network among other things
notepad	Notepad
perfmon	Performance Monitor
powercfg.cpl	Power Management to change power profiles
regedit	Registry Editor
services.msc	Services to disable unused services and boost computer speed. We, however, recommend you not to play around with this, unless you are an advanced user
fsmgmt.msc	Shared Folders
shutdown	Shutdown Windows
msconfig	System Configuration Utility, mainly used to change boot options and disable startup items
sysdm.cpl	System Properties
taskmgr	Task manager for killing processes that are not responding and monitoring resource usage
firewall.cpl	Windows Firewall