A Command Prompt (cmd) available for Windows 8 that contains access to around 230 command line commands.
The commands available in Windows 8 are used for a variety of purposes, including diagnosing and correcting certain Windows problems, automating tasks, and much more.
Note: A number of Windows 8 Command Prompt commands are very similar to MS-DOS commands. However, the Command Prompt in Windows 8 is
not MS-DOS so the commands are
not correctly referred to as
MS-DOS commands. I do have a list of DOS commands if you really are using MS-DOS and are interested.
Append
The append command can be used by programs to open files in another directory as if they were located in the current directory.
The append command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows 8.Arp
The arp command is used to display or change entries in the ARP cache.
Assoc
The assoc command is used to display or change the file type associated with a particular file extension.Attrib
The attrib command is used to change the attributes of a single file or a directory.Auditpol
The auditpol command is used to display or change audit policies.Bcdboot
The bcdboot command is used to copy boot files to the system partition and to create a new system BCD store.Bcdedit
The bcdedit command is used to view or make changes to Boot Configuration Data.Bdehdcfg
The bdehdcfg command is used to prepare a hard drive for BitLocker Drive Encryption.Bitsadmin
The bitsadmin command is used to create, manage, and monitor download and upload jobs.
While the bitsadmin command is available in Windows 8, you should know that it is being phased out. The BITS PowerShell cmdlets should be used instead.Bootcfg
The bootcfg command is used to build, modify, or view the contents of the boot.ini file, a hidden file that is used to identify in what folder, on which partition, and on which hard drive Windows is located.
The bootcfg command was replaced by the bcdedit command beginning in Windows Vista. Bootcfg is still available in Windows 8 but it serves no real value since boot.ini is not used.Bootsect
The bootsect command is used to configure the master boot code to one compatible with Windows 8 (BOOTMGR).
The bootsect command is only available from the Command Prompt in System Recovery Options.
Break
The break command sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking on DOS systems.
The break command is available in Windows 8 to provide compatibility with MS-DOS files but it has no effect in Windows 8 itself.Cacls
The cacls command is used to display or change access control lists of files. Even though the cacls command is available in Windows 8, it's being phased out. Microsoft recommends that you use the icacls command instead.Call
The call command is used to run a script or batch program from within another script or batch program.
The call command has no effect outside of a script or batch file. In other words, running the call command at the Command Prompt will do nothing.Cd
The Cd command is the shorthand version of the chdir command.Certreq
The certreq command is used to perform various certification authority (CA) certificate functions.Certutil
The certutil command is used to dump and display certification authority (CA) configuration information in addition to other CA functions.Change
The change command changes various terminal server settings like install modes, COM port mappings, and logons.Chcp
The chcp command displays or configures the active code page number.Chdir
The chdir command is used to display the drive letter and folder that you are currently in. Chdir can also be used to change the drive and/or directory that you want to work in.
Checknetisolation
The checknetisolation command is used to test apps that require network capabilities
Chglogon
The chglogon command enables, disables, or drains terminal server session logins.
Executing the chglogon command is the same as executing change logon.Chgport
The chgport command can be used to display or change COM port mappings for DOS compatibility.
Executing the chgport command is the same as executing change port.Chgusr
The chgusr command is used to change the install mode for the terminal server.
Executing the chgusr command is the same as executing change user.Chkdsk
The chkdsk command, often referred to as check disk, is used to identify and correct certain hard drive errors.Chkntfs
The chkntfs command is used to configure or display the checking of the disk drive during the Windows boot process.Choice
The choice command is used within a script or batch program to provide a list of choices and return of the value of that choice to the program.Cipher
The cipher command shows or changes the encryption status of files and folders on NTFS partitions.
Clip
The clip command is used to redirect the output from any command to the clipboard in Windows.Cls
The cls command clears the screen of all previously entered commands and other text. Cmd
The cmd command starts a new instance of the command interpreter.Cmdkey
The cmdkey command is used to show, create, and remove stored user names and passwords.Cmstp
The cmstp command installs or uninstalls a Connection Manager service profile.Color
The color command is used to change the colors of the text and background within the Command Prompt window.Command
The command command starts a new instance of the command.com command interpreter.
The command command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows 8.Comp
The comp command is used to compare the contents of two files or sets of files.Compact
The compact command is used to show or change the compression state of files and directories on NTFS partitions.Convert
The convert command is used to convert FAT or FAT32 formatted volumes to the NTFS format.Copy
The copy command does simply that - it copies one or more files from one location to another.Cscript
The cscript command is used to execute scripts via Microsoft Script Host.
The cscript command is most commonly used to manage printing from the command line with scripts like prncnfg.vbs, prndrvr.vbs, prnmngr.vbs, and others.
