Windows XP Pocket Reference

Name

Command Prompt — \windows\system32\cmd.exe

Synopsis

Start → All Programs → Accessories → Command Prompt

The command prompt is a simple application in which you type commands rather than pointing and clicking. It provides access to programs and utilities otherwise inaccessible and even permits the use of some advanced file management functions. Chapter 6 fully documents the command prompt and supported commands. Cmd accepts the following parameters:

cmd [/q][/d] [/a|/u] [/e:on|off][/f:on|off]
   [/v:on|off] /t:fg [[/s][/c|/k] string]

Option	Description
string	When used with /c or /k, specifies a command to be carried out when the command prompt is first opened. Multiple commands are separated by &&, and string, as a whole, is surrounded by quotation marks. String must be the last parameter on the command line.
/c	Carries out the command specified by string and then stops.
/k	Carries out the command specified by string and continues.
/s	Strips any quotation marks in string.
/q	Turns the echo off; see Echo in Chapter 6.
/d	Disables execution of AutoRun commands. Without /d, any programs or commands listed in the Registry keys, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor\AutoRun and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor\AutoRun are executed every time a command prompt window is opened.
/a	Formats all output so that it is ANSI-compliant.
/u	Formats all output so that it is Unicode-compliant.
/e:on|off	Enables or disables command ...