Useful Windows Command Line Programs and Shortcuts

• Warning: These commands and shortcuts should only be used by experienced users who both accept and understand the risks involved. Please backup all systems, programs, applications, data and files before using any utility program or command line.

Command Names:

Command Line Shortcut (to exit from the command line, type exit):

            cmd

View Network Address (shows your local IP address)

ipconfig

View IP address Routes (shows Interface list with IPv4 and IPv6 Route Tables)

            netstat –r

Ping an Address or Host (From the command prompt, type "ping" followed by the IP or name)
           
           ping hostname     ( e.g. ping 192.168.254.01 )
           ping IP address    ( e.g. ping chiralizer.com )

Find Devices on Network (shows device IP and MAC address. *Useful when you know the MAC address but not the IP it was assigned to)

            arp -a

System Config:

            msconfig

Windows Version:

            winver

Add Hardware Wizard:

            hdwwiz

Control Panel Shortcut:

            control

Device Manager Shortcut:

            devmgmt

Disk Cleanup:

            cleanmgr

Display:

            dpiscaling

Print Manager Shortcut:

            printmanagement

Windows Explorer Shortcut:

            explorer

Useful Windows Command Line Program Shortcuts

Here are some useful Command Line shortcuts which work with many versions of the Microsoft Windows Operating System.

Command Line:

            cmd

Advanced Access to User Accounts:

            netplwiz

            control userpasswords2

Fix Boot Records:

            bootrec /fixmbr

            bootrec /fixboot

            bootrec /rebuildbcd

System Config:

            msconfig

Windows Version:

            winver

Add Hardware Wizard:

            hdwwiz

Control Panel:

            control

Device Manager:

            devmgmt

Disk Cleanup:

            cleanmgr

Display:

            dpiscaling

Print Manager:

            printmanagement

Windows Explorer:

            explorer

Windows Repair Disc:

            recdisc

Windows Firewall:

            wf

Windows 7 Shortcuts & Tips

Here are some of My Favorite Helpful Shortcuts/Tips For Use With Microsoft Windows 7.0 

  Do you miss the 'Quick Launch Bar' ? The bar is absent in Windows 7, but it can be put back.

1.   Use your mouse to right click on the Windows taskbar and then choose Toolbars; New Toolbar.
2.   The system will ask you for the path of the new folder. Type:   %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
3.   Select 'folder'. A new link to the quick launch bar will be added to your current task bar. 

 ---

  Are you using a laptop and want to know how the power is being used ? There is a built-in application which will create a file containing a power efficiency report for you.

1. From the command line type ("Folder" is the name you supply where you want the report to go): powercfg -energy -output \Folder\Energy_Report.html

---

  Would you like to minimize all of the running application windows in one shot instead of minimizing them one at a time ? Windows 7 has a feature for this called " shake". The window that you are currently using will stay active and the rest will be minimized. Here is how to use it.

1. Click and hold the title bar of the current active window you want to stay on-top. 
2. While holding it with the mouse, shake the item back and forth until all of the other windows are minimized. 
3. Once they are, let go of the mouse button. 
4. Shake the title bar once again to bring them all back.

Popular Microsoft Windows® Short Cuts:

Here is a short list of some of the most popular Windows short cuts. Hopefully, you will spot a few that you do not know about and can use.

• Windows Keyboard Logo Symbol + L: Lock the computer (without using CTRL+ALT+DELETE).

• ALT+TAB: Easily switch between open programs.
• ALT+F4: Quit the program.
• ALT+F4: Closes the current window.

• SHIFT+DELETE: Delete an item permanently.
• SHIFT: Press and hold down the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the automatic-run feature.

• CTRL+ESC: Open Start menu.
• CTRL+C: Copy.
• CTRL+X: Cut.
• CTRL+V: Paste.
• CTRL+Z: Undo.
• CTRL+B: Bold Font.
• CTRL+U: Underline Font.
• CTRL+I: Italic Font.
• CTRL+Z: Undo the last command

A Full List of Microsoft Short Cut Commands Can Be Found In This Key Directory (Listed by Application): http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=Microsoft%20shortcut%20commands&catalog=LCID%3D1033

Microsoft "Undo" and "Redo" Shortcut

Here is a quick Microsoft Windows tip that I often use. They work with most Microsoft Windows based applications. The undo and redo features.

• To "Undo" what you just did or typed, hold down  CTRL and  Z.
• To "Redo" what you just did or typed, hold down CTRL and Y.

That is it. I find this shortcut handy when the program I am using either does not have a menu tool for this feature or it is located deep in the menu. This is quick and simple.

Here are a few more that you probably know, but are used often.

• To "COPY" something, hold down  CTRL and  C.
• To "CUT" something, hold down CTRL and X.
• To "PASTE" something, hold down CTRL and V.

Want to learn more ? Here is a link to a list of common shortcuts provided by Microsoft.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126449 

Windows "Desktop Cleanup" Feature

OK, this is not directly related to chromatography, but I thought that others out there might enjoy this Microsoft Windows tip. Besides being a scientist, I also have provided business and laboratory computer network services to clients for almost two decades. One of the many "annoying" Windows features is the "Desktop Cleanup" feature which pops up on the lower menu bar every sixty days. This annoying little program asks you to review all of the shortcuts on your desktop space to choose which ones you would like to keep. Well, that was one of those "features" that I could do without and promptly disabled it for good. It turns out that it also annoys a large number of my clients too so I would like to pass on how you can disable this feature in Windows XP Pro (other versions of Windows are similar, but I will use XP in this example).

To disable the Windows "Desktop Cleanup" Feature:

 (1) Right click your mouse in an empty area of your desktop.

 (2) Click on 'Properties' (Display Properties).

 (3) Click on the 'Display' tab.

 (4) Click on 'Customize Desktop'.

 (5) Uncheck the box next to "Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days".

 (6) Click 'OK' to exit out of the menus. Done.