Command Line

Introduces Windows Terminal, a host for Command Prompt, PowerShell and WSL shells with tabs, panes, themes and customisable shortcuts and launch options.

A first chapter for new PowerShell users: where to find and how to launch it, running it as administrator only when needed, checking your version and what execution policy does.

Reference for chkdsk, which checks a volume's file system for logical and physical errors. Run without switches it only reports status, while /f and /r fix errors and look for bad sectors.

Reference for ipconfig, which shows the current TCP/IP configuration and can refresh DHCP and DNS settings. Switches such as /all, /release, /renew and /flushdns are handy for network troubleshooting.

Reference for ping, which tests IP-level connectivity by sending echo requests and showing round-trip times. Pinging both a name and an IP address helps tell connectivity problems from name resolution problems.

Reference for the System File Checker command, which verifies protected system files and replaces bad versions. Lists switches like /scannow and /verifyonly and notes it needs an administrator account.

Reference for tasklist, which lists the processes running on a local or remote computer, with options for verbose output, filtering and CSV or table formats.

The A to Z reference for the built-in Windows console commands. It also explains the difference between the Command shell and PowerShell and recommends PowerShell for modern automation.

Overview of netsh, a command-line tool for viewing and changing network configuration through contexts such as interface and advfirewall. Microsoft recommends PowerShell for managing networking where possible.

Shows how to use DISM to check whether a Windows image is healthy or repairable and then repair it, with notes on repair sources and when sfc /scannow is a quicker check.