Command-Line Tools

Let’s face it; the command-line interface, or CLI, is where the extreme techs live. Some things are just easier to do in the command line, or the functionality needed might be accessible only in the command line. In this section we cover two groups of commands: First, ones that run from within Windows, and second, ones that should be run within the Recovery Console (XP) or the Command Prompt option in WinRE’s System Recovery Options (Vista). Commands use what are known as switches. For example, if you typed DIR /?, the switch would be /?. Switches are also referred to as parameters or options.

Windows Command Prompt

Microsoft’s name for the command line is the Command Prompt. The Command Prompt can be found in Start > All Programs > Accessories. However, if you troubleshoot Windows Vista, you probably need to run the Command Prompt in elevated mode (as an administrator), which can be done in one of two ways: