Common Windows Command-Line Tools and Their Usage

ipconfig

Function: query the local machine's IP address.

Usage: Open a command prompt and type ipconfig .

msg

Function: send a text message to another computer.

Usage: Know the target computer's IP, then run msg /server:TARGET_IP * YourMessage (replace * with the message content).

net user

Function: view and manage local user accounts.

Usage: Run net user to list accounts; use extensions such as net user username password /add to create a new user.

net share

Function: display shared resources.

Usage: net share lists all shares; net share ShareName /delete removes a specific share.

nslookup

Function: query DNS to find a domain's IP address.

Usage: In the command prompt type nslookup example.com to see the resolved IP.

netsh wlan show profile

Function: reveal details of saved Wi‑Fi profiles, including passwords.

Usage: netsh wlan show profile SSID key=clear (replace SSID with the network name) will display the SSID and clear‑text password if the machine is currently connected.

telnet

Function: connect to remote services; famously used to watch an ASCII version of Star Wars.

Usage: Run telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl and wait for the animation to start.

| (pipe)

Function: redirect the output of a command to another destination, such as the clipboard or a file.

Usage: Append | clip to copy output to the clipboard, or | output.txt to save it to a file.

&& (command chaining)

Function: execute multiple commands sequentially in a single line.

Usage: Place && between commands, e.g., ipconfig && ping 8.8.8.8 , to run the second command only after the first succeeds.