command lines??

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is there a set format in them? reason I ask is that there is soo many to learn...

for example drive name:\ file name \ etc

or does they just be mixed up in any way. I hope someone can help me find a way of learning them quicker.

 

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You need to be clearer about what the problem is?

Command line stuff can be a massive range of things, but generally it works similar to the OS. ie if you have a file called putty on the C drive and in the program files directory, then your command line will look something like C:\program files\putty.exe, which would run that program.

I should point out though that's purely example, and wont actually work! lol It's basically a way of doing stuff without the use of a GUI.

 

thanks mate, thats exactly what I was looking for!

Can you tell me more about the GUI method please?

 

GUI = Graphical User Interface. You will use GUI's every day, Windows is essentially a GUI interface, but underlying it simply issues command line options to do the same thing. It is essentially Command line but in pictures. If that makes sense.

You might want to check out Professor Messer's A+ videos if you are very new to computing and looking to learn from the basics. They will explain a lot of things to you that you should know if you want to progress and work in IT.

 

You can always find help on commands by using /? after the command name.

Eg using this command in the command line

Code:

rmdir /?

would give you this output

Code:

Removes (deletes) a directory.

RMDIR [/S] [/Q] [drive:]path
RD [/S] [/Q] [drive:]path

    /S      Removes all directories and files in the specified directory
            in addition to the directory itself.  Used to remove a directory
            tree.

    /Q      Quiet mode, do not ask if ok to remove a directory tree with /S

explaining the switches for that command and the format required when using the command.

HTH

 

thank you soo much coup2te. I was going to watch some of the vids from CBT nuggets and Proffesor Messer.

Would you be kind enough to tell me what is a 'switch' and why do I need to know these i.e the importance or role of them? thanks

 

i'm totally fcked man lol

 

A switch is basically an option on the command line. So you can use different switches to perform task slightly differently.

In Soundians example above you can use rdmir to remove an entire directory, but it may ask you about deleting files within said directory, so using the /Q switch will surpress those messages and all files will be deleted regardless. So switches are basically used to add different functionality to command line

 

No your not, it just takes time to learn new things and in computers there's a lot to learn when starting out. Most of it seems like a foreign language too but as you build your knowledge in time things start to click.

 

Also the command help in the windows command line you will get a list of commands available to you. You can then use the /? switch on that command to see more information about it.

EG:

Code:

C:\>help
For more information on a specific command, type HELP command-name
ASSOC          Displays or modifies file extension associations.
ATTRIB         Displays or changes file attributes.
BREAK          Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking.
BCDEDIT        Sets properties in boot database to control boot loading.
CACLS          Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files.
CALL           Calls one batch program from another.
CD             Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHCP           Displays or sets the active code page number.
CHDIR          Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHKDSK         Checks a disk and displays a status report.
CHKNTFS        Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time.
CLS            Clears the screen.
CMD            Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter.
COLOR          Sets the default console foreground and background colors.
COMP           Compares the contents of two files or sets of files.
COMPACT        Displays or alters the compression of files on NTFS partitions.
CONVERT        Converts FAT volumes to NTFS.  You cannot convert the
               current drive.
COPY           Copies one or more files to another location.
DATE           Displays or sets the date.
DEL            Deletes one or more files.
DIR            Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.
DISKCOMP       Compares the contents of two floppy disks.
DISKCOPY       Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another.
DISKPART       Displays or configures Disk Partition properties.
DOSKEY         Edits command lines, recalls Windows commands, and
               creates macros.
DRIVERQUERY    Displays current device driver status and properties.
ECHO           Displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
ENDLOCAL       Ends localization of environment changes in a batch file.
ERASE          Deletes one or more files.
EXIT           Quits the CMD.EXE program (command interpreter).
FC             Compares two files or sets of files, and displays the
               differences between them.
FIND           Searches for a text string in a file or files.
FINDSTR        Searches for strings in files.
FOR            Runs a specified command for each file in a set of files.
FORMAT         Formats a disk for use with Windows.
FSUTIL         Displays or configures the file system properties.
FTYPE          Displays or modifies file types used in file extension
               associations.
GOTO           Directs the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in
               a batch program.
GPRESULT       Displays Group Policy information for machine or user.
GRAFTABL       Enables Windows to display an extended character set in
               graphics mode.
HELP           Provides Help information for Windows commands.
ICACLS         Display, modify, backup, or restore ACLs for files and
               directories.
IF             Performs conditional processing in batch programs.
LABEL          Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.
MD             Creates a directory.
MKDIR          Creates a directory.
MKLINK         Creates Symbolic Links and Hard Links
MODE           Configures a system device.
MORE           Displays output one screen at a time.
MOVE           Moves one or more files from one directory to another
               directory.
OPENFILES      Displays files opened by remote users for a file share.
PATH           Displays or sets a search path for executable files.
PAUSE          Suspends processing of a batch file and displays a message.
POPD           Restores the previous value of the current directory saved by
               PUSHD.
PRINT          Prints a text file.
PROMPT         Changes the Windows command prompt.
PUSHD          Saves the current directory then changes it.
RD             Removes a directory.
RECOVER        Recovers readable information from a bad or defective disk.
REM            Records comments (remarks) in batch files or CONFIG.SYS.
REN            Renames a file or files.
RENAME         Renames a file or files.
REPLACE        Replaces files.
RMDIR          Removes a directory.
ROBOCOPY       Advanced utility to copy files and directory trees
SET            Displays, sets, or removes Windows environment variables.
SETLOCAL       Begins localization of environment changes in a batch file.
SC             Displays or configures services (background processes).
SCHTASKS       Schedules commands and programs to run on a computer.
SHIFT          Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in batch files.
SHUTDOWN       Allows proper local or remote shutdown of machine.
SORT           Sorts input.
START          Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command.
SUBST          Associates a path with a drive letter.
SYSTEMINFO     Displays machine specific properties and configuration.
TASKLIST       Displays all currently running tasks including services.
TASKKILL       Kill or stop a running process or application.
TIME           Displays or sets the system time.
TITLE          Sets the window title for a CMD.EXE session.
TREE           Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or
               path.
TYPE           Displays the contents of a text file.
VER            Displays the Windows version.
VERIFY         Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are written
               correctly to a disk.
VOL            Displays a disk volume label and serial number.
XCOPY          Copies files and directory trees.
WMIC           Displays WMI information inside interactive command shell.

For more information on tools see the command-line reference in the online help.

 

Firstly an Operating System in reality is made up of lots of parts.

What you are asking about are two things.

The file system and folder structure. In windows this includes drive letters, volumes, symbolic links, mount points, files and directories (folders).

The logical nature of the file system is hierarchical, as can easily be seen in windows explorer. It is a tree. You start at the root usually a drive letter in windows like C:\ and you can drill down into directories, like C:\Windows. This provides a way to organise files logically, like a real life file cabinet, get it 'file system', its a computer version of the older physical filing systems.

Then for the Operating System to do anything useful it need to have programs that do things. The OS is in reality a collection of thousands of programs.

Some of these programs are GUI programs in that they require a windows desktop and open one or more windows. Others are console programs in that they only require a basic text based interface commonly called a command line or shell.

These programs can be configured with switches or parameters just like a GUI app provides options, only here you must specify them with text.

Most programs have a help option which can be accessed with /? or -h

eg

dir /?
cd /?

Go to start/run and type cmd to launch a windows command line.

Then try the above commands followed by return. Try typing help and press return and see what happens, try to learn more commands yourself.

Try typing set followed by return, this will show you the environment variables, find out what an environment variable is.

Try the following commands :-

mkdir
rename
type

Experiment with managing your own files in folders and maybe create some text files with notepad to experiment with.

netstat
tasklist
ipconfig
ping
nslookup
hostname
pathping
tracert

Here you can see that many of the core parts of the OS can be displayed and altered from the command line.

In addition to the 'built in' commands you can install many extra third party commands, as they are just programs that can be installed like any other program. Examples are things like gzip, telnet, putty, wget, tftp, csc, java.

 

WOW WOW WOW. I didnt expect this kind of advice and encouragement. I thought you'd all tell me where to stick it and say tell me I have no business in I.T.

CoupT2 thanks mate, I think that makes sense but I'll need to just remember it :'(

Sir for, Thanks a billion for the encouragement, it really does mean alot.

Dmarsh, what a superb reply mate! I am going to give it try to tommorrow. But I am so greatful that you could put this much time to help a fellow struggling member.

All of you are liked and repped!

My main aim with this certification is doing whatever I can to get into 1st line and then with industry expereince move to 2nd line. How much of this 70-680 would be actually applicable to the job? Shall i concentrate my efforts elsewhere? different cause? I am trying to find work experience, but it is difficult.

But thanks again, it really means alot to me. You have no idea.