What Is Command Prompt, How Do I Open and Use It [2022 Guide]

You may be familiar with the Command Prompt, but do you know how to use it to manage disk partitions, resolve disk errors, or run computing tests? To access the Command Prompt, you can search for it in your Start menu, type "cmd" in the Run dialog box (Windows key + R), or press Windows key + X and select Command Prompt. Once open, you can use various command lines to perform specific tasks, such as disk management (e.g.

Welcome to our Windows beginner's guide to mastering Command Prompt! Don't worry if you're new to it - we'll walk you through the basics and help you become a pro in no time. On this page, we'll cover everything you need to know to get started with Command Prompt, from the basics to advanced tips and tricks. Whether you're a complete beginner or just looking to brush up on your skills, we've got you covered.

Note: This page is intended for Windows beginners and provides guidance on using Command Prompt command lines in Windows. If you encounter errors while running these commands, please be careful and cautious when typing them as presented on this page.

Mastering the Command Prompt on Windows computers requires dedication and practice. To get started, familiarize yourself with basic commands like `cd`, `dir`, and `copy`.

What Is Command Prompt

Command Prompt is an interpreter application that executes tasks via command lines in most Windows operating systems. Also known as Windows Command Processor, Command Shell, or CMD prompt, it's sometimes referred to as cmd.exe or even MS-DOS, or the "DOS prompt".

Command Prompt is a widely used tool among Windows administrators and IT professionals, but less popular among beginners due to its complexity. With over 280 commands, each designed to resolve specific issues, mastering the Command Prompt can be challenging. As a result, many Windows users prefer to use alternative tools instead.

A Windows beginner can master the Command Prompt and apply it to resolve basic issues on Windows computers, hard drives, or external storage devices. To do this, simply follow the guidelines below and see how to master Command Prompt on your PC now.

How to Open Command Prompt in Windows 11/10 or Older Windows OS

Here are the five normal ways to open Command Prompt in Windows computers:

#1. Open Command Prompt with Windows + X Keys

To open the Command Prompt in Windows, press the Windows key + X, then select "Command Prompt (Admin)" from the menu, which will launch the Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

#2. Open Command Prompt from Windows Menu or Start Menu

To open the Command Prompt, click the Windows icon or Start icon, scroll down to find Command Prompt in the list, and click on it to open it.

To open Command Prompt in Windows 10/8.1/8 or older systems, you can press the Windows logo key + R to open the Run dialog box, type "cmd" in the box, and then press Enter or click OK. Alternatively, you can type "cmd" in the Windows search bar, and then click on the Command Prompt result to open it.

#3. Open Command Prompt Through the Search Box

To open the Command Prompt, press the Windows key + S keys to open the Search box, type "cmd" or "command prompt" into the search box, and then right-click on Command Prompt from the search results.

And then right-To open Command Prompt as an administrator on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, click on the "Start" button, then select "Command Prompt" and choose "Run as administrator" from the context menu. This will open Command Prompt with elevated privileges.

#4. Open Command Prompt from the Run Dialog

To open the command prompt, press the Windows + R keys, type "cmd" into the dialog box, and click "OK". This will bring up the command prompt in all Windows operating systems.

#5. Open Command Prompt from the Task Manager

To open the Command Prompt on your PC, press Ctrl + Alt + Del to open the Task Manager, click "File" and select "Create a new task", then type "cmd" in the Run dialog and click "OK". This will open up the Command Prompt windows.

Aside from the five methods mentioned, there are additional workarounds that allow you to quickly open and access Command Prompt on a Windows PC. For more information, you can refer to these alternatives.

The Most Important Commands for the Command prompt

Microsoft added over 280 commands to the Command Prompt, allowing administrators and developers to run and execute multiple tasks on Windows computers.

Many Windows beginners find it overwhelming to remember all the command lines, with most of them only needing a few basic commands to get started.

Here are the most important and frequently used commands for the Command Prompt that normal users can apply:

Aside from the three major types of command lines, there are many other types. You can learn the overall commands of Command Prompt on the Windows Commands page.

How to Master Command Prompt in Windows 11/10 to Manage Disk Partitions

Mastering the Command Prompt in Windows 11/10 or older systems can be a challenge for beginners. However, by following the tutorials provided, you can get a full guide to resolving multiple issues on your computer. The tutorials will help you to become proficient in using the Command Prompt, making it easier to navigate and troubleshoot problems on your Windows system.

When your hard drive or storage device is experiencing errors, you can use specific command lines to troubleshoot and fix the issues. To resolve different types of errors, you'll need to run different command lines on your PC. For example, if you're dealing with a corrupted file system, you can use the `chkdsk` command to scan and fix the errors.

#1. Run CHKDSK in Command Prompt - Check and Fix Disk File System Error

CHKDSK is a command that checks and repairs hard disk errors, such as inaccessible external hard drives, on Windows PCs.

• To open Command Prompt as administrator, you can use one of the five methods shown above to open Command Prompt, and then right-click on the Command Prompt window and select "Run as administrator" from the context menu. This will open a new Command Prompt window with elevated privileges.
• The command "chkdsk E: /f /r /x" is used to check and fix file system errors on the E: drive, which can be an internal or external hard drive. The /f option fixes errors, the /r option recovers readable information, and the /x option does not prompt for user input, allowing the command to run automatically.

To access your computer's hard drive partitions, you can use the command "E:\>" in the Command Prompt. Replace "E" with the drive letter of your hard drive partitions, such as "C" or "D".

#2. Run Format Command in Command Prompt - Format or Change Device Format

The format command can be used to change the file system format to FAT32, NTFS, or exFAT, and can also help fix Raw drive or unknown errors on storage devices, such as formatting a USB drive using the command prompt.

• To open Command Prompt as Administrator, right-click on the Start button, select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows Terminal (Admin)" from the context menu, and then click "Yes" on the User Account Control (UAC) prompt to confirm. Alternatively, you can type "cmd" in the Run dialog box (Windows key + R), select the "Run as administrator" option, and then click "OK".
• Type the following command lines to format your target hard drive partitions:

• diskpart
• list disk
• select disk + number (Replace 2 with the number of your USB drive.)
• list volume
• select volume + number (Replace 10 with the volume number of your USB flash drive.)
• format fs=ntfs quick (You can also replace NTFS with FAT32 or exFAT.)
• exit

#3. Run Convert Command in Command Prompt - Switch Disk Type to MBR/GPT

To convert a disk to MBR or GPT using CMD, make sure to backup all files on the target disk first, as the process requires deleting existing partitions, which can lead to data loss.

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• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Here is how to convert disk via Command Prompt:

• Open CMD as Administrator.
• Type the command line here to convert your disk:

• diskpart
• select disk *
• clean
• convert mbr (or convert gpt)

#4. Run Clean/Clean All in Command Prompt - Clean or Erase Hard Drives

The Clean or Clean all Command can be used to quickly and efficiently clean up or erase hard drives. Note that the Clean Command will format and delete all existing partitions on your drive, while the Clean all Command will completely wipe everything on the disk.

Make sure that you are clear about which Command to apply on dealing with your disks, HDDs, SSDs, or even external devices. Here are the steps:

• Open the Command Prompt on your computer and run it with administrator privileges.
• Type the following commands and hit Enter each time:

• diskpart
• list disk
• select disk *
• clean, or, clean all
• exit

#5. Use Create Command in Command Prompt to Create Primary/Logical Partitions

To partition a new hard drive using the command prompt, you can use the Create command to create primary or logical partitions on your disk. This involves opening the command prompt as an administrator, typing the command `create partition primary size=xx`, where xx is the desired size of the partition, and then following up with the command `format fs=ntfs label="partition label"` to format the partition with a file system and assign a label. Alternatively, you can use the `create partition logical` command to create a logical partition, which is useful for creating additional partitions within an existing primary partition.

• Open the Command Prompt tool in Windows as Administrator.
• Type the following command lines and hit Enter each time:

• list disk
• select disk * (Replace * with your selected disk.)
• list partition
• create partition primary size=1024 1024MB is equal to 1 GB. You can replace the command "create partition extended size =*" with "create partition extended size =*" and "create partition logical =*" with "create partition logical =*".
• assign letter=*
• exit

Bonus Tip: Manage and Partition Windows Disks with Command Prompt Alternative - Qiling Partition Master

The Command Prompt can be complex to use, requiring different command lines to execute and resolve various issues. However, a reliable Command Prompt alternative tool, Qiling Partition Master, can simplify the process. This professional partition manager software allows you to partition, manage, and optimize disk partition performance with ease, making you a disk partitioning expert in no time.

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Step 1. Check for free space

To divide a disk partition into multiple ones, ensure there is sufficient free space to allocate for each new partition.

Step 2. Shrink a disk partition to create unallocated space

To resize a partition, start by clicking on the "Resize/Move" feature, then select a partition with a lot of free space. Next, click and drag the partition to the desired size, or enter a specific size in the provided field. Once you've resized the partition, you can move it to a new location on the disk by clicking and dragging it to the desired spot.

To resize the partition, drag either end of it rightwards or leftwards, allowing you to decrease its size as indicated by the red arrow. This will create ample unallocated space, which can be visually monitored in the "Partition size" area. Once you've adjusted the size, click "Proceed" to finalize the changes.

After shrinking a disk, all changes will be saved. On the main window, unallocated space should appear under the same disk as the one that was shrunk.

Step 3. Create a new partition on unallocated space

To turn the unallocated space into a usable partition drive with a recognized file system, right-click on the unallocated space and choose "Create".

To customize the partition information, select a drive letter, partition label, file system (such as NTFS, FAT32, or EXT2/3/4), and other advanced settings from the options provided. Once you're satisfied with your choices, click the "Proceed" button.

The app creates a partition on the unallocated space, and the process can be repeated to create many more partitions on a hard drive.

How to Use Command Prompt Commands to Manage Files in Windows

Some professionals may use partitioning commands in Command Prompt, but they may also run additional commands to manage files and resolve file issues on their devices.

To manage files in Windows using the Command Prompt, you can use various commands. For example, to navigate to a specific directory, use the `cd` command followed by the directory path.

#1. Run Del in Command Prompt - Delete Files

Be careful when using the Del command as it permanently removes files or content from your drive or device, bypassing the Recycle Bin, and can result in the loss of essential files if the wrong device is selected.

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• To delete unwanted files or folders on your drive, you can use the following commands:

• del /s C:\Users\Tim\Documents\Adobe\*.* (Replace C:\User\Tim\Documents\Adobe\*.* with any subfolders on your computer drive.)
• del C:\User\Tim\Downloads\*.exe To delete a file from any drive, replace the path "C:\User\Time\Downloads\" with the actual path where the file is located, and replace the file extension "*.exe" with the actual file extension of the file you want to delete. This will allow you to delete a file in any format on any drive.

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#2. Copy and Move Files Between Local Drives

Aside from deleting files or folders, Command Prompt also allows you to copy and move files from one drive to another local drive in Windows, in addition to deleting files or folders. See how to copy files using the command prompt here.

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• You can type one of the following commands and hit Enter to execute the file copying operation:

• copy c:\**.txt e: The command to copy all .txt files from the C drive to the E drive would be: `copy /y C:\*.txt E:\`. This command uses the `copy` command with the `/y` option to overwrite any existing files, and `C:\*.

(You can replace ** with the name of a specific file or change .txt with other file extensions to copy other types of files, such as .xls. Or, you can even replace c: or e: with other drive directories.)

• Xcopy C:\test D:\test /E /H /C /I That's not correct. The command you provided would delete all files from C: drive and copy them to D: drive, not the other way around.

(You can replace C: and D: with other hard drive directories.) 

Syntax meaning:

• /E — Copies all subdirectories, including any that are empty.
• /H Copies files that are hidden or have system file attributes.
• /C – Even if an error occurs, keep copying.
• /I If you're unsure whether a destination is a file or folder, it's best to assume it's a folder. This approach helps avoid potential issues and ensures a smooth transfer of files.

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#3. Run Attrib Command in Command Prompt - Show Hidden or Lost Files

If your files are missing or hidden on your storage devices, you can use this tool to help recover them. It's designed to scan your devices thoroughly and locate any lost files, allowing you to recover them with ease.

• Open CMD window as an administrator in Windows.
• The commands `ls -a`, `ls -d .*`, `ls -d .

• chkdsk E:/f 
• Y
• E
• attrib -h -r -s E:\*.* /s /d

To fix device errors and find missing or lost files in your storage device, use the Command Prompt by replacing "E" with the drive letter of your device and running the command `chkdsk E: /f /r`. This command scans the device for errors, fixes issues, and recovers recoverable files. Be cautious and back up important files before running the command, as it may delete corrupted files. If unsure, consult Microsoft documentation or seek professional help.

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Command Prompt Is Powerful in Manage Disks and Files, Be Careful While Using It

This page provides an overview of the Command Prompt, including how to open it in Windows, and covers its most important command lines. We also provide detailed steps on how to run these commands to resolve and fix various issues. The Command Prompt is a powerful tool that can be used to troubleshoot and fix problems, and this page aims to guide users through the process of using it effectively.

While running Command Prompt can be powerful and efficient, it's essential to exercise caution as inputting false commands can be dangerous. Be very careful when executing commands.

If you prefer an alternative that fully replaces Command Prompt in managing disks, take Qiling Partition Master for help.

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

If the Command Prompt doesn't work on your PC, you can try running its alternative tool to execute the task first. If that doesn't work, you can try enabling CMD or performing System Restore to bring back Command Prompt to its original state. If you need further assistance, you can refer to the step-by-step guide on "Command Prompt Not Working in Windows 11/10" for help.

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