Weekly quickTIP

Vista EXE Deep Dive, Part 2

Now, a list of "m" through "z" of the Vista command-line tools.

• By Greg Shields
• 06/16/2008

So, without further ado, I present to you the remaining 88 -- letters "m" through "z":

makecab.exe -- Cabinet file creation utility.
mem.exe -- Displays the amount of used and free memory on the local system.
mountvol.exe -- Creates, deletes, or lists volume mount points.
mrinfo.exe -- Queries multicast routers for interface and neighbor information.
msg.exe -- Sends network messages to users and computers.
msiexec.exe -- Used for installing Microsoft Installer files.
mtedit.exe -- Migration Table Editor for domain migrations.
nbtstat.exe -- Used for displaying NetBIOS networking information.
net.exe -- Used for managing multiple network and system components.
net1.exe -- Used for managing multiple network and system components.
netcfg.exe -- Manages the installation of network components.
netsh.exe -- Manages network configurations.
netstat.exe -- Displays statistics and information about network connections.
nlsfunc.exe -- Loads country-specific information.
nslookup.exe -- Displays information about IP address to name mapping.
ocsetup.exe -- Sets up Windows optional components.
odbcconf.exe -- Manages MDAC installation.
openfiles.exe -- Lists and disconnects open files on the local system.
pathping.exe -- Displays simultaneous ping and tracert information.
Ping.exe -- Displays information about network connectivity to a remote computer.
PkgMgr.exe -- Manages features and packages for Windows Vista.
PnPUnattend.exe -- Unattended online plug-and-play driver install utility.
PnPutil.exe -- Plug-and-play driver install utility.
powercfg.exe -- Manages power configuration.
print.exe -- Used for printing text files.
printui.exe -- Manages printer configurations.
qappsrv.exe -- Displays the available Terminal Servers on the network.
qprocess.exe -- Displays information about local and remote computer processes.
query.exe -- Used for displaying process, session, terminal server, and user information for local and remote computers.
quser.exe -- Displays information about logged in users.
qwinsta.exe -- Displays information about Terminal sessions.
rasautou.exe -- Remote access dialer utility.
rasdial.exe -- Remote access dialer utility.
rasphone.exe -- Remote access dialer utility.
recover.exe -- Recovers readable information from a defective disk.
reg.exe -- Views and manipulates the Windows registry.
regini.exe -- Views and manipulates the Windows registry.
regsvr32.exe -- Used for registering and unregistering DLL and ActiveX controls.
relog.exe -- Used for converting, concatenating, and changing the sampling rate on Performance Monitor log files.
replace.exe -- Replaces files.
reset.exe -- Resets a user or console session.
Robocopy.exe -- Rich utility for copying files.
route.exe -- Displays and manipulates network routing tables.
RpcPing.exe -- Pings a server using the RPC protocol.
runas.exe -- Launches executables in the context of a different user.
rundll32.exe -- Enables command line access to DLL functions.
runonce.exe -- Sets an executable to run at next reboot.
rwinsta.exe -- Resets a user or console session.
sc.exe -- Views and modifies service configurations.
schtasks.exe -- Views and modifies scheduled tasks.
sdbinst.exe -- Registers custom compatibility databases created with the Compatibility Administration tool.
SecEdit.exe -- Manages Security Configuration Wizard policies.
setver.exe -- Sets the version number MS-DOS reports to a program.
setx.exe -- Creates, views, and modifies environment variables.
sfc.exe -- Scans the integrity of protected system files and replaces incorrect files.
shadow.exe -- Used for remote control of Terminal Services sessions.
shutdown.exe -- Shuts down local and remote computers and displays reasons for shutdowns.
sort.exe -- Used for sorting data resulting from other commands.
subst.exe -- Associates a path with a drive letter.
sxstrace.exe -- Trace utility for Windows side-by-side.
systeminfo.exe -- Displays information about OS configuration for local and remote computers.
takeown.exe -- Enables an administrator to take ownership of a file or folder.
taskkill.exe -- Kills processes on local and remote computers.
tasklist.exe -- Lists running processes on local and remote computers.
tcmsetup.exe -- Telephony client setup.
timeout.exe -- Used in scripts and batch files to pause between steps.
tracerpt.exe -- Manipulates performance trace reports.
tracert.exe -- Displays routing information between source and target network locations.
tscon.exe -- Attaches a user session to a Terminal Server session.
tsdiscon.exe -- Disconnects a Terminal Server session.
tskill.exe -- Kills a Terminal Server process.
typeperf.exe -- Enables display of performance counter information at the command prompt.
unlodctr.exe -- Unloads counter names and explain text for performance counters.
vssadmin.exe -- Views and manages Volume Shadow Copy settings.
w32tm.exe -- Views and manages Windows Time.
waitfor.exe -- Used in scripts and batch files to pause for a system signal.
wbadmin.exe -- Manages Windows Backups.
wecutil.exe -- Creates and manages Windows Event Log subscriptions.
wevtutil.exe -- Views and manages Windows Event Log information.
where.exe -- Used in scripts and batch files to display the location of files which match a search pattern.
whoami.exe -- Displays username, group, and SID information.
winrs.exe -- Used to remotely launch processes on other computers.
WinSAT.exe -- Runs Windows System Assessment tests.
wscript.exe -- Launches an instance of Windows script host.
WSManHTTPConfig.exe -- Installs and uninstalls Web Services for Management functionality.
wuauclt.exe -- Manages Windows Update client configuration.
wusa.exe -- Standalone installer for Windows Updates.
xcopy.exe -- Copies files and folders.

A special thanks to Microsoft for the "/?" switch, where some of this informational text was compiled from. I plan to print out this sheet and keep it handy for reminding me of all the command-line functionality an OS like Windows Vista provides.

Next week, I'll conclude this series by showing you the 80 different EXEs within the System32 folder that can be used to launch GUI-based wizards and control panels for further administration.