Here is the list of command line tools and the names of almost all common applications that are used by users in the Windows operating system. You can directly run them right from the start menu search bar or the Run box of your Windows system. They are mainly used to save time and do the job efficiently.
Command Line Tools & Applications in Windows
| Common application name | Executable filename / command line |
| Accessibility Options | access.cpl |
| Accessibility Wizard | accwiz.exe |
| Activate Windows | msoobe.exe |
| Active Connections Utility | netstat.exe |
| Add Hardware Wizard | hdwwiz.cpl |
| Add or Remove Programs | appwiz.cpl |
| Address Book | wab.exe |
| Attrib | attrib.exe |
| Backup | ntbackup.exe |
| Boot Configuration Manager | bootcfg.exe |
| Cabinet (CAB) Maker | makecab.exe, diantz.exe |
| Calculator | calc.exe |
| Character Map | charmap.exe |
| Chkdsk | chkdsk.exe |
| Chkntfs | chkntfs.exe |
| Clipbook Viewer | clipbrd.exe |
| Command Prompt | cmd.exe |
| Component Services | dcomcnfg.exe |
| Computer Management | compmgmt.msc |
| Connection Manager Profile Installer | cmstp.exe |
| Control Panel | control.exe |
| Create Shared Folder | shrpubw.exe |
| Date and Time Properties | timedate.cpl |
| DDE Share | ddeshare.exe |
| Device Manager | devmgmt.msc |
| DirectX Management Tool | dxdiag.exe |
| Disk Cleanup | cleanmgr.exe |
| Disk Defragmenter | defrag.exe |
| DiskPart | diskpart.exe |
| Display Properties | desk.cpl |
| Dr. Watson | drwatson.exe, drwtsn32.exe |
| Driver Verifier Manager | verifier.exe |
| DriverQuery | driverquery.exe |
| Event Viewer | eventvwr.exe |
| FAT to NTFS Conversion Utility | convert.exe |
| Fax Console | fxsclnt.exe |
| Fax Cover Page Editor | fxscover.exe |
| File Compare (comp) | comp.exe |
| File Compare (fc) | fc.exe |
| File Expansion Utility | expand.exe |
| File and Settings Transfer Wizard | migwiz.exe |
| Folder Options | control.exe folders |
| Font Viewer | fontview.exe |
| Fonts Folder | control.exe fonts |
| ForceDOS | forcedos.exe |
| Format | format.com<%2 |
Details about some are available here:
Cipher | ChkDsk | Attrib | CMD | Cleanmgr | Diskpart.
Take a look at this Windows Command Line Tools Reference Guide from Microsoft too.
You do not have to really type .exe and .com when dealing with file extensions in DOS mode. If the extensions are something other than .exe or .com, you have to type it in full. Like if you want to use appwiz.cpl, you will have to type it completely but if you want to use format command, you can simply type “format” without the extension.
Simple and straight with no mazes: that is, or was, the beauty of DOS. Too bad that Microsoft did not keep it alive. It could have maintained two distinct operating systems: one CLI based DOS and one GUI based Windows.