Command Line Tools
Grow with Google: IT Support Certificate
Sections
Software and hardware troubleshooting tools
File management
Disk management
Other tools
Networking troubleshooting tools
Network information
Information and diagnostics
Group management
Software and hardware troubleshooting tools
File management
The following commands allow you to copy files from the command line.
opy
c
Linux: cp
opy files by moving them from one location to another, such as from one drive to
c
another
xample: A company decides to upgrade its computers, but it’s still using the
E
same operating system and wants to keep its data and files intact. The IT
administrator can use copy to move the files and directories from the older
computers to the newer computers. The newer computers will now have
duplicates of the files.
file system, and drives.
Command Line Tools
Grow with Google: IT Support Certificate
hkdsk
c
Linux: fsck
check both the file system and its metadata for physical and logical errors
hkdsk /f
c
check the drive and repair any issues
xample: A user goes to an IT professional about a computer that has problems
E
opening files, and is not bringing up apps and programs the user needs. The IT
professional uses the chkdsk tool to scan the drive and display the status of the
disk. Chkdsk finds problem sectors in the disk. The IT professional uses chkdsk
and the /f switch to repair the drive.
sfc
heck the system for corrupted files and look for cached copies of the files to try to
C
repair them
xample: A computer is having problems running. It is constantly displaying
E
error warnings and periodically shuts down. The IT administrator first runs sfc to
look for and fix corrupted files before taking any further steps.
displays the first 10 lines of the [Link] file
format
Reset the drive and erase all the data, only putting in data needed to operate the disk
xample: A user has been trying to start a computer, but it won’t consistently
E
start. When it does go on, it doesn’t stay on long enough to perform any tasks.
There may be a virus on the drive, bad sectors, or a number of other problems.
After explaining to the user all the data on the drive will be erased and getting
permission from the user, an IT professional formats the computer’s drives,
display the current version of Windows
Command Line Tools
Grow with Google: IT Support Certificate
xample: A new administrator needs information on which version of Windows
E
is being used on company computers. The administrator runs winver to get this
information.
Networking troubleshooting tools
Network information
his group of commands helps you gather information about the network that you
T
might need to troubleshoot and solve issues.
pconfig
i
Linux (later version): ip
Linux (older versions): ipconfig
display the current network configuration information
pconfig /all
i
display full configuration information for all adapters
xample: A user’s computer can’t connect to the Internet. The IT professional
E
goes to the command line and uses ipconfig to check the status of the
connection. They see the ip address as [Link] and knows the computer is not
communicating with the DHCP server. This gives the IT professional important
information on how to start fixing the problem.
ing
p
Linux: ping
display the name of one device on a network
Command Line Tools
Grow with Google: IT Support Certificate
xample: The IT manager needs to find the names of multiple computers on a
E
local network. The IT manager uses the hostname tool to find the systems’
names.
Information and diagnostics
his group of commands gives the IT administrator information about network activity
T
and user statistics. It also contains commands that help diagnose network issues.
etstat
n
Linux: netstat
isplay statistics about network activity and configuration, such as user information
d
about passive and active sockets
xample: An IT administrator needs to know which sockets are active and how
E
many there are. The administrator uses netstat to get the information.
slookup
n
Linux: nslookup
obtain DNS record information by sending queries to the domain name server
xample: An IT administrator needs to find information from DNS properties, so
E
the administrator uses the nslookup tool with the set all parameters and is able
to find the current configuration settings for the computer’s DNS properties.
net user
add or modifies user accounts, or display user account information
xample:Acomputerinthecompanywhichallowsexternalusersaccessfrom
E
othercomputersishavingproblems.Hugeamountsoffilesstartappearingon
Command Line Tools
Grow with Google: IT Support Certificate
xample: An IT professional uses gpresult to examine the RSoP policy already in
E
place. The IT professional then finds the access weakness described and
updates the group policy using gpupdate to protect the system.
