The Windows Command Prompt (CMD) provides a variety of commands that can be used to gather essential system information. These commands are useful for administrators, IT professionals, or users who need quick access to details about their system’s configuration, hardware, software, and network settings.

Key System Information Commands

1. systeminfo

The systeminfo command provides detailed information about the system’s configuration, including the OS version, build number, memory details, network adapter, and more. To use it:

systeminfo

This command will display information such as the OS version, RAM, network adapter details, and uptime.

2. hostname

The hostname command simply returns the computer’s network name or hostname. This is useful for identifying the system in a network environment. To use it:

hostname

It will output the name of the computer.

3. wmic os get caption

The wmic os get caption command provides the exact version of the operating system running on the machine, including its edition (e.g., Windows 10 Pro or Windows Server 2019). To use it:

wmic os get caption

4. ipconfig

The ipconfig command is used to display the IP configuration of a computer’s network interfaces. It shows the system’s IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS servers. To use it:

ipconfig

For more detailed information, use:

ipconfig /all

5. tasklist

The tasklist command provides a list of all currently running processes on the system, along with their Process IDs (PID), memory usage, and other details. To use it:

tasklist

6. chkdsk

The chkdsk command checks the integrity of the file system and disk for errors. It can also attempt to fix any issues found with the disk’s structure. To use it:

chkdsk C:

Replace C: with the desired disk drive letter.

7. msinfo32

The msinfo32 command launches the System Information tool, which provides a comprehensive overview of the system’s hardware resources, software environment, and configuration settings. To use it:

msinfo32

This will open the System Information window.

8. netstat

The netstat command shows the current network connections, routing tables, and various network statistics. It is commonly used for diagnosing network issues or identifying open ports. To use it:

netstat -an

This command will list all active connections and listening ports.

9. driverquery

The driverquery command lists all installed drivers on the system, along with their status, version, and the module they are associated with. To use it:

driverquery

10. set

The set command displays all environment variables and their values for the current session. These variables include system information such as the PATH variable, user profile, and more. To use it:

set

11. net user

The net user command is used to manage user accounts on the system. It allows you to view, create, or modify user accounts. To view all user accounts on the system, use:

net user

To add a new user:

net user "username" "password" /add

To delete a user:

net user "username" /delete

12. ver

The ver command displays the version of the operating system running on the system. This is a quick way to check the version without accessing more detailed information.

ver

13. arp

The arp command is used to view or modify the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) cache, which stores IP addresses and their corresponding MAC addresses. To display the current ARP cache:

arp -a

This will list the IP addresses and MAC addresses of devices that the system has communicated with recently.

14. net group

The net group command is used to manage global groups on a network. You can use it to display or modify the members of a group. To view all groups on a domain:

net group

To view members of a specific group:

net group "GroupName"

15. net localgroup

The net localgroup command allows you to manage local groups on the system. You can add or remove users from local groups. To view all local groups:

net localgroup

To add a user to a local group:

net localgroup "GroupName" "username" /add

To remove a user from a local group:

net localgroup "GroupName" "username" /delete

16. net share

The net share command is used to manage shared resources on the network. It allows you to create, remove, or display shared folders and printers. To view all shared resources:

net share

To create a new share:

net share "ShareName"="C:\Path\to\folder"

To delete a share:

net share "ShareName" /delete

17. net view

The net view command is used to view the computers and shared resources available in a network. It helps to identify all systems that are part of the same network. To display the computers on your local network:

net view

To view the shared resources of a specific computer:

net view \\ComputerName