Windows tools

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These tools and references are useful for system administration in Microsoft Windows.

Windows commands[edit]

winipcfg ipconfig
W98 and W2k+ command to get network config
ipconfig /registerdns
refresh dhcp & reregister dns
cmd
command shell
XP/2000 commands and tools
list of command line tools equivalent to various windows GUI tools
Microsoft W2k server command reference
documentation for all commands
Microsoft Windows XP command reference
control
run control pannel parts [1]
control appwiz.cpl
Add/Remove programs
control wuaucpl.cpl
Automatic updates
devmgmt.msc
device management
control desktop
display properties
control desk.cpl
display properties
control color
display properties: appearance
verifier
driver verifier utility
eventvwr.msc
event viewer
control folders
folder properties
gpedit.msc
group policy editor (xp profesional only)
ncpa.cpl
network connections
netsetup.cpl
network setup wizard
mstsc
remote desktop
sysedit
system configuration editor
sfc /scannow
system file checker : scan immediately
sfc /scanonce
system file checker: scan once at next boot
control nusrmgr.cpl
user account management
firewall.cpl
firewall manager
wupdmgr
windows update launches
write
wordpad

Tools[edit]

archiving[edit]

disk space management and copying[edit]

dirgraph
graph disk usage
local mirror: exe / 20bin / 20src
dd rescue
efficently image copy disks with bad blocks (untested, linux based)
xxcopy
copy directory directory trees, but don't abort on errors (untested)

system administration and diagnostics[edit]

autoruns
view automatically started programs (sysinternals)
process explorer
explore processes and resource use (sysinternals)
tcpview
explore open network ports and what is using them (sysinternals)
ShareEnum
scan for open network shares on remote computers (sysinternals)
AccessEnum
scan access permissions for files or registry entries (sysinternals)
startup control pannel
similar to autoruns
PsLogList
alternate interface to the event viewer (includes remote access) (sysinternals)
pg and contig
sysinternals single file defragmenters
defraggler
defragment specified files
Windows Update Diagnostics
Microsoft page to diagnose Windows Update
WGA Diagnostic Tool
Downloadable tool that fixes most Windows Update problems
AccessChk
shows what accesses a specified user or group has to files, Registry keys or Windows services
malware scanning tools
Ad-Aware and other malware tools listed in Help:Badware
putty
very small ssh terminal client
ultimate boot cd
(untested?) rescue boot CD for windows
XPY
disable extaneous windows built in features
Why Reboot?
Lists pending operations after installs that need a reboot to complete
Packetstuff
Network tools that can be run straight off of a USB
DirectoryFixer from http://www.somacon.com
remove or rename files with strange names
SubInAcl (microsoft)
manipulate file permissions
windbg
microsoft dump analyzer [2]
regdiff
make and compare registry dumps, make sorted registry patches, etc.

optimizations and fixes[edit]

misc[edit]

Office2007 Compatibility Pack
converter for Office 2003
Synergy
Control multiple computers with one keyboard and mouse (one at a time)
Vbscript
general purpose scripting language
Microsoft User Profile Hive Cleanup Service
fixes slow shutdowns and romaing profile problems

recovery tips[edit]

XP and earlier[edit]

  1. Boot from your XP Setup CD and enter the Recovery Console or something like BartPE
  2. try chkdsk first (then reboot)...

If HAL.DLL missing, boot recovery and try:

  1. Run Attrib -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini
  2. Del C:\Boot.ini
  3. Run Bootcfg /Rebuild (rebuild boot.ini with correct parameters for XP and earlier)
  4. Run Fixboot (replace partition boot sector)

If OS missing, try

  • FixMBR (replaces master boot sector)

See also Harry O's Windows XP Repair tips

Alternate method to repair boot sectors: use ms-sys from a unix boot disk. (Ubuntu live boot: apt-get install ms-sys )

Vista and later[edit]

  • Run bcdedit for windows vista and later
  • Use bootrec to restore boot sectors or rebuild the BCD
  • bootsec (windows 7+ ?)
  • bcdboot c:\windows

Windows update repair[edit]

boot repair procedure[edit]

  1. boot system rescue cd and use smartctl to make sure the drive is not failing
  2. look in /proc/partitions and mount each filesystem read only to see if they are ok
  3. If MBR, make sure there is an active partition
  4. boot windows recovery mode or PXE environment; try windows boot repair or do it manually as follows
  5. chkdsk /f c: to repair filesystem
  6. bootsec (?) to repair MBR
  7. bcdboot c:\windows to rebuild BCD

Install tools[edit]

unattended[edit]

Boot managers[edit]

disk imagers[edit]

patches[edit]

Vista[edit]

Windows 8[edit]

multimedia[edit]

vlc
"plays everything"
Windows XP Creativity Fun Pack PowerToys Wallpaper Changer
Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP

communication[edit]

Useful Guides[edit]

See also[edit]

External websites[edit]

Retrieved from "http://newton.i2lab.ucf.edu/w/index.php?title=Windows_tools&oldid=13027"