COMMAND PROMPT AND RUFUS

By:
ROBLES, ANDREIN B.
PALIMA, KING JOSEPH DOMINGO
OLIVER, ANDREI
DELOYOLA, AARON
URGEL, JANIEL

11-CSS DISIPLINADO

WHAT IS CMD(COMMAND PROMPT)

CMD, also known as Command Prompt,Is a command-line interpreter in WindowsThat provides
direct interaction with the operating system through text-based commands. Unlike graphical
interfaces(GUIs), CMD allows precise and advanced system management, especially for tasks
requiring automation or debugging.
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF CMD
1981: CMD originates from MS-DOS(Microsoft Disk operating system), introduced by
Microsoft for IBM PCs(International Business Machines).
1993: Windows NT integrates CMD as a continuation of MS-DOS functionality, but with
improvements for multi-user and multi tasking systems.
2001 Onward: Windows XP and subsequent versions maintain CMD for backward compatibility,
even as PowerShell emerges with more powerful features.
CORE FUNCTIONALITIES OF CMD
CMD is is a powerful tool for managing files, systems and networks. Below is a more detailed
breakdown of its capabilities.
FILE AND DIRECTORY MANAGEMENT:
-View Files and Folders: dir lists the contents of a directory, including hidden and system files.
Navigate Directories: cd changes the working directory, and cd moves one level.
FILE OPERATIONS:
-Copy duplicates files, del delete files, move transfers files from one location to another, rename
changes the name of files or directories.

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System Management and Troubleshooting Check Disk Health:
chkdsk scans and repairs disk errors. System File Check: sfc /scannow ensures critical system
files are intact and replaces corrupted ones. Process Management: tasklist lists all active
processes, and taskkill terminates specific ones. Boot Repair: Commands like bootrec /fixmbr
and bootrec /fixboot repair bootloader issues.
NETWORKING
Network Diagnostics:
- ipconfig displays network adapter configurations.
-ping tests connectivity to another device or server.
-Tracert traces the route of packets to a specific address.
-netstat shows active network connections and ports in use.
FILE SHARING:
-Net share, shares directories over a network.
-Net use connects to shared network recources.
WHAT IS RUFUS
Rufus is a lightweight application for creating bootable USB drives. It is commonly used to
install operating systems or perform low-level system repairs.
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION
2011:Pete Batard released Rufus as an open-source alternative to tools like UNetbootin.
2012-2020: Rufus added support for GPT/UEFI booting, ISO Hybrid imaging, and persistent
storage.
2021-2024: Continues to update for modern OS versions, including support for Windows 11's
TPM and Secure Boot requirements.
ADVANCED COMMANDS
Environment Variables: Use set to define variables or modify system paths.
Power Management: shutdown /s /t 0 shuts down the system, while /r restarts it.
Registry Access: reg query reads the Windows Registry, and reg add modifies it.

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APPLICATIONS
IT professionals use CMD for managing systems, diagnosing network issues, and scripting
routine tasks.
Developers rely on CMD for compiling code or executing version control tools like Git.
Hobbyists use CMD for tweaking or customizing their systems.
FEATURES AND FUNCTIONALITIES
-Bootable Media Creation
-Rufus can write bootable images to USB drives from ISO, IMG, or DD files:
-ISO Images: Popular for Windows, Linux, or custom OS installation.
-DD Images: Low-level binary disk images.
-Persistent Storage: Available for certain Linux distributions, allowing users to save files and
settings on the USB.
Partition Schemes
-MBR (Master Boot Record): Compatible with older BIOS systems.
-GPT (GUID Partition Table): Designed for modern UEFI systems, allowing larger disk sizes
and more partitions.
FILE SYSTEM SUPPORT
Supports formatting USB drives in:
FAT32: Default for many operating systems but limited to 4GB file sizes.
NTFS: Required for large files and Windows-specific environments.
exFAT: Cross-compatible with Windows and macOS.
Advanced Options
Cluster size configuration.
Bad block detection for faulty USB drives.
Selection of bootloaders like Syslinux or GRUB

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SPEED
Rufus is optimized for speed:
Approximately twice as fast as tools like UNetbootin or Universal USB Installer.
Benchmarking shows faster ISO extraction and writing.
APPLICATIONS
OS Installation: Prepares bootable media for operating systems like Windows 10/11, Ubuntu,
Fedora, etc.
System Recovery: Creates live USBs for diagnostics and repair.
Firmware Updates: Flash tools like BIOS or motherboard updates.
Windows To Go: Sets up a portable Windows environment.
PRACTICAL COMPARISON
Advanced Tips and Lesser-Known Details
CMD
Run as Administrator: Some commands (e.g., sfc /scannow) require elevated permissions.
Wildcard Operators:Use * and ? for pattern matching in commands like del or dir.
Example: del *.txt deletes all .txt files in the directory.
Redirect Output: Save command outputs to a file with >.
Example: ipconfig > network.txt saves the output of ipconfig to network.txt.
RUFUS
Non-Bootable Formatting: Rufus can format USB drives as regular storage, even without
creating bootable media.
Windows 11 Compatibility: Rufus bypasses TPM/Secure Boot requirements for Windows 11
installations.
Command-Line Access: Rufus supports CLI options for automation and integration into scripts.
In practical terms, CMD is a versatile tool for various system tasks but requires a certain level of
expertise, especially for creating bootable USB drives. Rufus, on the other hand, is specialized
for that purpose and excels in user-friendliness and efficiency, making it the preferred choice for
most users looking to create bootable USB drives without the complexity of command-line
operations.

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