A CMD file is a script file that holds one or more plain-text commands that can be used to carry out different activities. It is comparable to a batch of executable commands stored in a .BAT file, which is another popular file type. With the debut of Windows NT in the early 1990s, CMD files were introduced and are still supported by later versions of the Windows operating system. Scripts are frequently written to carry out repetitive operations that involve several steps, like opening and converting files within programs, backing up files, or scheduling computer sleep for a specific period.
In Windows, you may execute commands contained in a CMD file by double-clicking the file or by running it through the Command Prompt (CMD.EXE) tool. To avoid accidentally executing commands in the improper Windows environment, CMD files cannot be opened in COMMAND.COM, unlike BAT files. You must first navigate to the location of the CMD file and then hit "Enter" in order to launch it in Command Prompt. Text editors like Notepad or Wordpad can be used to open and modify CMD files since they hold commands in a plain text format. Additionally, you may use a text editor to write your own CMD scripts by adding one or more commands on separate lines and then saving the file as a CMD file. Because CMD files contain executable commands, malware attacks can be distributed and carried out via them.
What a CMD File Performs
A script with one or more plain-text commands that are invoked to carry out different operations makes up a CMD file. The Microsoft Windows operating system makes extensive use of the CMD files. Usually, these files are designed to carry out multiple commands consecutively. A CMD file has a 128-byte header along with one to eight code or data groups. In its later incarnations, CMD files may additionally include Resident System Extensions (RSXs) and relocation data. The list of groups in the file, together with their types, is located at the beginning of the header. An example of a CMD script that displays system information is shown below.
Opening a CMD File in Windows
You can utilize the Windows+X Power Users menu or look it up in the Start menu to open the Command Prompt. In addition, you can use the Run box, File Explorer, Task Manager, and desktop shortcuts to access the Command Prompt. Press Windows+X, select ‘Command Prompt’ or ‘Command Prompt (Admin)’ to launch the Command Prompt from the Windows+X Power Users menu. Opening Task Manager, selecting the ‘File’ option, ‘Run New Task’, typing ‘cmd’ or ‘cmd.exe’, and clicking ‘OK’ will launch the Command Prompt from Task Manager. Type "cmd" into the Run box, hit Windows+R, then click "OK" to launch the Command Prompt.