Why Use Command Prompt?

Command Prompt provides direct access to core Windows functions. It enables deep maintenance and repairs that many graphical tools cannot perform. Think of it as tuning the engine directly — efficient, low-overhead, and effective.

Important: Run as Administrator

Most commands below require elevated privileges. To open an elevated Command Prompt:

1. Click Start and type cmd.
2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Section 1: Diagnose & Repair Core System Files

Corrupted system files commonly cause slowdowns and instability. Start with these commands.

Repair the Windows Component Store (DISM)

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

What it does: Repairs the Windows image that other repair tools rely on. This can take 10–20 minutes.

When to use: Run this before sfc /scannow if you suspect deep corruption or if SFC fails.

Scan and Repair System Files (SFC)

sfc /scannow

What it does: Scans protected system files and replaces damaged ones from the component store.

When to use: After running DISM or when the system behaves abnormally.

Section 2: Deep Cleaning & Disk Optimization

Disk clutter and errors can drastically reduce performance. These commands help recover space and fix disk issues.

Check and Repair Disk Errors (CHKDSK)

chkdsk C: /r

What it does: Scans the drive for logical and physical errors, attempts recovery, and marks bad sectors.

When to use: If the PC crashes, shows disk warnings, or experiences slow read/write speeds. You will likely be asked to schedule this at the next restart; type Y and reboot.

Graphical Disk Cleanup

cleanmgr

What it does: Opens Disk Cleanup, a safe tool for removing temporary files, old Windows updates, and emptying the Recycle Bin. Click "Clean up system files" for additional options.

Aggressive Temporary File Deletion

del /q /f /s %TEMP%\*
del /q /f /s %SystemRoot%\Temp\*

What it does: Deletes temporary files from user and system temp folders. "File in use" errors are normal and can be ignored.

Optimize Your Drives (DEFRAG)

defrag C: /O

What it does: Defragments files on HDDs for faster access; sends TRIM to SSDs to maintain performance. Use regularly for HDDs; occasionally for SSDs.

Section 3: Network & App Store Resets

Network issues or a misbehaving Windows Store can make your whole PC feel unresponsive. Use these commands to reset common problem areas.

Reset Windows Store Cache

wsreset.exe

What it does: Clears the Microsoft Store cache. When complete, the Store will open automatically.

Flush DNS Cache

ipconfig /flushdns

What it does: Clears the DNS resolver cache — useful when web pages load slowly or domain resolution fails.

Reset Network Stack & Renew IP

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

What it does: Resets network components and renews the IP address. Restart your PC after running these commands.

Section 4: Advanced System Tuning

Fine-tune power settings and disable truly unnecessary services to free resources — but proceed with caution.

List Power Plans

powercfg /list

Shows available power plans and their GUIDs.

Set Active Power Plan

powercfg /setactive <GUID>

Activates the specified plan. Use this to enable High Performance or revert to Balanced.

Manage Services (Advanced)

net stop <Service_Name>
sc config <Service_Name> start=disabled

Note: Only stop or disable services if you are certain they are safe to remove. Disabling essential services can cause instability.

To find a service name: press Win + R, type services.msc, open the service and copy the Service name.

Wrapping Up

Working through these Command Prompt commands addresses many common causes of slowdowns: file corruption, disk errors, network issues, and unnecessary background services. Some commands are one-time fixes, while others (Disk Cleanup, Defrag, SFC) are worth running periodically.