47 Useful Windows Vista Command-Line Utilities

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Introduction

Have you ever tried to find a specific app in Vista, and when you did find it, how many mouse clicks did it take you to get there? 2, 3,...10? how many? If this has happened to you, then this is what you need. This app has 47 of the most commonly used command line functions(Example: RunDll32.exe, shell32.dll, Control_RunDll, appwiz.cpl, 0). This brings up the Add/Remove Programs dialog form. Copy and Paste this in your Start, Search box (and press the Enter key) to see what happens.

Typing these command lines and using multiple mouse clicks gets a little tiresome when trying to get to a specific point in the Vista arsenal of apps. So, I put all 47 commands in button click events.

Background

This program is not what I had intended. I was searching the net for a list of .NET DLLs and all their functions when I came across this site which can be viewed here. This site has a few tips-n-tricks and the 47 command lines that I use in the program.

All the command lines use 'RunDll32.exe' as a starting point, then the arguments list follows. The arguments consist of a few *.dll and *.cpl files that are all located in the 'C:\Windows\System32\' folder.

Problems... Always Problems

The first and only problem I came across was 'How do I execute these command lines in a button_click event?' I am not well versed in VB, but, I am learning. After a few failures and racking my brain, I decided to check out the Process Component in the tool box. I searched the properties and saw the 'Arguments, FileName, and Working Directory properties.' This was everything I needed to execute the command lines. The code is given below:

Public Class frmUtilities
    Inherits Form
    Dim fileArgs As String
    Dim path As String = "C:\Windows\System32\"

    Private Sub btnAddRemove_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As 

System.EventArgs) Handles btnAddRemove.Click
        fileArgs = "shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL appwiz.cpl,,0"
        cmdProcess.StartInfo.Arguments = fileArgs
        cmdProcess.StartInfo.WorkingDirectory = path
        cmdProcess.StartInfo.FileName = "RunDll32.exe"
        cmdProcess.Start()
        cmdProcess.WaitForExit()
        Me.Focus()
        Me.Show()
    End Sub

    Private Sub btnContAdvisor_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e 

As System.EventArgs) Handles btnContAdvisor.Click
        fileArgs = "msrating.dll,RatingSetupUI"
        cmdProcess.StartInfo.Arguments = fileArgs
        cmdProcess.StartInfo.WorkingDirectory = path
        cmdProcess.StartInfo.FileName = "RunDll32.exe"
        cmdProcess.Start()
        cmdProcess.WaitForExit()
        Me.Focus()
        Me.Show()
    End Sub
    'Continues on
    'with the rest
    'of the 47 button-click events.
End Class 

CAUTION

All the Delete button click events 'DO NOT' bring up any dialog windows. They start automatically. Be careful when using these click events. Make back-ups of all your files and stuff you will want to keep. An ounce of prevention... you know the rest.

WINDOWS XP USERS: You will have to do some digging on your own to find the correct '*.cpl' files to use in some of these. Vista uses 'inetcpl.cpl' and XP might use 'inet.cpl'. I'm not sure about the exact file name so do some research on this subject before use.

UPDATES

I just added some message boxes for the delete buttons giving you a choice to delete or not to delete. I also fixed the Internet Options fileArgs to work correctly and I disabled the Open With button because it had no use in this program. Special thanks goes to Hans Dietrich for his idea on the message box implementation.

History

• 25^th January, 2009: Initial post

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)