24/11/2025
Essential IT Support Commands Every Beginner
Should Know
- Starting out in IT Support can feel like you're
suddenly responsible for saving the entire planet,.
one slow PC and one angry "why is the WiFi down?'
employee at a time.
But here's the good news: most of the daily chaos
and problems can be handled with literally a few
simple commands, Think of these like your toolbox
your cheat codes, your "I actually know what I'm
doing"' buttons
When the PC is running slow
- When a computer starts acting like it needs
coffee, these commands help you find the problem
and smooth things out
• temp - System temporary fles, highlight all and
delete it because it'l only take up space and slow
your PE
‣ %temp% - User temporary fles (the ones people
forget exist) same as temp, you don't need it
prefetch- Cached program Ailes
• cleanmgr - Disk Cleanup
‣ taskmgr - Check who's eating the CPU like a buffet
• msconfg - Control startup programs ‣ services.msc - Stop heavy or stuck services ‣ control update - Check for updates the sustem has been nagging about
‣ sfc /scannow - Scan and repair system files • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth - Deep repair magic
• chkdsk f - Fix disk issues
‣ powercfg.cpl- Power settings (yes, power-saving mode can slow things down)
‣ Use when: the PC freezes, lags, takes 3 years to boot, or sounds like it's preparing for takeoff
When you're facing network issues
- Internet not working? Users panicking? Perfect time to shine
‣ Dinc - See if the connection is alive • iconfic - IP details
ipconfig/release +ipconfig-/renew - Reset your IP like a fresh start
" ipconfig /flushdns - Clear bad DNS cache • nslookup - Check if DNS knows the domain
• tracert - Find where the connection 's dying
‣ netsh winsock reset - Network stack reset.
Use when: websites don't load, internet keeps
dropping, DNS acts confused, or users start
blaming you personally.
‣ General sustem troubleshootinc
- The behind-the-scenes tools that help you figure
out what Windows is hiding.
‣ eventvwr - Views sustem and application logs
• tasklist - View processes running
• wmic diskdrive get status - Quick disk health check control frewall.cpl- Firewall settings
• devmamt.msc - Device Manager (drivers, drivers,
drivers)
In the end, These commands won't turn you into a
senior engineer overnight, but they will make your
life way easier, They hel> you work smarter,
troubleshoot faster, and look confident even when
the printer starts making noises you've never heard
before,
Trust me ... Master these, and you're already ahead
of half the room.