Managing computers
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
Managing computers
Using the Windows interface
Using command-line tools
Using the Windows interface
The following table lists some of the most common tasks for managing computers, and the tools you can use to perform them. For more information, click the corresponding link under Tool or Feature.
| Task | Tool or feature |
|---|---|
On a single local or remote computer: create and manage shared resources, view a list of users who are connected to the computer, or view device configurations and add new device drivers. |
|
Use a graphical view of the hardware that is installed on your computer; if necessary, update the drivers for hardware devices, modify hardware settings and troubleshoot problems. |
|
Monitor security and other events that occur on a local or remote computer, including hardware and software-generated events, and system problems. |
|
Create a specific desktop configuration for a group of users (for example, programs available to users, programs that appear on the user's desktop, Start menu options). |
|
Install hardware and manage hardware-related issues. |
|
Secure and manage user accounts and groups stored locally on a computer. |
|
Create, save, and open administrative tools (in the form of snap-ins) that manage hardware, software, and network components of a local or remote computer, or multiple computers. |
|
Manage how a computer connects to the network. |
|
Connect computers to printers. |
|
View or edit configuration information on a computer. |
|
On local or remote computers: display system configuration information, such as hardware configurations, computer components, installed software, and driver information. |
|
View and change system properties on a local or remote computer. |
|
Manage user profiles. |
|
Manage a single or multiple local or remote computers in a single command. |
|
Synchronize time on the computers in your network. |
For more information about deploying computers, see "Part 1: Client Deployments" at the Microsoft Windows Resource Kits Web site.
Using command-line tools
The following table lists some of the most common tasks for managing computers, and the command-line tools you can use to perform them. For more information, click the corresponding link under Command-line tool.
| Task | Command-line tool |
|---|---|
Configure, query, or change Boot.ini file settings. |
|
Manage Terminal Services. |
|
Display or change the identification number of an active console code page. |
|
Install or removes a Connection Manager service profile. |
|
Displays the current system date setting. Used without parameters, date displays the current system date setting and prompts you to type a new date. |
|
Display properties for all installed device drivers. |
|
Create a custom event in a specified event log. |
|
List the events and event properties from one or more event logs. |
|
Display and configure event triggers on local or remote computers. |
|
Display a comprehensive view of the hardware, system components, and software environment on the local computer. |
|
Display and configure the virtual memory paging file on a computer. |
|
Detect floating point division error (if present) in the Pentium chip, disable floating point hardware, or start floating point emulation. |
|
Control the power settings on a computer. |
|
Check Terminal Services status information. |
|
Automate the connection process for any Microsoft client. |
|
Add, change, or displays registry subkey information and values in registry entries. |
|
Register .dll files as command components in the registry. |
|
Reset (delete) a session from a terminal server. |
|
Run commands on remote computers running the Rexec service (daemon); authenticates a user name on a remote computer before executing a command. |
|
Run commands on remote computers running the RSH service or daemon. |
|
Communicate with the Service Controller and installed services; retrieve or set control information about services. |
|
Shut down or restart a local or remote computer. |
|
Install a limited set of optional components. |
|
Display detailed configuration information about a computer and its operating system, including operating system configuration, security information, product ID, and hardware properties, such as RAM, disk space, and network cards. |
|
Scan and verify the versions of all protected system files after you restart your computer. |
|
Set up or disable the telephony application programming interface (TAPI) client. |
|
Administer a local or a remote computer running Telnet Server. |
|
Administer Terminal Services. |
|
Display or set the system time. |
|
Import assignment information from an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file into the TAPI server security file (Tsec.ini); you can also use this command to display the list of TAPI providers and the lines devices associated with each of them, validate the structure of the XML file without importing the contents, and check domain membership. |
|
Displays the Windows XP version number. |
|
Diagnose problems occuring with Windows Time. |
|
Install or upgrade to a product in the Windows Server 2003 family. |
For more information about the command shell, see Command shell overview. For information about tools used to manage the command-prompt window, see Manage the command-prompt window. For an alphabetical list of all of the command-line tools, see Command-line reference A-Z.