the following is a list of useful windows commands used by most experts, some of them are some pretty fun means and quick to get what you need (like the paint, notepad, wordpad, calculator applications, as well as the media player), and some of them are above the level of most normal users, so use with extreme caution :P

cmd -- bring up the window for inputing dos commands

chkdsk - check disk

certmgr.msc - certificate manager

calc - calculator

charmap - character map

cliconfg - SQL server client side internet application

clipbrd - clip board

conf - run netmeeting

compmgmt.msc - computer management

cleanmgr - disk cleanup

ciadv.msc - indexing service

dxdiag - divx info.

drwtsn32 - Dr. Waston for Windows

devmgmt.msc - device management

dfrg.msc - defragement

diskmgmt.msc - disk management

dcomcnfg - component service

ddeshare - DDE share configuration

dvdplay - DVD player

eventvwr - event viewer

eudcedit - private character editor

explorer - explorer window

fsmgmt.msc - share folder manager

gpedit.msc - group policy editor

iexpress - trojan tool

lusrmgr.msc - local user and group manager

logoff - log off

mem - memory

msconfig - system configuration utility

mplyer2 - simply media player

mspaint - paint

mstsc - remote desktop connection

magnify - magnifier

mmc - console

mobsync - items to synchronize

net stop messenger - stop messenger service

net start messenger -

notepad - notepad application

nslookup - network management tool

ntbackup - system backup and restore

narrator - system text to sound tool

ntmsmgr.msc - removable storage management

ntmsoprq.msc - removable storage operator request

osk - on screen keyboard

odbcad32 - ODBC Data Source Administrator

packager - object package

perfmon.msc - system performance tool

regedit - registry editor

rsop.msc - resultant set of policy

regsvr32 /u *.dll - stop dll files

regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll - stop zip support

syncapp - create a "my briefcase"

sysedit - system configuratoin editor

sigverif - signature verification

sndrec32 - sound recorder

shrpubw - create a share folder wizard

secpol.msc - local security settings

syskey - system encrpytion, once encrpyted, system will never unlocked

services.msc - Services

sndvol32 - sound volume

sfc /scannow - windows folder protection

tsshutdn - shut down in 60 seconds

tourstart - XP tour

taskmgr - task manager

utilman - utility manager

winver - check windows version

wmimgmt.msc - windows management infrastructure

wupdmgr - windows update manager

wscript - windows script host set

write - wordpad

wiaacmgr - windows scanner and camera wizard

winchat - windows built in intranet chat