Microsoft DOS

MS-DOS

MS-DOS stands for Microsoft Disk Operating System. It is a single-user operating system for IBM and IBM-compatible personal computers. Microsoft and IBM introduced it jointly in 1981. It was the most popular operating system for personal computers in the 1980s. Because of its popularity, Microsoft later took a decision to launch independently Microsoft Windows operating system in 1990s.

           

MS-DOS for Microsoft Operating System is an operating system with a command-line interface used on personal computers. You type MS-DOS commands using a command prompt window. MS-DOS commands are typed at an entry point identified by a blinking cursor.

To open a command prompt, click Start menu, highlight All Programs choose Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.

 There are two types of commands:

(1) Internal Commands-

(1) Date: This internal command display the current system date.

Syntax- date ¿

Ex- The current system date is MM\DD\YYYY

(2) Time: This internal command displays current system time.

Ex.-H: M: S: MS

Syntax- time ¿

(3) Version: This command shows the version of MS-DOS and windows.

Ex-the latest version of MS-DOS is 6.22

Syntax- ver ¿

(4) Volume: This command shows the volume serial number.

Syntax- vol ¿

(5) Cls: This command is used for clear the terminal screen.

Syntax- CLS ¿

(6) Exit: This command is used for to exit from MS-DOS.

Syntax- exit ¿

(7) Copy con: This command is used for create a new file in MS-DOS.

 Syntax- copy con <filename> ¿

Ex.-copy con abc

Note- For save this file we use ctrl+z or F6

(8) MD: MD stands for making directory. This command is used to create a new directory.

Syntax- MD <dir name> ¿

Ex.-MD computer

(9) CD: Cd stands for change directory. This command is used for changing the current directory for specific directory.

Syntax- CD <dir name> ¿

(10) CD..: This command is used to exit the current working directory.

(11) CD\: This command is used to exit all working directory

(12) Type: This command is used to open any exciting file.

Syntax- type <file name> ¿

(13) Ren (rename): This command is use to change the name of any existing file.

Syntax- REN <OLD FILE NAME> <NEW FILE NAME> ¿

OR

REN C:\[D]\PATH\<OLD FILE NAME> C:\[D]\PATH\<NEW FILE NAME> ¿

(14) Copy: This command is used to copy the file from specific directory to another drive or directory or in the same directory.

Syntax- COPY <OLD FILE NAME> <NEW FILE NAME> ¿

OR

 COPY C:\[D]\PATH\<OLD FILE NAME> C:\[D]\PATH\<NEW FILE NAME> ¿

Note- In copy command second syntax is use to copy a file to another directory.

(15) Del: This command is used to delete a specified file.

Syntax- DEL <FILE NAME> ¿

OR

 DEL C:\[D]\PATH\FILE NAME¿

(16) Copy*.*: This command is used to copy all the files of any directory into another directory or drive.

Syntax- COPY C:\[D]\PATH\*.* C:\[D]\PATH ¿

(17) Del*.*: This command is used to delete all the files of any specified directory before deleting all the files this command give a conformation message.

 SYNTAX –DEL C:\[D]\PATH\*.*

(18) Dir: This command is used to show or display all the sub directory and files of any specified directory/

(19) Dir\P: This command is used to show all the files and dir in ascending order with page vice. This command gives a message “Press any key to continue”. This command gives all the information about created date, time, size etc.

(20) Dir\w: This command used to display all the files or dir in width vice order. The command shows only the file or directory name and not gives any information. In this command the dir name shows in square bracket ( ) and file name shows simply.

Note- \p is used to pause the page.

(21) dir\on: This command is used to display all the files or dir in ascending order according to their primary name.

(22) dir\oe: This command is used to display all the files or dir in ascending order according to their extension name.

Syntax-dir\oe

(23) dir\od: This command is used to display all the files or dir in ascending order according to their created date.

Syntax-dir\od

(24) dir\os: This command is used to display all the files or dir in ascending order according to their size.

Syntax-dir\os

(25) dir\oh: This command is used to show file in any specific dir

Syntax- dir\oh

(26) dir\s: This command is used to show all the files and sub dir and all the sub dir’s files. This command scrolls the screen and for breaks the scrolling used- Ctrl+c

(27) dir\l: This command is used to show all the files and dir names in small letter.

Syntax- dir\l

(28) RD: Rd stands for remove directory .This command is used for remove specified dir. Before deleting any dir keep two thing in mind (1) empty the dir (2) and come out from dir.

(29) Prompt: This internal command is used to change the DOS prompts.

STRING                                                         MEANING

$D                                                                   DATE

$T                                                                    TIME

$V                                                                   VERSION

$G                                                                   >

$L                                                                    <

$P                                                                   PATH

$Q                                                                   =

(2) External Commands-

(30) Label: This command used to show or change the volume label name of any drive.

Syntax -Label¿

(31) Move: This external command used for two purposes.

(1) As the name suggests it move the file from one location to another.

Syntax- MOVE C:\[D]\PATH\<FILE NAME> C:\[D]\PATH ¿

(2) This command also renames a dir.

Syntax- MOVE <OLD DIR NAME> <NEW DIR NAME> ¿

(32) X copy: This command is used to copy all the files and subdirectory of any specific dir.

 Syntax- XCOPY C:\[D]\PATH\ C:\[D]\PATH ¿

(33) Attrib: This command used to change the attribute (properties) of any file.

Syntax – attrib [-+r][-+h] [-+a] <FILE NAME>

(34) Sort: This command is used to arrange the data of a file into ascending order.

Syntax –sort <file name>

(35) Batch file: Batch file is a container of MS-DOS external or internal command. The extension name of batch file is .BAT. In batch file we store any DOS commands in a sequence and run it one by one.

Creating a batch file: We create a batch file by simple using copy con command but with the extension .bat.

Ex.-copy con xx.bat

Date

ver.

Time

To run a batch file: To run a batch file type batch file name without extension and press enter key

(36) Tree: It shows the complete structure of specified dir with their sub directory and if you want to show the files of the sub dir use \F with tree command.

          Syntax-tree

                          Or

                             tree\F

(37) Del tree: It deletes the complete structure of specified dir including their sub dir and files.

(38) MEM: This command is used to display the information about Memory.

       Syntax-MEM

Wild card character: Wild card characters are used whenever we refer to a family of a file instead of a single file.

(1)"?"- Question mark represents the one character, suppose you want to see the files which has only two character name.

Ex.- dir??

(2)*- Star mark show the list of character suppose if we want to list the entire file which have extension .esc than the command is

Dir*esc       

Help command: This command is used to display help of any given command.

Syntax- command\?

Edit: This command used for made the changes and modification in existing file. It opens the editor screen which is used for modification and we can also create a new file from it.

Syntax- Edit ¿