Basic MS-DOS

History

MS-DOS 1.0 was released in August 1981, and was updated until April 1994 when it was replaced by Windows 95

All versions of windows still contain some type of DOS, in windows 95 and 98 you can go to run and type command to get to DOS prompt, in NT, 2000, and XP you can type CMD and get DOS.

Basic Structure

Most DOS commands use the same structure

Command Source Destination /Switch

The switch will give options to the command

Example COPY A:\file.txt c:\ /v

/v will verify if the file copied correctly

MS-DOS Prompt

The prompt in MS-DOS displays your current directory

C:\dos\commands> means you are in that directory, and any command you use will apply to the current directory unless you specify a different one.

DOS Naming

The file name cannot be longer then 8 characters, and extensions cannot be longer then 3 characters.

Characters like * + = | \ [ ] : ; “ < > , ? / cannot be used in DOS names.

Wildcard characters

Wildcard character will replace a single letter, or word with a wild character

* will replace any input of characters, and ? Will replace one.

Example: copy a:/*.txt c:/ will copy all text files to drive c:/

Example 2: copy a:/?????.txt c:/ will copy any 5 letter text file to c:/

Basic Commands CD

CD- Change directory

You use this command when you want to change the directory.

Example: CD C:\DOS will bring you to the dos folder

Basic Commands CD..

CD.. - brings you to the previous directory.

Example: if you are in C:\DOS\FOLDER

CD.. Will bring you to C:\DOS

Basic Commands COPY

COPY will copy the file from one location to another

Example COPY A:\file.txt c:\ will copy the file from a:\ to c:\

Basic Command XCOPY

XCOPY can move files, directories, and whole drives from one location to another, It is more powerful then the copy command, and has a lot of switches.

Basic Commands DIR

DIR will display the contents of the folder

Basic Command DEL

DEL will delete a file or an empty directory from the drive

Basic Command EDIT

EDIT will open a text file

Basic Commands MOVE

MOVE will move the file or directory from one location to another

Example: MOVE a:\file.txt c:\file.txt will move the file to the c:\ drive

Basic Commands REN

REN will rename the file

Example : REN file.txt myfile.txt will rename the file.txt to myfile.txt

Basic Commands MD

MD is used to make a directory (folder) in MS-DOS.

Example: MD myfolder will make a folder called myfolder in current directory

Basic Commands DELTREE

DELTREE command will delete the folder and all of its contents, including other folders.

Example: DELTREE C:\myfolder will delete the folder and all the contents.

Basic Command TREE

TREE shows you all of the folders and files in current directory like explorer in windows.

Basic Commands CLS

CLS Will clear the contents of the screen

Attributes

Attributes are the properties of a file such as hidden, read-only, archive or system file.

In MS-DOS you can view/change attributes with the attrib command.

Example: attrib +r file.txt will make the file read-only.

The Help Switch /?

You can use the help switch with any command. It will give you the command structure, and the availible switches.