pawan ic

8/8/2019 pawan ic

1/7

Commands

A partial list of the most common commands forDOS follows.

Append

Display or sets the search path for data files. DOS will search the specified path(s) if the file is not found inthe current path. This had some creative uses, such as allowing non-CD based games to be run from the

CD, with configuration/save files stored on the HD.

append;

append [d:]path[;][d:]path[...]

append [/X:on|off][/E]

Attrib

Change or view the attributes of one or more files. It defaults to displaying the attributes of all

files in the current directory.ATTRIB [+R|-R] [+A|-A] [+S|-S] [+H|-H][drive:][path][filename] [/S [/D]]

Options:

To add an attribute attach a '+' in front of it.

To remove an attribute attach a '-' in front of it

Attributes include

o R - Read-only

o A - Archive

o S - System

o H - Hidden

o /D - Process folders as well.

o /S - Process matching files in the current folder and all subfolders.

Note: Everything inside a brace [option] is an optional item. Roughly equivalent to the Unix commandschattr andlsattr.

cd or chdir

Change current working directory. Displays the current working directory when used without a

path parameter.cd

displays the current working directory on the current drive.

cd directory

changes the working directory on the current drive to directory.

chdir e:directory

changes the working directory on E: to directory.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOShttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attribhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unixhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lsattrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lsattrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lsattrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chdirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directory_(file_systems)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOShttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attribhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unixhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lsattrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chdirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directory_(file_systems)

8/8/2019 pawan ic

2/7

cd ..

changes the working directory to the parent directory (up one directory level).

cd \

changes the working directory to the root (top level) directory of the current drive.

Equivalent to the Unix commandcd(with a path parameter), orpwd(without a parameter).

cd.. changes to the parent directory.

chkdsk

Verifies a storage volume (hard disk, partition, floppy disk, flash drive, etc) for file system

integrity.

Options:

/F : Fixes errors on the volume (without /F , chkdsk only detects errors) /P : Forces a full verification

/R : Searches for defective sectors and recovers legible information (applies /F)

/X : Unmounts the volume before processing if needed. (Note: Unmounting temporarily

invalidates all pointers/handlers to the volume until process is completed)

chkdsk volume letter: [[path]filename] [/F] [/P] [/R] [/X]

Equivalent to the Unix commandfsck

cls

Clears the screen.

clsEquivalent to the Unixclear.

copy

Copies files from one location to another. The destination defaults to the current directory. Ifmultiple source files are indicated, the destination must be a directory, or an error will result.

Syntax:copy from [source\filename] to [destination\folder]

Files may be copied to devices. For example, copy file lpt1 sends thefile to the printer on

LPT1. copy file con outputsfile to the screen ("console"), which can also be done using

typefile. Devices themselves may be copied: copy con file takes the text typed into the

console and puts it intofile, stopping when EOF (Ctrl+Z) is typed.

Files may be concatenated using +. For example, copy file1+file2file_cat will

concatenate the files and output them asfile_cat. There are two switches to modify the command's

behaviour, /a (text mode, the default) and /b (binary mode). In text mode, copy will stop when

it reaches the EOF character; in binary mode, the files will be concatenated in their entirety,

ignoring EOF characters.

Examples of usage:copy /a alpha.txt + beta.txt gamma.txt

copy /b alpha.mpg + beta.mpg gamma.mp.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unixhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chdirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chdirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chdirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pwdhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pwdhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pwdhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chkdskhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_diskhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fsckhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fsckhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cls_(computing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_(Unix)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_(Unix)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_(Unix)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copy_(command)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LPT1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_DOS_commands#type%23typehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End-of-filehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End-of-filehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unixhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chdirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pwdhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chkdskhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_diskhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fsckhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cls_(computing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_(Unix)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copy_(command)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LPT1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_DOS_commands#type%23typehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End-of-filehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End-of-file

8/8/2019 pawan ic

3/7

8/8/2019 pawan ic

4/7

/P : Pause at every page

/S : Also look in subdirectories

/Axx: Display files with the specified attributes only

/Oxx: Modifies sort order

/B : Uses bare format (no heading information or summary)

> [drive:][path]filename : To Store Result in a text file;(c:\dir > c:\fileList.txt) (this is

not a parameter, it is output redirection)

Possible attributes for the A parameter are D (directories), R (read-only files), H (hidden files), A

(files/directories with the archive bit on), and S (system files). The prefix - negates an attribute; attributes

can be combined (e.g. /A:DA means directories with the archive bit on).

Possible sort orders are N (name), S (size), E (extension), D (date and time), A (last access date), and G

(group directories first). The prefix - reverses the order.

Other less commonly used parameters ofdirinclude:

/D : Display wide format but sorted by column

/L : Display forced into lowercase

/N : Display forced into long file name format instead of 8.3

/Q : Displays the owner of each file

/X : Display shows 8.3 names next to long file names

exit

Exits the current command processor. If the exit is used at the primary command, it has no effectunless in a DOS window under Microsoft Windows, in which case the window is closed and the

user returns to the desktop.exit [/B]

/B When used within a batch script, exits the script without closing

the calling DOS window

fdisk

Manipulates hard disk partition tables. The name derives from IBM's habit of calling hard drives

fixed disks. When run from the command line, it displays a menu of various partitioningoperations:

1. Create DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive

2. Set active partition

3. Delete partition or Logical DOS Drive

4. Display partition information

5. Change current fixed disk drive (only available if the computer has

more than one hard drive)

FDISK /MBR installs a standard master boot record on the hard drive.FDISK /MBR #: where # is other partition on system. Completes above command on indicated

partition.e.g.: "C:\FDISK /MBR D:" would install boot record on

D:\ partition.

Fdisk exists under Unix with the same name, but it is an entirely different program. However they

share purposes.

find
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exit_(command)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fdiskhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Find_(command)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exit_(command)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fdiskhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Find_(command)

8/8/2019 pawan ic

5/7

A filterto find lines in the input data stream that contain or don't contain a specified string and

send these to the output data stream.

Findmay also be used as a pipe.find "keyword" < ''inputfilename'' > ''outputfilename''

Searches for a text string in a file or files.

FIND [/V] [/C] [/N] [/I] "string" [[drive:][path]filename[ ...]]

/V Displays all lines NOT containing the specified string.

/C Displays only the count of lines containing the string.

/N Displays line numbers with the displayed lines.

/I Ignores the case of characters when searching for the

string.

"string" Specifies the text string to find.

[drive:][path]filename Specifies a file or files to search.

If a pathname is not specified, FIND searches the text typed at the

prompt

or piped from another command.

format

Delete all the files on the disk and reformat it for MS-DOS

In most cases, this should only be used on floppy drives or other removable media. This command

can potentially erase everything on a computer's hard disk.

/autotest and /backup are undocumented features. Both will format the drive without a

confirmation prompt.format [options] driveFORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/F:size] [/B | /S] [/C]

FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/T:tracks /N:sectors] [/B | /S] [/C]

FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/1] [/4] [/B | /S] [/C]

FORMAT drive: [/Q] [/1] [/4] [/8] [/B | /S] [/C]

/V[:label] Specifies the volume label./Q Performs a quick format.

/F:size Specifies the size of the floppy disk to format (such

as 160, 180, 320, 360, 720, 1.2, 1.44, 2.88).

/B Allocates space on the formatted disk for system files.

/S Copies system files to the formatted disk.

/T:tracks Specifies the number of tracks per disk side.

/N:sectors Specifies the number of sectors per track.

/1 Formats a single side of a floppy disk.

/4 Formats a 5.25-inch 360K floppy disk in a high-density

drive.

/8 Formats eight sectors per track.

/C Tests clusters that are currently marked "bad."

help

Gives help about DOS.

MS-DOShelp 'command' would give help on a specific command. By itself, it lists the contents of

DOSHELP.HLP. Help for a specific command invokes the command with the /? option

md or mkdir
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_(software)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipeline_(software)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undocumented_featurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help_(command)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mkdirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_(software)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipeline_(software)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undocumented_featurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help_(command)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mkdir

8/8/2019 pawan ic

6/7

Makes a new directory. The parent of the directory specified will be created if it does not already

exist.md directory

Equivalent to the Unix command mkdir.

.

move

Moves files or renames directories.move filenamenewnamemove driveletter:\olddirdriveletter:\newdir

Example of usage:move c:\old c:\new

Equivalent to the Unix commandmv. DR-DOS used a separate command for renaming

directories, rendir.

path

Displays or sets a search path for executable files.

rd or rmdir

Remove a directory, which by default must be empty of files for the command to succeed. The

DELTREE command in DOS removes non-empty directories. In Windows NT's CMD.EXE,rd /s functions in the same way as deltree.

rem

Remark statement, normally used within abatch file, or for DOS 6 and above, in CONFIG.SYS.rem This creates a zero-byte file in some command processors.

rem > newfilename

:: This never creates a file:: > filename.ext

Redirecting the output from a rem command produces a zero-byte file in some command

processors.

REM is also useful in logged sessions or screen-captures.

In Unix, the # sign can be used to start a comment.

ren

Renames a file. Unlike the move command, this command cannot be used to rename

subdirectories, or rename files across drives.ren filenamenewname

You can rename files in another directory by using the PATH parameter:

ren [[path\]filename] [newfilename]This example renames c:\windows\filex.txt to c:\windows\filey.txt

ren c:\Windows\filex.txt filey.txt

Using a path in the destination newname will move the file to the new path, if this is on the same

device. This renames the file to the c:\temp directory.ren c:\windows\filex.txt \temp\filey.txt

On DOS with long filename support, care must be taken when directories have spaces in their

names like "Documents and Settings". In these cases double-quotes are used to enclose them. Note

it is necessary only to enclose blocks including spaces.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directory_(file_systems)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Move_(command)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mvhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mvhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mvhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rmdirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batch_filehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren_(command)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_filenamehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directory_(file_systems)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Move_(command)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mvhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rmdirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batch_filehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren_(command)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_filename

8/8/2019 pawan ic

7/7

ren c:\"Documents and Settings"\"All Users"\Desktop\filex.txt filey.txt

ren "c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\filex.txt" filey.txt

Wildcards in the destination are replaced by the corresponding part of the original name, so the

command below will change the extension of the file from .doc to .txt, here myfile.doc becomes

myfile.txt.ren myfile.doc 6.txt

Mass renames can be accomplished by the use of wildcards. For example, the following command

will change the extension of all files in the current directory which currently have the extension

htm to html:ren 6.htm 6.html

In Unix, this functionality of a simple move is provided by themvcommand, while batch renames

can be done using the rename command.

scandisk

Disk diagnostic utility. Scandisk was a replacement for the chkdsk utility, starting with later

versions of MS-DOS. Its primary advantages overchkdsk is that it is more reliable and has the

ability to run a surface scan which finds and marks bad clusters on the disk. It also provided

mouse point-and-clickTUI, allowing for interactive session to complement command-line batch

run.

chkdsk had surface scan and bad cluster detection functionality included, and was used again on

Windows NT based operating systems.

Equivalent to the Unix commandfsck.

sys

A utility to make a volume bootable. Sys rewrites the Volume Boot Code (the first sector of the

partition that Sys is acting on) so that the code, when executed, will look for Io.sys. Sys also

copies the core DOS system files, Io.sys, Msdos.sys, and Command.com, to the volume. Sys does

NOT rewrite the Master Boot Record, contrary to widely-held belief.

time and date

Display and set the time and datetime

date

When these commands are called from the command line or a batch file, they will display the timeor date and wait for the user to type a new time or date and press RETURN. The commands time

/t and date /t will display output without waiting for input.

The Unix commanddatedisplays both the time and date, but does not allow the normal users to

change either. Users with superuser privileges may use date -s to

change the time and date.

The Unix commandtimeperforms a different function.

tree

Shows the directory tree of the current directory

Syntax:tree [options] [directory]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mvhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mvhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mvhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandiskhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Text_user_interfacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fsckhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fsckhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fsckhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sys.comhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_and_datehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_(Unix)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_(Unix)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_(Unix)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_(Unix)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_(Unix)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_(Unix)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mvhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandiskhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Text_user_interfacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fsckhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sys.comhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_and_datehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_(Unix)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_(Unix)