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.

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.

Difference between MS-DOS and

WINDOWS

THANK YOU