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DOS Commands

MSBACKUP or Backup Files

Type MSBACKUP to open the backup program.

Batch Files

Batch Files are text files containing DOS Commands that runs automatically.

Cancel

Press Esc.

Cancel a DOS Command

Press Ctrl+C. If Ctrl+C does not work, try Ctrl+Break.

CD or Change Directory Command

• Type CD to find the current drive and current directory.
• Type CD [DIRECTORY] to change directory to /[DIRECTORY] where [DIRECTORY] is the name and a space between CD and [DIRECTORY].
• Type CD.. to view the higher directory.

Change Drives from the A Drive to C Drive

Type C: or letter C and the colon.

Change Drives from the C Drive to A Drive

Type A: or letter A and the colon.

CHKDSK or Check a Disk's Size

Type CHKDSK to view how much memory on the disk.
Type CHKDSK A: to view how much memory on the disk in the A Drive.

CLS or Clear the Screen

Type CLS.

COPY or Copy a File

• Type COPY [FILENAME1] [FILENAME2] where [FILENAME1] is the name of the original file and [FILENAME2] is the name of the copied file. Copying the same file with a different file extension is valid; for example, COPY wordfile.doc wordfile.bak.
• Type COPY [FILENAME1] A: where [FILENAME1] is the name of the original file and A: is the destination drive.
• Type COPY [FILENAME1] \ OTHER\DATA to copy a file to another directory.
• Type COPY *.[XXX] A:, Copy *.* A:, or Copy A:*.* to copy a group of files.

DATE

Type DATE to check or change the current date.

DEL or Delete a File

• Type DEL [FILENAME1] to delete a file.
• Type DEL *.[FILEEXTENSION] to delete a group of files.
• Type DEL *.* to delete all files.
• Type DEL A:[FILENAME] to delete a file from A drive.

DIR or Directory Command

• Type DIR to list files.
• Type DIR/W to list files in the horizontal format or wide format.
• Type DIR/P to list files for the user to pause after each screen.
• Type DIR/B to list files without the extensions and the information.
• Type DIR/P/B to combine the characteristis of DIR/P and DIR/B.
• Type DIR/O to view the files alphabetically.
• Type DIR [FILENAME] to list a specific file where [FILENAME] is the name of the file.
• Type DIR\[FILENAME]/S to find the name of the file where [FILENAME] is the name of the file.
• Type C?DIR\*.*/A:D/S | FIND [SUBDIRECTORY] to find a lost directory where [SUBDIRECTORY] is the name of the missing directory.

DISKCOPY or Duplicating Disks

Type DISKCOPY A: A: to copy a disk using the A Drive. Follow the prompt's instructions.

DOS

DOS stands for Disk Operating System. MS-DOS stands for Microsoft Disk Operating System.

DOS Prompt

The DOS prompt is either c> or C:\>.

EDIT or Opening the DOS Editor

Type EDIT to open the DOS Editor.

Exit

Type Exit to exit DOS.

Finding a Lost File

Type DIR \[FILENAME] /S /P where [FILENAME] is the filename with the file extension.

Finding a Lost Subdirectory

Type DIR \*.* /A:D /S | FIND "[DIRECTORY NAME]" where [DIRECTORY NAME] is in upper case or all caps.

FORMAT or Format a Disk

• Type FORMAT A: to format a disk in drive A.
• Type FORMAT A: /Q to format a disk in drive A quickly.
• Type FORMAT A: /U to format a disk in drive A unconditionally. Use when FORMAT A: /Q doesn't work.
• Type FORMAT A:/F:360 to format a low density 5 1/4 inch disk.
• Type FORMAT A:/F:720 to format a low density 3 1/2 inch disk

Help or the Command Line to get Information for a DOS Command

• Type [DOS COMMAND] /? to view a list of command options and formats for the [DOS COMMAND]. The help option works with DOS 4.1 and later.
• Type HELP to view all the DOS commands. The option works with DOS 5.0 and DOS 6.0.

Long Filenames

Long filenames must be enclosed in quotes.

MD or Make Directory

Type MD [DIRECTORY] to create a new directory.

MEM or Memory

Type MEM to view the memory in the computer.

Move a File

Type COPY [FILENAME] C:\[NEWFILENAME]. [FILENAME] is the file to be moved and C:\[NEWFILENAME] is [FILENAME] with the new file name. After the file is successfully moved, delete [FILENAME] by typing DEL [FILENAME].

Pause A Display

Press Ctrl+S.

Print at DOS

Press Ctrl+P to turn on and to turn off DOS's printer.
Type DIR > PRN to print a directory's list of files. Make sure the DOS printer is on. Laser printers prints when a full page can be generated. If a full page can't be generated, press DIR > PRN again and again until the printer starts printing. Another option is to take the printer offline and press the Form Feed or Eject button.

REN or Rename a File

• Type REN [FILENAME1OLD] [FILENAME1NEW] to rename a file. [FILENAME1OLD] is the old file name and [FILENAME1NEW] is the new file name.
• Type REN *.[FILENAMEEXTENSIONOLD] *.[FILENAMEEXTENSIONNEW] to rename a group of files. *.[FILENAMEEXTENSIONOLD] is the old file name and *.[FILENAMEEXTENSIONNEW] is the new file name.

Repeat The Last DOS Command

Press F3.

SCANDISK or ScanDisk

Type SCANDISK to scan a disk for any errors. Available with MS-DOS 6.2.

TIME

Type TIME to check or change the current time.

TREE or Tree Structure

• Type TREE to view all the subdirectories on a disk. The TREE command works with earlier Windows 95 Operating Sytems.
• Type TREE C:\ | MORE to display all the subdirectories one screen at a time.
• Type TREE C:\ > PRN to print a copy. Make sure the printer is on.

TYPE or View a File

• Type TYPE [FILENAME] to display a file's contents. The file name extension is required.
• Type TYPE [FILENAME] | MORE to display a file's contents one screen at a time.

VER or Version

Type VER to find out which version is on the computer.

UNDELETE or Undelete a File

UNDELETE works with Windows 95 and earlier.

• Type UNDELETE [FILENAME] to undelete a file.
• Type UNDELETE *.* to undelete all recoverable files in the directory.
• Type UNDELETE [FILENAME] / DOS if UNDELETE doesn't work.
• Type UNDELETE *.* /ALL to undelete all files without a Yes or No prompt.

Wildcards

• Use ? to match a single character in a filename. The character can be a letter or a number.
• Use * to match a group of characters in a filename.
• Use *.* to match all filenames.

Windows

Type WIN at the DOS prompt to run Windows.

Date Last Updated: Saturday February 23, 2002