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Questions and Answers
What does DOS stand for?
Disk Operating System
Which version of DOS was developed by IBM and sold to the first IBM-compatible manufacturers?
DOS commands are generally more complex and difficult for novices to use compared to graphic-based operating systems like Windows.
True
Commands built into the OS under __________.
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Match the DOS command with its function:
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What does DOS stand for?
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Which version of DOS was developed by IBM and sold to the first IBM-compatible manufacturers?
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DOS uses a graphic-based interface.
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The default DOS prompt is the drive letter and path of the current __________ on the computer.
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Match the following DOS commands with their functions:
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Study Notes
What is DOS?
- Stands for "Disk Operating System"
- First operating system used by IBM-compatible computers
- Originally available in two versions: PC-DOS and MS-DOS
DOS Interface
- Uses a command line, or text-based interface
- Allows users to type commands
- Requires knowledge of basic commands to use effectively
The Command Prompt
- Displayed as a blinking underscore character
- Default prompt shows the drive letter and path of the current location
- Followed by a greater than sign (>)
Internal and External Commands
- Internal Commands:
- Built into the OS under COMMAND.COM
- Already in memory when the OS is loaded
- Available anytime the computer is displaying a command prompt
- Examples: DIR, COPY, CLS, CD, MD, DEL, TIME, DATE
- External Commands:
- Not part of COMMAND.COM
- Located in another directory as external files
- Must be loaded into memory as needed by the OS
- Examples: FORMAT, DEFRAG, DISKCOPY, DEBUG, EDIT
Command Syntax
- Rules for writing commands
- Order of elements in the command
- Example: DIR B:/P
Command Elements
- Action: what action to perform
- Object: what is acted upon
- Parameters: additional directions for the command
- Switches: special type of parameter that enables or disables optional functions
Backslash vs Forward Slash
- Backslashes () are used as separators when specifying directory or file information
- Forward slashes (/) are used to notify DOS that the next character is a command line switch
Getting Help
- Type HELP followed by the command you want to know about
- Type the command and then follow it with the switch /?
Frequently Used DOS Commands
- CHKDSK: checks a disk and displays a status report
- CLS: clears the screen
- COMP: compares two groups of files to find information that does not match
- COPY: copies and appends files
- DATE: displays and sets the system date
- TIME: displays and sets the system time
- DEFRAG: optimizes disk performance by reorganizing the files on the disk
- LABEL/VOL: creates or changes or displays a volume label for a disk
- MEM: displays amount of installed and available memory
- DEL: deletes files from disk
- DELTREE: deletes a directory including all files and subdirectories
- DIR: displays directory of files and directories stored on disk
- DISKCOMP: compares the contents of two disks
- ECHO: displays messages or turns on or off the display of commands in a batch file
- EDIT: starts the MS-DOS editor, a text editor used to create and edit ASCII text files
- EXIT: exits a secondary command processor
- COPY CON: creates a file
Batch File
- A script file in DOS, OS/2, and Microsoft Windows
- Consists of a series of commands to be executed by the command-line interpreter
- Stored in a plain text file with a .bat or .cmd extension
SET Command
- Accepts input from a user as the value for a variable
- Syntax: SET /P variable = []
- Example: SET /P uname=Please enter your name:
What is DOS?
- Stands for "Disk Operating System"
- First operating system used by IBM-compatible computers
- Originally available in two versions: PC-DOS and MS-DOS
DOS Interface
- Uses a command line, or text-based interface
- Allows users to type commands
- Requires knowledge of basic commands to use effectively
The Command Prompt
- Displayed as a blinking underscore character
- Default prompt shows the drive letter and path of the current location
- Followed by a greater than sign (>)
Internal and External Commands
- Internal Commands:
- Built into the OS under COMMAND.COM
- Already in memory when the OS is loaded
- Available anytime the computer is displaying a command prompt
- Examples: DIR, COPY, CLS, CD, MD, DEL, TIME, DATE
- External Commands:
- Not part of COMMAND.COM
- Located in another directory as external files
- Must be loaded into memory as needed by the OS
- Examples: FORMAT, DEFRAG, DISKCOPY, DEBUG, EDIT
Command Syntax
- Rules for writing commands
- Order of elements in the command
- Example: DIR B:/P
Command Elements
- Action: what action to perform
- Object: what is acted upon
- Parameters: additional directions for the command
- Switches: special type of parameter that enables or disables optional functions
Backslash vs Forward Slash
- Backslashes () are used as separators when specifying directory or file information
- Forward slashes (/) are used to notify DOS that the next character is a command line switch
Getting Help
- Type HELP followed by the command you want to know about
- Type the command and then follow it with the switch /?
Frequently Used DOS Commands
- CHKDSK: checks a disk and displays a status report
- CLS: clears the screen
- COMP: compares two groups of files to find information that does not match
- COPY: copies and appends files
- DATE: displays and sets the system date
- TIME: displays and sets the system time
- DEFRAG: optimizes disk performance by reorganizing the files on the disk
- LABEL/VOL: creates or changes or displays a volume label for a disk
- MEM: displays amount of installed and available memory
- DEL: deletes files from disk
- DELTREE: deletes a directory including all files and subdirectories
- DIR: displays directory of files and directories stored on disk
- DISKCOMP: compares the contents of two disks
- ECHO: displays messages or turns on or off the display of commands in a batch file
- EDIT: starts the MS-DOS editor, a text editor used to create and edit ASCII text files
- EXIT: exits a secondary command processor
- COPY CON: creates a file
Batch File
- A script file in DOS, OS/2, and Microsoft Windows
- Consists of a series of commands to be executed by the command-line interpreter
- Stored in a plain text file with a .bat or .cmd extension
SET Command
- Accepts input from a user as the value for a variable
- Syntax: SET /P variable = []
- Example: SET /P uname=Please enter your name:
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Description
Learn about the basics of Disk Operating System (DOS), the first operating system used by IBM-compatible computers, and its two versions, PC-DOS and MS-DOS.
