Fri 29 March 2024
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Introduction to DOS

DOS stands for Disk Operating Spinal. It was developed by Microsoft in the early 1980s for personal computers. It is a single-user operating system. A type of operating system in which only one user can work at a time is called the user operating system.

 

Command COM

  1. It is part of DOS
  2. It helps the computer in the following manner.
  3. To boot the computer.
  4. To load the internal DOS command into memory ( RAM).
  5. To provide the PROMT and command line on the Cathode Ray Tube CRTO or simply monitor.

 

DOS Command

There are three parts of DOS Command

  1. Every command has a command Name.
  2.  Some commands require one or more parameters that identify the object.
  3. Some commands also include one or more switches, which modify the action being performed.

 

Internal Commands

Internal commands are stored in COMMAND. COM file and are loaded into memory when you start your computer. Following is a list of internal commands.

 

DATE and TIME

Data command is used to show or set the current date. The time command is used to show or set the current time. For example:

1. Type: date and press Enter.

2. If the correct data is displayed, press return. If the date is incorrect, type the correct date and press return.

3. Type: time and press Enter.

 4. If the correct time is displayed, press return. If the time is incorrect, type the correct time and press return.

 

DIR Command

DIR command displays the following information:

  1. Filenames
  2. File extensions
  3. Size of each file
  4. The date and time the file was last updated.
  5. At the C: \> type: dir and press return.
  6. The list of files will appear on the screen.

At the end of the list, there is a line that shows the number of bytes free on a hard drive.

 

Pause a Directory Listing

You can add a PAUSE command to your directory command which will allow you to view your directory one screen at a time.

  1. Type: dir/p and press return.
  2. The screen freezes after it fills the screen with the files that are listed first in the directory.
  3. Press the spacebar to continue listing your files.
  4. Continue to press the spacebar until you return back to the C: \> prompt.

 

View a Wide Listing of Files

When you need to quickly view your files, you can add a /W to the directory command. This will display your files into five columns on the screen.

  1. Type: dir /w and press return.
  2. DOS will list only the name of your file and the file extension on the screen.

This command does not show the file size or the date it was created.

 

Check for a Single File

Instead of using the directory command to look for one particular file, you can type the name of the file after the DIR command at the C:\> prompt.

1. Make sure that you are at your C:\> prompt.

2. Type: dir format.com and press return.

3. The screen will display a listing of the file or a file not found message.

 

Check for a Group of Files

The symbol is called wildcard and stands for any character or group of characters. This is helpful when you want to list files that start with a particular letter or group.

1. Type: dir* c and press return.

2. All filenames that begin with the letter C will be listed.

 

List Files with the Same Extensions

You can use the wildcard character to Show a group of files with the same extension.

1. Type: dir*.bat and press Enter.

2. All files with the .bat extension are listed.

 

Clear the Screen

When the screen is full of information, you may want to clear it. To do this, type CLS at the C: \> prompt and press Enter.


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