MS-DOS

Short for Microsoft Disk Operating System, MS-DOS is a non-graphical command line operating system derived from 86-DOS that was created for IBM compatible computers. MS-DOS originally written by Tim Paterson and introduced by Microsoft in August 1981 and was last updated in 1994 when MS-DOS 6.22 was released. MS-DOS allows the user to navigate, open, and otherwise manipulate files on their computer from a command line instead of a GUI like Windows.

Today, MS-DOS is no longer used; however, the command shell, more commonly known as the Windows command line is still used by many users. The picture to the right, is an example of what an MS-DOS window more appropriately referred to as the Windows command line looks like running under Microsoft Windows.

Most computer users are only familiar with how to navigate Microsoft Windows using the mouse. Unlike Windows, MS-DOS is a command-line and is navigated by using MS-DOS commands. For example, if you wanted to see all the files in a folder in Windows you would double-click the folder to open the folder in Windows Explorer. In MS-DOS, to view that same folder you would navigate to the folder using the cd command and then list the files in that folder using the dir command.

When you are using a Microsoft MS-DOS command prompt shell window, you can type the following commands into the window. Click a command shown below for a description of how to use that command.

Syntax

C:\>copy con filename

• Copy con : to create a new file
• md (or mkdir) : Creates a directory.
• cd : Change directory or display current directory path.
• cls : Clear the window.
• dir : Display list of contents of current directory.
• color : Sets the text and background colors.
• comp : Compares the contents of two files or sets of files.
• copy : Copies one or more files to another location. See also: xcopy 
• date : Displays or sets the computer's date. See also: time

• del (or erase) : Deletes one or more files.
• edit : Runs the MS-DOS text editor. See also: notepad
• exit : Closes the MS-DOS window.
• rd (or rmdir) : Removes a directory.
• rem : Used in a batch program file to identify comments.
• ren (or rename) : Renames a file or files.
• sort : Sorts input.
• start : Starts a new window to run a specified program or command.
• time : Displays or sets the computer's time. See also: date
• tree : Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or directory.
• xcopy : Copies files and directory trees. See also: copy