Computer Basics

DOS Commands

DOS Interface

The user interface with the DOS operating system is very simple. You type commands line-by-line on an undecorated computer screen. All that you see to start with is a simple designation of what directory you are in, like for the normal root directory. 

Where you type is called the command line.

What to type (Useful DOS commands):

Command / Description	Example
d: (for example) Type the letter of the drive and a colon and press ENTER to change to the named drive.	C:\mydocs>d: D:>
dir Lists the contents of directory, giving for each file, the filename and extension, then the file's size in bytes, then the file's date and time of creation. Last two lines give the total number of files in this directory, the total of the file sizes, and the amount of space still free on the current drive. If the directory contains subdirectories, they will be listed, too.	C:\mydocs>dir   Volume in drive C has no label Volume Serial Number is 0FFD-1D51 Directory of C:\mydocs   . <DIR> 09-26-96  9:36a .. <DIR> 09-26-96  936a memo txt 110 10-24-97  8:45a letter~1 doc 2504 12-31-96  7:32p letter~2 doc 4534 01-15-97 10:35a     3 file(s) 7148 bytes     2 dir(s) 37,830,656,bytes free
md dirname Makes a directory nested inside the current directory. The example makes a directory inside mydocs because that is is current directory, as is shown on the command line.	C:\mydocs>md mydrctry
rd dirname Removes an empty directory. Note that you can't remove a directory that is the current one. You're standing in it! Also, you'll have to delete all the documents inside the directory before you can remove the directory.	C:\>rd c:\mydocs\mydrctry
cd dirname Changes to a new directory. Note the new current directory on the command line.	C:\windows>cd c:\mydocs\mydrctry C:\mydocs\mydrctry>
del filename Delete a file. The example deletes a file from a different drive and directory. If the file is in the current directory, you don't have to give the full path.	C:\>del d:\worddocs\letter.doc
del *.* This command deletes everything in the current directory. This is second only to the format command for dangerousness! DO NOT USE this command unless you are very, very sure of what directory it will be applied to! Getting in a hurry with del can lead to a whole lot of grief. The example on the right will delete ALL files from the directory mydocs. If the current directory is the root of a drive, the entire drive will be erased. Whoops!!	C:\mydocs>del *.*
copy pathtofile newpathtofile         Copies file named first to location named second.
C:\>copy c:\mydocs\mydrctry\letter~1.doc d:\worddocs
move filename         Moves a file to a new location. Looks just like "copy" above except for the word "move".
ren filename newname Renames file with first name to second name. You must include the full path to the original file if it's not in the current directory.
C:\>ren oldfile.exe newfile.exe C:\>ren c:\mydocs\myletter.doc letter1.doc
edit filename Brings up the DOS Edit program so you can make changes in a text file. This is a very simple text editor and won't work with regular word processing documents. It is useful, though, for editing some of the files that manage the startup of your computer. When things go wrong at a basic level, you sometimes need Edit to fix them.	C:\>edit c:\autoexec.bat
type filename If you want to just look at a text file, this command will display it on the monitor. But if it has many lines, you'll have to be quick to press the Pause key or the top of the file will scroll out of view before you can read it.	C:\>type c:\autoexec.bat
format drive format is the most dangerous of all, since you can erase your hard drive with it. Use it only on floppy drives A and B, or when you really, really, really know what you are doing. Don't forget- formatting a disk erases the contents!	C:\>format a:

More on DOS Commands at ComputerHope.com

Download a complete list of DOS commands: doshelp.zip or doshelp.exe

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~~  1 Cor. 10:31 ...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  ~~

Last updated: 22 Jan 2008