MS DOS

MS‐DOS, acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System, was introduced jointly by Microsoft
and IBM during 1981. MS‐DOS was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible
personal computers during the 1980s and the early 1990s, when it was gradually superseded
by operating systems offering a graphical user interface (GUI), in various generations of the
graphical Microsoft Windows operating system.
Dos is a single user single tasking operating system which means that the functions provided
by the basic kernel of DOS can be used by only one program at a time. It offers a command
line character user interface, through which the user has to type the commands to execute
them.
Functions of DOS (Disk Operating System)
1. It takes commands from the keyboard and interprets them.
2. It shows all the files in the system.
3. It creates new files and allots space for program.
4. It changes the name of a file in place of old name.
5. It copies information in a floppy drive and hard disk.
6. It helps in locating a file.
7. It searches where the file is located in the disk.
8. If we want the information in the file to be printed, it gives printout of the information.
9. It hides the files and directories so as not to be seen by others.
10. It permanently removes the file.

Types of MS-DOS Commands

An instruction given to a computer to perform a specific task is known as a command. The
MS-DOS has many commands to perform each task, and these commands are stored in the
DOS directory of the disk. The MS-DOS commands are of two types, internal command, and
external command.
1. Internal Commands
Internal commands are those commands that are loaded automatically in the memory when
DOS is loaded into memory during the booting process. These commands are easier to learn
and use. They require no external files for their storage as in the case of external commands.
These are for performing a basic operation on files and in directories. They do not need any
external file support. These commands are used for common jobs such as copying and erasing
files. Example- DATE, TIME, VOL, VER, DIR, CLS, MD, RD, CD, COPY, TYPE, DEL, REN etc.

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2. External Commands
These external commands are for performing advanced tasks and they do not need some
external file support as they are not stored in COMMAND.com. The external commands are
used less frequently and are stored in some external files which are stored in some secondary
storage devices. Whenever an external command is to be executed then the external file in
which that particular command is stored is transferred from the secondary storage disk to the
main memory (RAM). Example- TREE, DISKCOPY, XCOPY, CHKDSK, ATTRIB etc.
How to open MS-DOS in windows?
• Step 1: Click on Windows.
• Step 2: Search for ‘Run’ or directly use (Windows key+R) to open.
• Step 3: Type ‘cmd’ in run and press ‘Enter’.
• Step 4: MS-DOS will open in many cases with default command prompt i.e. c:\>

Various Internal Commands

DATE
It is used to display or modify the current date. After typing command, type a new date in
the format dd-mm-yy or press Enter to keep the same date.
TIME
It is used to display or modify the current time. After typing the command, type a new time
in the format hour-min-sec or press Enter to keep the same time.

VOL
The VOL Command is DOS is used to display the disk or drive space specified. The command
should be typed as VOL.
VER
The VER command in DOS displays the version number of the operating system (OS) or the
command shell.

CLS (Clear Screen Command)

It is used to clear all the other commands already typed in the screen and leaves the screen
blank and only with the current command.
DIR
It is used to list all the sub files or sub directories under a given directory. Along with the file
name, the date and time of file creation and the size is also displayed.
The following switches are used with DIR for displaying the directory structure in various
ways.
/p Pauses after each screen of information.
/w Display the information in a wide list format.

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/o List by files in sorted order as per the following sub-switches:
Sort-order n By name (alphabetic),
s By size (smallest first)
e By extension (alphabetic),
d By date and time (earliest first)
g Group directories first,
a By last Access Date (earliest first)

/a Displays files with specified attributes as per the following sub-switches;

Attributes d directories
r read-only files
h hidden files
s system files
a files ready for archiving

/b Uses bare format (no heading information or summary).

/l Uses lowercase to display the names.

Command Used for Syntax

DATE Display the current Date C:\>DATE

The current date is 10‐01‐2025
Enter new date (mm‐dd‐yy):
TIME Display the current time C:\>TIME
The current time is 1:06:57.21
Enter new time:
VOL Displays the disk volume label and C:\> VOL press enter
Volume serial number, if it exists. Volume in drive C is OS
Volume Serial Number is ….
VER Version numbers indicates that which C:\> VER press enter
Version edition of DOS we are working on. Microsoft Windows [Version
10.0.19045.5247]
CLS This command is used to clear the C:\> CLS and press Enter
Clear the screen screen or wipe out everything
written on the screen.

DIR Used for listing files and directories C:\> DIR [/switches]
Directory present in the current disk. Example:‐ C:\> DIR /D

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MD
The MKDIR or MD command is used to make a new directory or folder in DOS. Along with the
command, the path i.e. the location of the new directory and the name of the new directory
is also to be typed as: MD [Directory_name].

RD
The RMDIR or RD is used to remove or delete a directory or folder in DOS. Along with the
command, the path and the name of the directory to be removed is also to be typed as: RD
[Directory_name].

CD
The CHDIR or CD command is used to change from one directory to another in DOS. Along
with the command, the path and name of the directory to move to is to be typed as: CD
[Directory_name].

COPY
It is used to copy a file from one location to a different one or make a copy of a file with a
different name at the same location. The copy commands to be followed by the source file
name and the path and the destination file name and path as: COPY [Source_file] [Target_file].

COPY CON
CON is the device name used to indicate the console i.e. the Keyboard and the Monitor. The
COPY command can also be used in conjunction with the above device names. In doing so,
the device name is treated as a file name. Here the device name CON is used to indicate that
the source of the file is the input console i.e. the keyboard.

TYPE
TYPE command is used to display the contents or text of any file to the display. We use TYPE
command to view a text file without modifying it.

DEL
It is used to delete a file. The del command is to be following by the path and filename to
delete as: DEL [File_path_and_name].

REN
The RENAME or REN command is used to rename a file or directory. This command is to be
followed by the path and file/directory name to be renamed and the changed file/directory
name as RENAME [Old_file_and_folder_name] [New_file_and_folder_name].

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 Command Used for Syntax

MD It allows to create a new directory C:\> MD <Dirname>

Make directory Example:- C:\> MD REPORT

RD It is used to remove an empty C:\> RD <Directory name>

Remove directory from the system. Example:- C:\> RD REPORT
directory
CD We can enter or exit from any To access any directory
Change directory using this command C:\> CD <Directory name>
directory Example:-
C:\> CD REPORT
C:\REPORT>
To exit from directory
C:\> CD..
C:\REPORT> CD..
C:\>
COPY It is used to copy one or more files C:\> COPY <Source filename>
to a different position. <Target file name>
Example:-
C:\>COPY SUN.TXT Sun.MSG
1 file(s) copied
COPY CON This command gives the facility to C:\> COPY CON <Filename>
create a new text file. Example:-
C:\>COPY CON Sun.txt
The sun rises in the east.
^Z
1 file(s) copied
^C (CTRL+C) button to abort with
out saving
TYPE It is used to show the contents of C:\> TYPE <Filename>
files. Example:- C:\>TYPE Sun.TXT

DEL This command is used for erasing C:\> DEL <Filename>

Delete any file from the disk Example:- C:\>DEL Sun.TXT

REN This command is used to rename a C:\> REN <Source filename>

Rename file in the system. <Target filename>
Example:-
C:\>REN Sun.TXT Surya.TXT
To changing the filename present
in floppy disk
C:\>REN A:\Sun.TXT Surya.TXT

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Various External Commands

TREE
This command allows the user to view a listing of files and folders in an easy-to-read graphical
format, with the main directory at the top, followed by the sub and sub -sub directories along
its branches. The format of TREE command is TREE [Drive/Path].

DISKCOPY
The DISKCOPY command is used to copy the complete contents of one floppy disk to another.
The two floppy disks must be of same types. This is to be followed by the source and target
drive names as DISKCOPY [Drive1]: [Drive2]:

XCOPY
The XCOPY command is used to copy files and directory trees from one location to another.
The command will copy all the files and directories and sub-directories . The command is to
be typed as: XCOPY [Source_Directory] [Destination_Directory_Destination].

ATTRIB
The ATTRIB command is DOS helps to set the attribute for a file. The different option available
with ATTRIB are:
+ a Marks as an archive file. -a removes the attribute.
+ r Marks the file read-only. -r removes the attribute.
+ s Makes the file as a system file. -s removes the attribute.
+h Makes the file hidden -h removes the attribute

CHKDSK
The CHKDSK command in DOS checks a disk for errors and displays a status report.The
command should be typed as CHKDSK [Drive_Name]
/f Fixes errors on the disk.
/v Displays the full path and name of every file on the disk.

LABEL
The LABEL command in DOS is used to create, change or delete the volume label name of any
drive. This command should be typed as: [Drive_Name] [Volume_name].

WILD CARD CHARACTER

Two symbols, called wildcards, allow the user in DOS to specify a group of files.
The wild card character '*' indicates any group of characters while '?' indicates a single
character.

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 Command Used for Syntax

TREE Displays directory paths and TREE [Drive:[[Path] [/F] [/A]

(optionally) files in each /F Displays file names in each
subdirectory. Directory.
/A ext characters used for linking
lines, instead of graphic
characters.
DISKCOPY DISKCOPY copies the contents of a C:\> DISKCOPY<Drive1> <Drive2>
floppy disk to another. C:\> DISKCOPY A: B:
This command will be copy all
contents of A
drive to B drive
XCOPY It is used to copy various files, C:\> XCOPY <Source dirname>
directories, or drives from one <Target dirname>
position to another position. C:\> XCOPY TC TURBOC
ATTRIB Sets the various type of attribute C:\> ATTRIB [± r] [± a] [± h] [± s]
to a file. Like Read only, Archive, <File name>
Hidden and System attribute. C:\> ATTRIB +r Sun.txt
This command will change the
attribute of file Sun.txt to read
only mode.
To remove the read only attribute
we will follow this command.
C:\> ATTRIB ‐r Gulab.txt
CHKDSK It is used to check a disk for errors C:\> CHKDSK D:/f
and displays status display. It fixes errors on the disk

LABEL It is used to modify the label of the C:\>LABEL

disk drive. Volume in drive C is OS
Volume Serial Number is 4A5A-
6DBE
Volume label (11 characters, ENT
ER for none)? INFO
Use the asterisk (*) to match any C:\> COPY *.doc C:\Temp\
WILD CARD sequence of characters. C:\> DIR D:\prog*.?
CHARACTERS Use the question mark (?) to match
* and ? any single character.