Disk Operating System

Microsoft DOS (Disk Operating System)

What is Ms-Dos?

                Ms-Dos starts for Microsoft Disk Operating System. Ms-Dos developed by Microsoft Corporation for the International Business Machine (IBM) Computer. Microsoft is a company name that produce computer application so Dos is a that type of application which help the computer to operate. Without Dos computer never operate.

                In Dos there are several files and these files are store inside the disk (Hard disk). The file which helps the computer to boot called Dos or System files. They are (i) I.O.sys (ii) Ms-Dos.sys   (iii) Command.com.

                As a result the computer is operating through the disk which is call dos. Therefore the main function of Dos is to operate the Computer and the Second function of dos is to manage the files of the disk.

Ms-Dos Command: Command is interpreter between man any information what we want to send we have need certain command because without command we can not sent information. There are two types of Ms-Dos command.

i) Internal Command: internal commands are a part of command .com file. All types of internal commands are store into this command. Internal commands are load into the computers memory at the operating time. These commands are: cls, dir, date, time, vol, ver, md, cd, rd, copy, copy con, Del, type, prompt, fc, etc.

ii) External command: External commands are store into their dos directory. External commands have their own file. So we can see them they are not part of command.com file. Some external command are Label, attrib, print, deltree, edit, tree, sys, help, scandisk, defrag, move, xcopy, etc.

I.O sys: The management of input and output (I.O) operations are done by (I.O) says system file. This file can not be seen using dir command it is a hidden file.

Ms-Dos.sys: The system sys in used to store internal command all file. It is also hidden file so it can’t be seen using dir command.

How to start Ms-Dos Program?

1. Click on start button.
2. Select program.
3. Choose accessories.
4. Choose Ms-Dos prompt and click it.

You will come to dos prompt, command prompt, c:\>prompt.

How to exit your Ms-Dos Programs?

Exit command: This command is used to return to the windows environment. If you want to exit from dos prompt, type exit and press enter key you will come to windows screen. Then you can open other program as you like.

                There are general rules for writing filename. They are as follows:

1. File name can’t write more than 8 characters.
2. Blank spaces aren’t accepted.
3. Upper case and lower case accepted.
4. Extensions have maximum of three characters.
5. Extensions can be separated from filename by full stop (.).

What is directory?

                The collection of files or where we keep that’s file is called directory. In another sense directory is a table of contents for a disk. You have table of contents in your book. It content the name of files their size, last date, modification and address.

Internal command:

Dir (directory): This helps to display the list of file.

E.g.: c:\> dir

Dir/p: display all files with page by page.

Dir/w: display all files with wide columns.

Dir/s: display all files with sub directories.

Dir/ah: display all hidden files.

Dir/as: display all system files.

Dir/ar: display read only files.

Dir *.*:  display all list of files.

How to create new file at dos?

1. In the prompt c:\> type ‘copy con’ and space ‘file name’ press enter.
2. Type your any text.
3. After typing, press F6 or press Ctrl + Z. Then appear 1 file(s) copied.
4. Type dir command.

Type: It helps to see your pre-saved files.

E.g.: c:\> type ram (file name) press enter key.

Date: It changes current date into new date.

E.g.: c:\> date press enter key.

Time: It changes current time into new time.

E.g.: c:\> time press enter key.

Ren (rename): This command is used to change old filename to new file name.

E.g.: c:\>ren (old file name) (new file name)

c:\> ren ram hari press enter key.

Del (delete): This command is used to delete your special file.

E.g.: c:\>del space filename and press enter key.

c:\>del sanu press enter key.

Vol (volume): This display the volume name of the special drive.

E.g.: c:\>vol space drive name and press enter key.

c:\>vol d: or vol c:

Ver (version): Display the ms dos’s version.

E.g.: c:\>ver press enter key.

Label: This command allows you to change the volume label of your hard disk and floppy disk.

E.g.: c:\>label

md (Make Directory): This command is used to make directory on your disk.

E.g.: c:\>md space file name and press enter key.

c:\>md ram press enter key.

Cd (create directory): This command is used to create directory.

E.g.: c:\>cd space filename (directory) press enter key.

c:\>cd hari press enter key.

rd (remove directory): This command is used to remove directory.

E.g.: c:\>rd space filename (directory) press enter key.

c:\>rd hari press enter key.

Note: To remove directory first of all look at the directory weather it is empty or not. If it is not empty then first empty the directory and do the remove directory.

Fc (file combination): This command is used to combine two files each other.

E.g.: c:\>fc space filename space other filename.

c:\>fc kunal hari press enter key.

Copy: This command is used to copy files from one to another file.

E.g.: c:\>copy space filename space other filename press enter key.

c:\>copy hari sony press enter key.

Edit: This is an external Ms-Dos command, which is used to edit the file, to create by using copy con.

E.g.: c:\>edit space filename press enter key.

c:\>edit hari press enter key.

Then papers edit screen.

File, Edit, Search, View and Option.

Cursor Movement commands:

Home key: Move to the start of the current line.

End key: Move to the end of the current line.

Page up key: Scroll up one screen.

Page down key: Scroll down one screen.

Up arrow: Move one line up.

Down arrow: Move one line down.

Right arrow: Move one character right.

Left arrow: Move one character left.

Editing commands:

Enter key: Start a new line.

Delete key: Delete the character that the cursor is on.

Backspace: Delete the character to the left of the cursor.

Ctrl + y: Delete the current’s line add your new message.

To save file:

1. Go to file menu using by press Alt + F.
2. Select save or just press S.

To exit from edit:

1. Go to file menu.
2. Select exit or just press X.

Move: This is an external Ms-Dos command, which is used to moves one or mores one or more files to the location you specify. This move command can also be used to rename directories.

How to move one directory to another directory:

E.g.: c:\>move space old directory name space new directory name press enter key.

c:\>move hari shyam press enter key.