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DOS Command Index

Information about all current DOS commands
From the book DOS the Easy Way by Everett Murdock Ph.D. CLICK HERE for information about downloading the book DOS the Easy Way. Click on a command name for com lete information about that command and exam les of its use!

"##E$D E!ternal" #PPE$D % #PPE$D &d:'path&%'&d:'path&...' #PPE$D &():on*off'&(path:on*off' &(E' Di+play+ or +et+ the +earch path for data file+. D,S will +earch the +pecified path +" if the file i+ not found in the current path.

"SSI%$ E!ternal" #SS-.$ !/y &...' (+ta

0edirect+ di+k drive re1ue+t+ to a different drive.

"&&RI' E!ternal" #220-3 &d:'&path'filename &(S' #220-3 &40*50' &4#*5#' &4S*5S' &46*56' &d:'&path'filename &(S' Set+ or di+play+ the read5only7 archive7 +y+tem7 and hidden attribute+ of a file or directory.

'"CK(# E!ternal" 3#89:P d:&path'&filename' d:&(S'&(M'&(#'&(F: +i;e"' &(P'&(D:date' &(2:time' &(<: &path'filename' Make+ a backup copy of one or more file+. -n D,S =er+ion >7 thi+ program i+ +tored on the D,S +upplemental di+k."

'RE"K -nternal" 30E#9 /on*off :+ed from the D,S prompt or in a batch file or in the 8,$F-..S?S file to +et or di+play" whether or not D,S +hould check for a 8trl 4 3reak key combination.

'())ERS -nternal" 3:FFE0S/ number"7 read5ahead number" :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to +et the number of di+k buffer+ number" that will be available for u+e during data input. #l+o u+ed to +et a value for the number of +ector+ to

be read in advance read5ahead" during data input operation+.

C"LL -nternal" 8#<< &d:'&path'batchfilename &option+' 8all+ another batch file and then return+ to current batch file to continue.

CHC# -nternal" 868P codepage" Di+play+ the current code page or change+ the code page that D,S will u+e.

CHDIR -nternal" 86D-0 8D" &d:'path 86D-0 8D"&..' Di+play+ working current" directory and(or change+ to a different directory.

CHKDSK E!ternal" 869DS9 &d:'&path'&filename' &(F'&(=' 8heck+ a di+k and provide+ a file and memory +tatu+ report.

CHOICE

-nternal" 86,-8E &(8&:'key+' &($'&(S'&(2&:'c7nn' &te!t' :+ed to provide a prompt +o that a u+er can make a choice while a batch program i+ running.

CLS *Clear Screen+ -nternal" 8<S 8lear+ era+e+" the +creen.

CO,,"$D E!ternal" 8,MM#$D &d:'&path' &device' &(P'&(E: +i;e"' &(MS.'&(? &(8 command"*(9 command"' Start+ a new ver+ion of the D,S command proce++or the program that load+ the D,S -nternal program+".

CO,# E!ternal" 8,MP &d:'&path'&filename' &d:'&path'&filename' &(#'&(8'&(D'&(<'&($: number"' 8ompare+ two group+ of file+ to find information that doe+ not match. See F8 command".

CO#-nternal"

8,P? &(?*5?' &(#'&(3' &d:'&path'filename &(#'&(3' &d:'&path'&filename' &(=' or 8,P? &(?*5?'&(#'&(3' &d:'&path'filename4&d:'&path'filename&...'&d:'&path'&filename' &(=' 8opie+ and append+ file+.

CO($&R-nternal" 8,:$20?/country code7&code page'&7'&d:'&filename' :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to tell D,S to u+e country5+pecific te!t convention+ during proce++ing.

C&&-nternal" 822? device" 8hange+ the +tandard -(, -nput(,utput" device to an au!iliary device.

D"&E -nternal" D#2E mm5dd5yy Di+play+ and(or +et+ the +y+tem date.

D'LS#"CE E!ternal" D3<SP#8E ( automount/drive+ D3<SP#8E (chkd+k &(F' &d:'

D3<SP#8E (compre++ d: &(newdrive/ho+t:' &(re+erve/+i;e' &(F' D3<SP#8E (create d: &(newdrive/ho+t:' &(re+erve/+i;e' &(+i;e/+i;e' D3<SP#8E (defragment &d:' '(F' D3<SP#8E (delete d: D3<SP#8E (doubleguard/@*A D3<SP#8E (format d: D3<SP#8E &(info' &d:' D3<SP#8E (li+t D3<SP#8E (mount&/nnn' ho+t: &(newdrive/d:' D3<SP#8E (ratio&/ratio' &d:' &(all' D3<SP#8E (+i;e&/+i;e' &(re+erve/+i;e' d: D3<SP#8E (uncompre++ d: D3<SP#8E (unmount &d:' # program available with D,S >.@ that allow+ you to compre++ information on a di+k.

DE'(% E!ternal" DE3:. &pathname' &parameter+' #n MS5D,S utility u+ed to te+t and edit program+.

DE)R"% E!ternal" DEF0#. &d:' &(F'&(S&:'order' &(3'&(+kiphigh &(<8D*(3B*(.,' &(6' DEF0#. &d:' &(='&(3'&(+kiphigh' &(<8D'*(3B*(.,' &(6' ,ptimi;e+ di+k performance by reorgani;ing the file+ on the di+k.

DEL *ER"SE+ -nternal" DE< E0#SE" &d:'&path'filename &(P' Delete+ era+e+" file+ from di+k.

DELOLDOS E!ternal" DE<,<D,S &(3' Delete+ all file+ from previou+ ver+ion+ of D,S after a C.@ or >.@ in+tallation.

DEL&REE E!ternal" DE<20EE &(?' &d:'path &d:'path&...' Delete+ era+e+" a directory including all file+ and +ubdirectorie+ that are in it.

DE.ICE -nternal" DE=-8E/ driver name" :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to tell D,S which device driver to load.

DE.ICEHI%H -nternal" DE=-8E6-.6/ driver name" <ike DE=-8E7 DE=-8E6-.6 i+ u+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to tell D,S which device driver +oftware to u+e for device+% however7 thi+ option i+ u+ed to in+tall the device driver into the upper memory area.

DIR

-nternal" D-0 &d:'&path'&filename' &(#: attribute+"' &(,: order"' &(3'&(8'&(86'&(<'&(S'&(P'&(B' Di+play+ directory of file+ and directorie+ +tored on di+k.

DISKCO,# E!ternal" D-S98,MP &d:' &d:'&(A'&(D' 8ompare+ the content+ of two di+kette+.

DISKCO#E!ternal" D-S98,P? &d:' &d:'&(A'&(='&(M' Make+ an e!act copy of a di+kette.

DOS -nternal" D,S/&high*low'7&umb*noumb' :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to +pecify the memory location for D,S. -t i+ u+ed to load D,S into the upper memory area and to +pecify whether or not the upper memory block+ will be u+ed.

DOSKEE!ternal" D,S9E? &rein+tall' &(buf+i;e/+i;e'&(macro+'&(hi+tory'&(in+ert*(over+trike' &macroname/&te!t''

<oad+ the Do+key program into memory which can be u+ed to recall D,S command+ +o that you can edit them.

DOSSHELL E!ternal" D,SS6E<< &(3' &(.:&re+olution'&n''*&(2:&re+olution'&n'' -nitiate+ the graphic +hell program u+ing the +pecified +creen re+olution.

DRI.#"R, -nternal" D0-=P#0M/ (D: number" &(8' &(F: form factor"' &(6: number"' &(-'& ($'&(S: number"' &(2: track+"' :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to +et parameter+ for a di+k drive.

ECHO -nternal" E86, on*off E86, me++age" Di+play+ me++age+ or turn+ on or off the di+play of command+ in a batch file.

EDI& E!ternal" ED-2 &d:'&path'filename &(3'&(.'&(6'&($,6-' Start+ the MS5D,S editor7 a te!t editor u+ed to create and edit #S8-- te!t file+.

E,,/01 E!ternal" EMMED> &on*off*auto' &w/on*off' Enable+ or di+able+ EMMED> e!panded5memory +upport on a computer with an D@ED> or higher proce++or.

E2E3'I$ E!ternal" E)EF3-$ &d:'&path'filename &d:'&path'filename 8onvert+ .E)E e!ecutable" file+ to binary format.

E2I& -nternal" E)-2 E!it+ a +econdary command proce++or.

E2#"$D E!ternal" E)P#$D &d:'&path'filename &&d:'&path'filename& . . .'' E!pand+ a compre++ed file.

)"S&HEL#

E!ternal" F#S26E<P &command'&command' (G Di+play+ a li+t of D,S command+ with a brief e!planation of each.

)"S&O#E$ E!ternal" F#S2,PE$ d:&/n'&()' 9eep+ track of the location+ of file+ for fa+t acce++.

)C E!ternal" F8 &(#'&(8'&(<'&(<b n'&($'&(2'&(B'&number' &d:'&path'filename &d:'&path'filename or for binary compari+on+" F8 &(3'&(number' &d:'&path'filename &d:'&path'filename Di+play+ the difference+ between two file+ or +et+ of file+.

)C'S -nternal" F83S/ number" :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to +pecify the number of file5control block+ for file +haring.

)DISK E!ternal"

FD-S9 &(+tatu+' Prepare+ a fi!ed di+k to accept D,S file+ for +torage.

)ILES -nternal" F-<ES/ number" :+ed in the 8,$F-..Sy+ file to +pecify the ma!imum number of file+ that can be open at the +ame time.

)I$D E!ternal" F-$D &(='&(8'&(-'&($' H+tringI &d:'&path'filename&...' Find+ and report+ the location of a +pecific +tring of te!t character+ in one or more file+.

)OR -nternal" F,0 JJ variable" -$ +et" D, command" or for interactive proce++ing" F,0 J variable" -$ +et" D, command" Perform+ repeated e!ecution of command+ for both batch proce++ing and interactive proce++ing".

)OR,"& E!ternal" F,0M#2 d:&(A'&(K'&(D'&(F: +i;e"' &($: +ector+"' &(2: track+"'&(3*(S'&(8'&(=: label"' &(L'

&(:'&(=' Format+ a di+k to accept D,S file+.

%O&O -nternal" .,2, label" 8au+e+ unconditional branch to the +pecified label.

%R")&"'L E!ternal" .0#F2#3< & code page"' .0#F2#3< &+tatu+' <oad+ a table of character data into memory for u+e with a color(graphic+ adapter".

%R"#HICS E!ternal" .0#P6-8S &printer type'&profile' &(3'&(0'&(<8D'&(P3: id"' &(8'&(F'&(P port"' Provide+ a way to print content+ of a graphic+ +creen di+play.

HEL# E!ternal" 6E<P &command' &(3'&(.'&(6'&($,6-' Di+play+ information about a D,S command.

I) -nternal" -F &$,2' E)-S2 filename command" &parameter+' -F &$,2' +tringA"// +tringF" command" &parameter+' -F &$,2' E00,0<E=E< number" command" &parameter+' #llow+ for conditional operation+ in batch proce++ing.

I$CL(DE -nternal" -$8<:DE/ blockname :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to allow you to u+e the command+ from one 8,$F-..S?S block within another.

I$S&"LL -nternal" -$S2#<</&d: '&Mpath'filename &parameter+' :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to load memory5re+ident program+ into conventional memory.

I$&ERLI$K E!ternal" -$2E0<-$9 &client&:'/&+erver'&:'' 8onnect+ two computer+ via parallel or +erial port+ +o that the computer+ can +hare di+k+ and printer port+.

I$&ERS.R

E!ternal" -$2E0S=0 &d:'&...'&()/d:'&...' &(<P2:&n*addre++'' &(8,M:&n*addre++''&(baud:rate' &(3' &(=' -$2E0S=0 (08,P? Start+ the -nterlink +erver.

4OI$ E!ternal" N,-$ d: &d:path' N,-$ d: &(D' #llow+ acce++ to the directory +tructure and file+ of a drive through a directory on a different drive.

KE-' E!ternal" 9E?3 &!!'&7'&yyy'&7'&d:'&path'filename &(E'&(-D: number"' <oad+ a program that replace+ the +upport program for :. S. keyboard+. L"'EL E!ternal" <#3E< &d:'&volume label' 8reate+ or change+ or delete+ a volume label for a di+k. L"S&DRI.E -nternal" <#S2D0-=E/ drive letter"

:+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to +et the ma!imum number of drive+ that can be acce++ed. LO"D)I2 -nternal" <,#DF-) &d:'&path'filename &parameter+' En+ure+ that a program i+ loaded above the fir+t >K9 of conventional memory7 and run+ the program. LO"DHI%H -nternal" <,#D6-.6 <6" &d:'&path'filename &parameter+' <oad+ memory re+ident application into re+erved area of memory between >K@95AM".

,E, E!ternal" MEM &(program*(debug*(cla++ify*(free*(module name"' &(page' Di+play+ amount of in+talled and available memory7 including e!tended7 e!panded7 and upper memory.

,E,,"KER E!ternal" MEMM#9E0 &(3'&(batch'&(+e++ion'&(+wap:d' &(2'&(undo'&(B:+i;eA7+i;eF' Start+ the MemMaker program7 a program that let+ you optimi;e your computerO+ memory.

,E$(COLOR -nternal" ME$:8,<,0/te!tcolor7&background' :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to +et the color+ that will be u+ed by D,S to di+play te!t on the +creen.

,E$(DE)"(L& -nternal" ME$:DEF#:<2/blockname7 &timeout' :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to +et the +tartup configuration that will be u+ed by D,S if no key i+ pre++ed within the +pecified timeout period.

,E$(I&E, -nternal" ME$:-2EM/blockname7 &menute!t' :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to create a +tart5up menu from which you can +elect a group of 8,$F-..S?S command+ to be proce++ed upon reboot.

,IRROR E!ternal" M-00,0 &d:'path &d:' path &...' M-00,0 &dA:'&dF:'&...' &(2 drive" file+"' &(partn'&(:'&(A' Save+ di+k +torage information that can be u+ed to recover accidentally era+ed file+.

,KDIR

MD" -nternal" M9D-0 MD" &d:'path 8reate+ a new +ubdirectory.

,ODE E!ternal" M,DE n M,DE <P2P&:'&n'&7'&m'&7'&P'&retry' M,DE &n'7m&72' M,DE di+playtype7linetotal" M,DE 8,Mn&:'baud&7'&parity'&7'&databit+'&7'&+topbit+'&7'&retry' M,DE <P2P&:'/8,Mn &retry' M,DE 8,$&0#2E/ number"'&DE<#?/ number"' M,DE device" 8,DEP#.E P0EP#0E/ codepage" &d:'&path'filename M,DE device" 8,DEP#.E P0EP#0E/ codepage li+t" &d:'&path'filename M,DE device" 8,DEP#.E SE<E82/ codepage" M,DE device" 8,DEP#.E &(S2#2:S' M,DE device" 8,DEP#.E 0EF0ES6 Set+ mode of operation for device+ or communication+.

,ORE E!ternal" M,0E Q filename or command" name"*M,0E Send+ output to con+ole7 one +creen at a time.

,O.E -nternal"

M,=E &(?*(5?' &d:'&path'filename&7&d:'&path'filename&...'' de+tination Move+ one or more file+ to the location you +pecify. 8an al+o be u+ed to rename directorie+.

,S". E!ternal" MS#= &d:' &(S*(8'&(0'&(#'&(<'&($'&(P'&(F'&(video'&(mou+e' MS#= (video Scan+ your computer for known viru+e+.

,S'"CK(# E!ternal" MS3#89:P &+etupfile' &(3B*(<8D*(MD#' :+ed to backup or re+tore one or more file+ from one di+k to another.

,SCDE2 E!ternal" MS8DE) (D:driver &(D:driverF. . .' &(E'&(9'&(S'&(='&(<:letter' &(M:number' :+ed to gain acce++ to 8D50,M drive+ new with D,S =er+ion >".

,SD E!ternal"

MSD &(3'&(-' MSD &(-' &(F&d:'&path'filename &(P&d:'&path'filename &(S&d:'&path'filename Provide+ detailed technical information about your computer.

$LS)($C E!ternal" $<SF:$8 &d:'&path'filename :+ed to load a file with country5+pecific information.

$(,LOCK -nternal" $:M<,89/on*off :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to +pecify the +tate of the $um<ock key.

#"&H -nternal" P#26% P#26 &d:'path&%'&d:'path&...' Set+ or di+play+ directorie+ that will be +earched for program+ not in the current directory.

#"(SE -nternal"

P#:SE &comment' Su+pend+ e!ecution of a batch file until a key i+ pre++ed.

#OWER E!ternal" P,BE0 &adv:ma!*reg*min'*+td*off' :+ed to turn power management on and off7 report the +tatu+ of power management7 and +et level+ of power con+ervation.

#RI$& E!ternal" P0-$2 &(3: buffer+i;e"' &(D: device"' &(M: ma!tick"' &(L: value' &(S: time+lice"'&(:: bu+ytick"' &(8'&(P'&(2' &d:'&path'&filename' &...' Lueue+ and print+ data file+.

#RO,#& -nternal" P0,MP2 &prompt te!t' &option+' 8hange+ the D,S command prompt.

RECO.ER E!ternal"

0E8,=E0 &d:'&path'filename 0E8,=E0 d: 0e+olve+ +ector problem+ on a file or a di+k. 3eginning with D,S =er+ion >7 0E8,=E0 i+ no longer available ".

RE, -nternal" 0EM &comment' :+ed in batch file+ and in the 8,$F-..S?S file to in+ert remark+ that will not be acted on".

RE$",E *RE$+ -nternal" 0E$#ME 0E$" &d:'&path'filename &d:'&path'filename 8hange+ the filename under which a file i+ +tored.

RE#L"CE E!ternal" 0EP<#8E &d:'&path'filename &d:'&path' &(#'&(P'&(0'&(S'&(:'&(B' 0eplace+ +tored file+ with file+ of the +ame name from a different +torage location.

RES&ORE

E!ternal" 0ES2,0E d: &d:'&path'filename &(P'&(S'&(3:mm5dd5yy' &(#:mm5dd5yy'&(E:hh:mm:++' &(<:hh:mm:++' &(M'&($'&(D' 0e+tore+ to +tandard di+k +torage format file+ previou+ly +tored u+ing the 3#89:P command.

R,DIR *RD+ -nternal" 0MD-0 0D" &d:'path 0emove+ a +ubdirectory.

SC"$DISK E!ternal" S8#$D-S9 &d: &d: . . .'*(all'&(checkonly*(autofi!&(no+ave'*(cu+tom'&(+urface'&(mono' &(no+ummay' S8#$D-S9 volume5name&(checkonly*(autofi!&(no+ave'*(cu+tom'&(mono'&(no+ummary' S8#$D-S9 (fragment &d:'&path'filename S8#$D-S9 (undo &undo5d:'&(mono' Start+ the Micro+oft ScanDi+k program which i+ a di+k analy+i+ and repair tool u+ed to check a drive for error+ and correct any problem+ that it find+.

SELEC& E!ternal" SE<E82 &d:' &d:'&path' &country code'&keyboard code' Format+ a di+k and in+tall+ country5+pecific information and keyboard code+ +tarting with D,S =er+ion >7 thi+ command i+ no longer available".

SE& -nternal" SE2 +tringA"/ +tringF" -n+ert+ +tring+ into the command environment. 2he +et value+ can be u+ed later by program+.

SE&.ER E!ternal" SE2=E0 &d:':path'&filename number"'&(delete'&(1uiet' Di+play+ the ver+ion table and +et+ the ver+ion of D,S that i+ reported to program+.

SH"RE E!ternal" S6#0E &(F:+pace' &(<:lock+' -n+tall+ +upport for file +haring and file locking.

SHELL -nternal" S6E<</&d:'&path'filename &parameter+' :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to +pecify the command interpreter that D,S +hould u+e.

SHI)& -nternal" S6-F2 -ncrea+e+ number of replaceable parameter+ to more than the +tandard ten for u+e in batch file+.

SOR& E!ternal" S,02 &(0'&(4n' Q filename" S,02 &(0'&(4n' R filenameF" Sort+ input and +end+ it to the +creen or to a file.

S&"CKS -nternal" S2#89S/ number"7 +i;e" :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to +et the number of +tack frame+ and the +i;e of each +tack frame.

S(',E$( -nternal" S:3ME$:/blockname7 &menute!t' :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to create a multilevel menu from which you can +elect

+tart5up option+.

S('S& E!ternal" S:3S2 d: d:path S:3S2 d: (D Sub+titute+ a virtual drive letter for a path de+ignation.

SWI&CHES -nternal" SB-286ES/ &(9'&(F'&($'&(B' :+ed in the 8,$F-..S?S file to configure D,S in a +pecial way% for e!ample7 to tell D,S to emulate different hardware configuration+.

S-S E!ternal" S?S &+ource' d: 2ran+fer+ the operating +y+tem file+ to another di+k.

&I,E -nternal" 2-ME hh:mm&:++'&.cc'&#*P'

Di+play+ current time +etting of +y+tem clock and provide+ a way for you to re+et the time.

&REE E!ternal" 20EE &d:'&path' &(#'&(F' Di+play+ directory path+ and optionally" file+ in each +ubdirectory.

&-#E -nternal" 2?PE &d:'&path'filename Di+play+ the content+ of a file.

($DELE&E E!ternal" :$DE<E2E &d:'&path'&filename' &(D2*(DS*(D,S' :$DE<E2E &(li+t*(all*(purge&d:'*(+tatu+*(load*(:*(S&d:'*(2d:&5entrie+'' 0e+tore+ file+ deleted with the DE<E2E command.

($)OR,"& E!ternal" :$F,0M#2 d: &(N'&(<'&(te+t'&(partn'&(P'&(:'

:+ed to undo the effect+ of formatting a di+k.

.ER -nternal" =E0 Di+play+ the D,S ver+ion number.

.ERI)-nternal" =E0-F? on*off 2urn+ on the verify mode% the program check+ all copying operation+ to a++ure that file+ are copied correctly.

.OL -nternal" =,< &d:' Di+play+ a di+kO+ volume label.

.S")E E!ternal" =S#FE &(option&4*5'...' &($E'&($)'&#!*(8!' &($'&(D'&(:' =S#FE i+ a memory5re+ident program that continuou+ly monitor+ your computer for

viru+e+ and di+play+ a warning when it find+ one.

2CO#E!ternal" )8,P? &d:'&path'filename &d:'&path'&filename' &(#'&(D: date"' &(E'&(M'&(P'&(S'&(='&(B' &?M5?' 8opie+ directorie+7 +ubdirectorie+7 and file+.

Syntax $otes
2o be functional7 each D,S command mu+t be entered in a particular way: thi+ command entry +tructure i+ known a+ the commandO+ S+ynta!.S 2he +ynta! SnotationS i+ a way to reproduce the command +ynta! in print. For e!ample7 you can determine the item+ that are optional7 by looking for information that i+ printed in+ide +1uare bracket+. 2he notation &d:'7 for e!ample7 indicate+ an optional drive de+ignation. 2he command +ynta!7 on the other hand7 i+ how ?,: enter the command to make it work. Command Syntax Elements 5! Command $ame 2he D,S command name i+ the name you enter to +tart the D,S program a few of the D,S command+ can be entered u+ing +hortcut name+". 2he D,S command name i+ alway+ entered fir+t. -n thi+ book7 the command i+ u+ually printed in upperca+e letter+7 but you can enter command name+ a+ either lowerca+e or upperca+e or a mi! of both. 3! S ace #lway+ leave a +pace after the command name. /! Dri6e Desi7nation 2he drive de+ignation abbreviated in thi+ book a+ Sd:S" i+ an option for many D,S command+. 6owever7 +ome command+ are not related to di+k drive+ and therefore do not re1uire a drive de+ignation. Bhenever you enter a D,S command that deal+ with di+k drive+ and you are already working in the drive in 1ue+tion7 you do not have to enter the drive de+ignator. For e!ample7 if you are working in drive # when the D,S prompt #R i+ +howing at the left +ide of the +creen" and you want to u+e the D-0 command to di+play

a directory li+ting of that +ame drive7 you do not have to enter the drive de+ignation. -f you do not enter a drive de+ignation7 D,S alway+ a++ume+ you are referring to the drive you are currently working in +ometime+ called the SdefaultS drive". 8! " Colon Bhen referring to a drive in a D,S command7 you mu+t alway+ follow the drive de+ignator with a colon :" thi+ i+ how D,S recogni;e+ it a+ a drive de+ignation". 9! #athname # pathname path" refer+ to the path you want D,S to follow in order to act on the D,S command. #+ de+cribed in 8hapter E7 it indicate+ the path from the current directory or +ubdirectory to the file+ that are to be acted upon. 1! )ilename # filename i+ the name of a file +tored on di+k. #+ de+cribed in 8hapter A7 a filename can be of eight or fewer letter+ or other legal character+. :! )ilename Extension # filename e!ten+ion can follow the filename to further identify it. 2he e!ten+ion follow+ a period and can be of three or fewer character+. # filename e!ten+ion i+ not re1uired. 0! S;itches 8haracter+ +hown in a command +ynta! that are repre+ented by a letter or number and preceded by a forward +la+h for e!ample7 S(PS" are command option+ +ometime+ known a+ S+witche+S". :+e of the+e option+ activate +pecial operation+ a+ part of a D,S commandO+ function+. <! 'rackets -tem+ enclo+ed in +1uare bracket+ are optional% in other word+7 the command will work in it+ ba+ic form without entering the information contained in+ide the bracket+. 5=! Elli ses Ellip+e+ ..." indicate that an item in a command +ynta! can be repeated a+ many time+ a+ needed. 55! .ertical 'ar Bhen item+ are +eparated by a vertical bar *"7 it mean+ that you enter one of the

+eparated item+. For e!ample: ,$ * ,FF mean+ that you can enter either ,$ or ,FF7 but not both. CLICK HERE for information about do;nloadin7 the book DOS the Easy Way

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