DOS Command Index
Information about all
current DOS commands
APPEND
(External)
APPEND ;
APPEND
[d:]path[;][d:]path[...]
APPEND
[/X:on|off][/path:on|off] [/E]
Displays or sets the
search path for data files. DOS will search the specified path(s) if the file
is not found in the current path.
ASSIGN
(External)
ASSIGN x=y [...] /sta
Redirects disk drive
requests to a different drive.
ATTRIB
(External)
ATTRIB
[d:][path]filename [/S]
ATTRIB [+R|-R] [+A|-A]
[+S|-S] [+H|-H] [d:][path]filename [/S]
Sets or displays the
read-only, archive, system, and hidden attributes of a file or directory.
BACKUP
(External)
BACKUP d:[path][filename] d:[/S][/M][/A][/F:(size)]
[/P][/D:date] [/T:time] [/L:[path]filename]
Makes a backup copy of
one or more files. (In DOS Version 6, this program is stored on the DOS
supplemental disk.)
BREAK
(Internal)
BREAK =on|off
Used from the DOS
prompt or in a batch file or in the CONFIG.SYS file to set (or display) whether
or not DOS should check for a Ctrl + Break key combination.
BUFFERS
(Internal)
BUFFERS=(number),(read-ahead number)
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to set the number of disk buffers (number) that will be available for use
during data input. Also used to set a value for the number of sectors to be
read in advance (read-ahead) during data input operations.
CALL
(Internal)
CALL
[d:][path]batchfilename [options]
Calls another batch
file and then returns to current batch file to continue.
CHCP
(Internal)
CHCP (codepage)
Displays the current
code page or changes the code page that DOS will use.
CHDIR
(Internal)
CHDIR (CD) [d:]path
CHDIR (CD)[..]
Displays working
(current) directory and/or changes to a different directory.
CHKDSK
(External)
CHKDSK
[d:][path][filename] [/F][/V]
Checks a disk and
provides a file and memory status report.
CHOICE
(Internal)
CHOICE [/C[:]keys]
[/N][/S][/T[:]c,nn] [text]
Used to provide a
prompt so that a user can make a choice while a batch program is running.
CLS (Clear Screen)
(Internal)
CLS
Clears (erases) the
screen.
COMMAND
(External)
COMMAND [d:][path]
[device] [/P][/E:(size)] [/MSG][/Y [/C (command)|/K (command)]
Starts a new version
of the DOS command processor (the program that loads the DOS Internal
programs).
COMP
(External)
COMP
[d:][path][filename] [d:][path][filename] [/A][/C][/D][/L][/N:(number)]
Compares two groups of
files to find information that does not match. (See FC command).
COPY
(Internal)
COPY [/Y|-Y] [/A][/B]
[d:][path]filename [/A][/B] [d:][path][filename] [/V]
or
COPY [/Y|-Y][/A][/B]
[d:][path]filename+[d:][path]filename[...][d:][path][filename] [/V]
Copies and appends
files.
COUNTRY
(Internal)
COUNTRY=country
code,[code page][,][d:][filename]
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to tell DOS to use country-specific text conventions during processing.
CTTY
(Internal)
CTTY (device)
Changes the standard
I/O (Input/Output) device to an auxiliary device.
DATE
(Internal)
DATE mm-dd-yy
Displays and/or sets
the system date.
DBLSPACE
(External)
DBLSPACE /
automount=drives
DBLSPACE /chkdsk [/F]
[d:]
DBLSPACE /compress d:
[/newdrive=host:] [/reserve=size] [/F]
DBLSPACE /create d:
[/newdrive=host:] [/reserve=size] [/size=size]
DBLSPACE /defragment
[d:] ]/F]
DBLSPACE /delete d:
DBLSPACE
/doubleguard=0|1
DBLSPACE /format d:
DBLSPACE [/info] [d:]
DBLSPACE /list
DBLSPACE /mount[=nnn]
host: [/newdrive=d:]
DBLSPACE
/ratio[=ratio] [d:] [/all]
DBLSPACE /size[=size]
[/reserve=size] d:
DBLSPACE /uncompress
d:
DBLSPACE /unmount [d:]
A program available
with DOS 6.0 that allows you to compress information on a disk.
DEBUG
(External)
DEBUG [pathname]
[parameters]
An MS-DOS utility used
to test and edit programs.
DEFRAG
(External)
DEFRAG [d:]
[/F][/S[:]order] [/B][/skiphigh [/LCD|/BW|/GO] [/H]
DEFRAG [d:] [/V][/B][/skiphigh] [/LCD]|/BW|/GO] [/H]
Optimizes disk
performance by reorganizing the files on the disk.
DEL (ERASE)
(Internal)
DEL (ERASE)
[d:][path]filename [/P]
Deletes (erases) files
from disk.
DELOLDOS
(External)
DELOLDOS [/B]
Deletes all files from
previous versions of DOS after a 5.0 or 6.0 installation.
DELTREE
(External)
DELTREE [/Y] [d:]path
[d:]path[...]
Deletes (erases) a
directory including all files and subdirectories that are in it.
DEVICE
(Internal)
DEVICE=(driver name)
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to tell DOS which device driver to load.
DEVICEHIGH
(Internal)
DEVICEHIGH=(driver
name)
Like DEVICE,
DEVICEHIGH is used in the CONFIG.SYS file to tell DOS which device driver
software to use for devices; however, this option is used to install the device
driver into the upper memory area.
DIR
(Internal)
DIR
[d:][path][filename] [/A:(attributes)] [/O:(order)]
[/B][/C][/CH][/L][/S][/P][/W]
Displays directory of
files and directories stored on disk.
DISKCOMP
(External)
DISKCOMP [d:]
[d:][/1][/8]
Compares the contents
of two diskettes.
DISKCOPY
(External)
DISKCOPY [d:]
[d:][/1][/V][/M]
Makes an exact copy of
a diskette.
DOS
(Internal)
DOS=[high|low],[umb|noumb]
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to specify the memory location for DOS. It is used to load DOS into the
upper memory area and to specify whether or not the upper memory blocks will be
used.
DOSKEY
(External)
DOSKEY [reinstall]
[/bufsize=size][/macros][/history][/insert|/overstrike] [macroname=[text]]
Loads the Doskey
program into memory which can be used to recall DOS commands so that you can
edit them.
DOSSHELL
(External)
DOSSHELL [/B]
[/G:[resolution][n]]|[/T:[resolution][n]]
Initiates the graphic
shell program using the specified screen resolution.
DRIVPARM
(Internal)
DRIVPARM= /D:(number)
[/C] [/F:(form factor)] [/H:(number)] [/I][ /N][/S:(number)] [/T:(tracks)]
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to set parameters for a disk drive.
ECHO
(Internal)
ECHO on|off
ECHO (message)
Displays messages or
turns on or off the display of commands in a batch file.
EDIT
(External)
EDIT
[d:][path]filename [/B][/G][/H][/NOHI]
Starts the MS-DOS
editor, a text editor used to create and edit ASCII text files.
EMM386
(External)
EMM386 [on|off|auto]
[w=on|off]
Enables or disables
EMM386 expanded-memory support on a computer with an 80386 or higher processor.
EXE2BIN
(External)
EXE2BIN
[d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename
Converts .EXE
(executable) files to binary format.
EXIT
(Internal)
EXIT
Exits a secondary
command processor.
EXPAND
(External)
EXPAND
[d:][path]filename [[d:][path]filename[ . . .]]
Expands a compressed
file.
FASTHELP
(External)
FASTHELP
[command][command] /?
Displays a list of DOS
commands with a brief explanation of each.
FASTOPEN
(External)
FASTOPEN d:[=n][/X]
Keeps track of the
locations of files for fast access.
FC
(External)
FC [/A][/C][/L][/Lb
n][/N][/T][/W][number] [d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename
or (for binary
comparisons)
FC [/B][/number]
[d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename
Displays the
differences between two files or sets of files.
FCBS
(Internal)
FCBS=(number)
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to specify the number of file-control blocks for file sharing.
FDISK
(External)
FDISK [/status]
Prepares a fixed disk
to accept DOS files for storage.
FILES
(Internal)
FILES=(number)
Used in the CONFIG.Sys
file to specify the maximum number of files that can be open at the same time.
FIND
(External)
FIND [/V][/C][/I][/N]
ÒstringÓ [d:][path]filename[...]
Finds and reports the
location of a specific string of text characters in one or more files.
FOR
(Internal)
FOR %%(variable) IN
(set) DO (command)
or (for interactive
processing)
FOR %(variable) IN
(set) DO (command)
Performs repeated
execution of commands (for both batch processing and interactive processing).
FORMAT
(External)
FORMAT
d:[/1][/4][/8][/F:(size)] [/N:(sectors)] [/T:(tracks)][/B|/S][/C][/V:(label)]
[/Q][/U][/V]
Formats a disk to
accept DOS files.
GOTO
(Internal)
GOTO (label)
Causes unconditional
branch to the specified label.
GRAFTABL
(External)
GRAFTABL [(code page)]
GRAFTABL [status]
Loads a table of
character data into memory (for use with a color/graphics adapter).
GRAPHICS
(External)
GRAPHICS [printer
type][profile] [/B][/R][/LCD][/PB:(id)] [/C][/F][/P(port)]
Provides a way to
print contents of a graphics screen display.
HELP
(External)
HELP [command]
[/B][/G][/H][/NOHI]
Displays information
about a DOS command.
IF
(Internal)
IF [NOT] EXIST
filename (command) [parameters]
IF [NOT] (string1)==(string2)
(command) [parameters]
IF [NOT] ERRORLEVEL
(number) (command) [parameters]
Allows for conditional
operations in batch processing.
INCLUDE
(Internal)
INCLUDE= blockname
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to allow you to use the commands from one CONFIG.SYS block within another.
INSTALL
(Internal)
INSTALL=[d:
][\path]filename [parameters]
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to load memory-resident programs into conventional memory.
INTERLINK
(External)
INTERLINK
[client[:]=[server][:]]
Connects two computers
via parallel or serial ports so that the computers can share disks and printer
ports.
INTERSVR
(External)
INTERSVR
[d:][...][/X=d:][...] [/LPT:[n|address]] [/COM:[n|address]][/baud:rate]
[/B][/V]
INTERSVR /RCOPY
Starts the Interlink
server.
JOIN
(External)
JOIN d: [d:path]
JOIN d: [/D]
Allows access to the
directory structure and files of a drive through a directory on a different
drive.
KEYB
(External)
KEYB
[xx][,][yyy][,][d:][path]filename [/E][/ID:(number)]
Loads a program that
replaces the support program for U. S. keyboards.
LABEL
(External)
LABEL [d:][volume
label]
Creates or changes or
deletes a volume label for a disk.
LASTDRIVE
(Internal)
LASTDRIVE=(drive
letter)
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to set the maximum number of drives that can be accessed.
LOADFIX
(Internal)
LOADFIX
[d:][path]filename [parameters]
Ensures that a program
is loaded above the first 64K of conventional memory, and runs the program.
LOADHIGH
(Internal)
LOADHIGH (LH)
[d:][path]filename [parameters]
Loads memory resident
application into reserved area of memory (between 640K-1M).
MEM
(External)
MEM
[/program|/debug|/classify|/free|/module(name)] [/page]
Displays amount of
installed and available memory, including extended, expanded, and upper memory.
MEMMAKER
(External)
MEMMAKER
[/B][/batch][/session][/swap:d] [/T][/undo][/W:size1,size2]
Starts the MemMaker
program, a program that lets you optimize your computer's memory.
MENUCOLOR
(Internal)
MENUCOLOR=textcolor,[background]
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to set the colors that will be used by DOS to display text on the screen.
MENUDEFAULT
(Internal)
MENUDEFAULT=blockname,
[timeout]
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to set the startup configuration that will be used by DOS if no key is
pressed within the specified timeout period.
MENUITEM
(Internal)
MENUITEM=blockname,
[menutext]
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to create a start-up menu from which you can select a group of CONFIG.SYS
commands to be processed upon reboot.
MIRROR
(External)
MIRROR [d:]path [d:]
path [...]
MIRROR [d1:][d2:][...]
[/T(drive)(files)] [/partn][/U][/1]
Saves disk storage
information that can be used to recover accidentally erased files.
MKDIR
(MD) (Internal)
MKDIR (MD) [d:]path
Creates a new
subdirectory.
MODE
(External)
MODE n
MODE
LPT#[:][n][,][m][,][P][retry]
MODE [n],m[,T]
MODE
(displaytype,linetotal)
MODE
COMn[:]baud[,][parity][,][databits][,][stopbits][,][retry]
MODE LPT#[:]=COMn
[retry]
MODE CON[RATE=(number)][DELAY=(number)]
MODE (device) CODEPAGE
PREPARE=(codepage) [d:][path]filename
MODE (device) CODEPAGE
PREPARE=(codepage list) [d:][path]filename
MODE (device) CODEPAGE
SELECT=(codepage)
MODE (device) CODEPAGE
[/STATUS]
MODE (device) CODEPAGE
REFRESH
Sets mode of operation
for devices or communications.
MORE
(External)
MORE < (filename or
command)
(name)|MORE
Sends output to
console, one screen at a time.
MOVE
(Internal)
MOVE [/Y|/-Y]
[d:][path]filename[,[d:][path]filename[...]] destination
Moves one or more
files to the location you specify. Can also be used to rename directories.
MSAV
(External)
MSAV [d:]
[/S|/C][/R][/A][/L][/N][/P][/F][/video][/mouse]
MSAV /video
Scans your computer
for known viruses.
MSBACKUP
(External)
MSBACKUP [setupfile]
[/BW|/LCD|/MDA]
Used to backup or
restore one or more files from one disk to another.
MSCDEX
(External)
MSCDEX /D:driver
[/D:driver2. . .] [/E][/K][/S][/V][/L:letter] [/M:number]
Used to gain access to
CD-ROM drives (new with DOS Version 6).
MSD
(External)
MSD [/B][/I]
MSD [/I]
[/F[d:][path]filename [/P[d:][path]filename [/S[d:][path]filename
Provides detailed
technical information about your computer.
NLSFUNC
(External)
NLSFUNC
[d:][path]filename
Used to load a file
with country-specific information.
NUMLOCK
(Internal)
NUMLOCK=on|off
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to specify the state of the NumLock key.
PATH
(Internal)
PATH;
PATH
[d:]path[;][d:]path[...]
Sets or displays
directories that will be searched for programs not in the current directory.
PAUSE
(Internal)
PAUSE [comment]
Suspends execution of
a batch file until a key is pressed.
POWER
(External)
POWER
[adv:max|reg|min]|std|off]
Used to turn power
management on and off, report the status of power management, and set levels of
power conservation.
PRINT
(External)
PRINT
[/B:(buffersize)] [/D:(device)] [/M:(maxtick)] [/Q:(value] [/S:(timeslice)][/U:(busytick)]
[/C][/P][/T] [d:][path][filename] [...]
Queues and prints data
files.
PROMPT
(Internal)
PROMPT [prompt text]
[options]
Changes the DOS
command prompt.
RECOVER
(External)
RECOVER
[d:][path]filename
RECOVER d:
Resolves sector
problems on a file or a disk. (Beginning with DOS Version 6, RECOVER is no
longer available ).
REM
(Internal)
REM [comment]
Used in batch files
and in the CONFIG.SYS file to insert remarks (that will not be acted on).
RENAME (REN)
(Internal)
RENAME (REN)
[d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename
Changes the filename
under which a file is stored.
REPLACE
(External)
REPLACE
[d:][path]filename [d:][path] [/A][/P][/R][/S][/U][/W]
Replaces stored files
with files of the same name from a different storage location.
RESTORE
(External)
RESTORE d:
[d:][path]filename [/P][/S][/B:mm-dd-yy] [/A:mm-dd-yy][/E:hh:mm:ss]
[/L:hh:mm:ss] [/M][/N][/D]
Restores to standard
disk storage format files previously stored using the BACKUP command.
RMDIR (RD)
(Internal)
RMDIR (RD) [d:]path
Removes a
subdirectory.
SCANDISK
(External)
SCANDISK [d: [d: . .
.]|/all][/checkonly|/autofix[/nosave]|/custom][/surface][/mono][/nosummay]
SCANDISK
volume-name[/checkonly|/autofix[/nosave]|/custom][/mono][/nosummary]
SCANDISK /fragment
[d:][path]filename
SCANDISK /undo
[undo-d:][/mono]
Starts the Microsoft
ScanDisk program which is a disk analysis and repair tool used to check a drive
for errors and correct any problems that it finds.
SELECT
(External)
SELECT [d:] [d:][path]
[country code][keyboard code]
Formats a disk and
installs country-specific information and keyboard codes (starting with DOS
Version 6, this command is no longer available).
SET
(Internal)
SET
(string1)=(string2)
Inserts strings into
the command environment. The set values can be used later by programs.
SETVER
(External)
SETVER
[d:]:path][filename (number)][/delete][/quiet]
Displays the version
table and sets the version of DOS that is reported to programs.
SHARE
(External)
SHARE [/F:space]
[/L:locks]
Installs support for
file sharing and file locking.
SHELL
(Internal)
SHELL=[d:][path]filename [parameters]
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to specify the command interpreter that DOS should use.
SHIFT
(Internal)
SHIFT
Increases number of
replaceable parameters to more than the standard ten for use in batch files.
SORT
(External)
SORT [/R][/+n] < (filename)
SORT [/R][/+n] >
(filename2)
Sorts input and sends
it to the screen or to a file.
STACKS
(Internal)
STACKS=(number),(size)
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to set the number of stack frames and the size of each stack frame.
SUBMENU
(Internal)
SUBMENU=blockname,
[menutext]
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to create a multilevel menu from which you can select start-up options.
SUBST
(External)
SUBST d: d:path
SUBST d: /D
Substitutes a virtual
drive letter for a path designation.
SWITCHES
(Internal)
SWITCHES=
[/K][/F][/N][/W]
Used in the CONFIG.SYS
file to configure DOS in a special way; for example, to tell DOS to emulate
different hardware configurations.
SYS
(External)
SYS [source] d:
Transfers the
operating system files to another disk.
TIME
(Internal)
TIME
hh:mm[:ss][.cc][A|P]
Displays current time
setting of system clock and provides a way for you to reset the time.
TREE
(External)
TREE [d:][path]
[/A][/F]
Displays directory
paths and (optionally) files in each subdirectory.
TYPE
(Internal)
TYPE
[d:][path]filename
Displays the contents
of a file.
UNDELETE
(External)
UNDELETE
[d:][path][filename] [/DT|/DS|/DOS]
UNDELETE
[/list|/all|/purge[d:]|/status|/load|/U|/S[d:]|/Td:[-entries]]
Restores files deleted
with the DELETE command.
UNFORMAT
(External)
UNFORMAT d:
[/J][/L][/test][/partn][/P][/U]
Used to undo the
effects of formatting a disk.
VER
(Internal)
VER
Displays the DOS
version number.
VERIFY
(Internal)
VERIFY on|off
Turns on the verify
mode; the program checks all copying operations to assure that files are copied
correctly.
VOL
(Internal)
VOL [d:]
Displays a disk's
volume label.
VSAFE
(External)
VSAFE
[/option[+|-]...] [/NE][/NX][Ax|/Cx] [/N][/D][/U]
VSAFE is a
memory-resident program that continuously monitors your computer for viruses
and displays a warning when it finds one.
XCOPY
(External)
XCOPY
[d:][path]filename [d:][path][filename] [/A][/D:(date)]
[/E][/M][/P][/S][/V][/W][Y\-Y]
Copies directories,
subdirectories, and files.
Syntax Notes
To be functional, each
DOS command must be entered in a particular way: this command entry structure
is known as the command's "syntax." The syntax "notation"
is a way to reproduce the command syntax in print.
For example, you can
determine the items that are optional, by looking for information that is
printed inside square brackets. The notation [d:], for example, indicates an
optional drive designation. The command syntax, on the other hand, is how YOU
enter the command to make it work.
Command Syntax
Elements
1. Command Name
The DOS command name
is the name you enter to start the DOS program (a few of the DOS commands can
be entered using shortcut names). The DOS command name is always entered first.
In this book, the command is usually printed in uppercase letters, but you can
enter command names as either lowercase or uppercase or a mix of both.
2. Space
Always leave a space
after the command name.
3. Drive Designation
The drive designation
(abbreviated in this book as "d:") is an option for many DOS
commands. However, some commands are not related to disk drives and therefore
do not require a drive designation. Whenever you enter a DOS command that deals
with disk drives and you are already working in the drive in question, you do
not have to enter the drive designator. For example, if you are working in
drive A (when the DOS prompt A> is showing at the left side of the screen)
and you want to use the DIR command to display a directory listing of that same
drive, you do not have to enter the drive designation. If you do not enter a
drive designation, DOS always assumes you are referring to the drive you are
currently working in (sometimes called the "default" drive).
4. A Colon
When referring to a
drive in a DOS command, you must always follow the drive designator with a
colon (:) (this is how DOS recognizes it as a drive designation).
5. Pathname
A pathname (path)
refers to the path you want DOS to follow in order to act on the DOS command.
As described in Chapter 3, it indicates the path from the current directory or
subdirectory to the files that are to be acted upon.
6. Filename
A filename is the name
of a file stored on disk. As described in Chapter 1, a filename can be of eight
or fewer letters or other legal characters.
7. Filename Extension
A filename extension
can follow the filename to further identify it. The extension follows a period
and can be of three or fewer characters. A filename extension is not required.
8. Switches
Characters shown in a
command syntax that are represented by a letter or number and preceded by a
forward slash (for example, "/P") are command options (sometimes
known as "switches"). Use of these options activate special
operations as part of a DOS command's functions.
9. Brackets
Items enclosed in
square brackets are optional; in other words, the command will work in its
basic form without entering the information contained inside the brackets.
10. Ellipses
Ellipses (...)
indicate that an item in a command syntax can be repeated as many times as
needed.
11. Vertical Bar
When items are
separated by a vertical bar (|), it means that you enter one of the separated
items. For example: ON | OFF means that you can enter either ON or OFF, but not
both
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