:: MS-DOS Command List Tutorial ::
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.
MS-DOS
Message Board - Ask all MS-DOS questions here. And if
you like, maybe even help out others. Feel free to raise
questions, answers, queries, and comments relating to MS-DOS.
|