How to use MS DOS: 7 steps (with pictures)

Have you ever gone back to the old days? Put an old version of MS-DOS in one of your old boxes? Well, contrary to popular belief, DOS is a modern OS, used and has advantages in speed and efficiency. Or are you having trouble using the Windows command line?

Steps

Step 1. If you are behind a computer on which DOS is used as the operating system, the command line should appear automatically when the computer is turned on

If you are using a Windows computer, you need to start the Command Prompt manually. For most computers it should be located under the 'Accessories' section of the Start menu. It can also be accessed by typing "" and "R". Then enter "cmd" without quotes and you should be in DOS, also known as Command Prompt.

Step 2. You should see a text box

"C: \>", "C: \ DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS [your name]>" or something similar. It is called command line, and also it serves to show which directory you are currently in. At the end of this line, enter commands ("brain" verbs), and then parameters ("brain" nouns - that is, when the verb requires a noun), then press the Enter key. Here are some examples of commands:

• C: \ GAMES> ping nosound

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• C: \ MY DOCUMENTS> edit essay.txt

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Step 3. The most important thing you should be able to do is list the contents of directories and manage them

Use the dir command to list the contents of your hard drive or directory (or "folder") that you are in. Depending on where you are, you might end up with something like this:

• … DIR
• .. DIR
• DOS DIR
• GAMES DIR
• WINDOWS DIR
• AUTOEXEC. BAT
• ESSAY. TXT

Step 4. Using its own situation, dir will show the contents of the current directory, but there are many useful arguments in favor of the dir command

For example, if you enter a directory name after dir, you will be shown the contents of that directory instead, and the / p switch is useful for very long lists because the contents will pause until you press a key every time the end of the screen is reached. The / p switch can also be used with most other commands that are displayed on the screen. Step 5. If you want to enter a directory, enter cd followed by the path and directory name (for example, cd C.

\ GAMES \ GRAPE). If the directory is a subdirectory of the directory you are currently in, for example, if you were already in GAMES in the previous example, you could also just type cd GRAPE. Here, 'cd' "is a command and a directory is an option. The command line also displays the name of the current directory. So by typing

• C: \> CD C: \ GAMES \ GRAPE

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• will change the command line to: C: \ GAMES \ GRAPE>

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Step 6. Executors are the same as commands

For example, if I wanted to start the Mortar Mayhem game, I would need to go to the directory, this is located:

• C: \> cd games \ mortar

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  Then enter the name of the. EXE file without the extension

• C: \ GAMES \ MORTAR> mortar

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  And now the game will start

Step 7. Now that you know the basic DOS syntax, here are some other useful commands

What is in [brackets] is just an example.

• del [countdown.txt] - Deletes the file. Doesn't delete directories, but clears their contents.

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• move [countdown.txt] [c: \ games \ grape] - Moves a file or folder

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• md [grape] - Creates a subdirectory

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• rmdir [grape] - Move directory.

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Advice

• Try FreeDOS if you're really interested in using the DOS operating system. It is a 100% generic operating system.
• If you are not sure what exactly the command does, just type [COMMAND] /? Symbol /? will make DOS give you information about the command, telling you how to use it
• MS DOS is an "ancient" OS, so don't hesitate to replace your $ 200 copy of Windows XP with it. Not many of today's “hot” products are compatible with it.
• This article will be the best help for DOS version 4 or higher.

Warnings

• This doesn't start MS DOS, it's just a terminal.
• DOS doesn't restrict access to system files like Windows does, so it's easier to mess around.