2. History
MS-DOS 1.0 was released in August 1981, and was
updated until April 1994 when it was replaced by
Windows 95
All versions of windows still contain some type of
DOS, in windows 95 and 98 you can go to run and
type command to get to DOS prompt, in NT, 2000,
and XP you can type CMD and get DOS.
3. Basic Structure
Most DOS commands use the same structure
Command Source Destination /Switch
The switch will give options to the command
Example COPY A:file.txt c: /v
/v will verify if the file copied correctly
4. MS-DOS Prompt
The prompt in MS-DOS displays your current
directory
C:doscommands> means you are in that directory,
and any command you use will apply to the current
directory unless you specify a different one.
5. DOS Naming
The file name cannot be longer then 8 characters, and
extensions cannot be longer then 3 characters.
Characters like * + = | [ ] : ; “ < > , ? / cannot be
used in DOS names.
6. Basic Commands CD
CD- Change directory
You use this command when you want to change the
directory.
Example: CD C:DOS will bring you to the dos folder
7. Basic Commands CD..
CD.. - brings you to the previous directory.
Example: if you are in C:DOSFOLDER
CD.. Will bring you to C:DOS
8. Basic Commands COPY
COPY will copy the file from one location to another
Example COPY A:file.txt c: will copy the file from
a: to c:
9. Basic Command XCOPY
XCOPY can move files, directories, and whole drives
from one location to another, It is more powerful then
the copy command, and has a lot of switches.
13. Basic Commands MOVE
MOVE will move the file or directory from one
location to another
Example: MOVE a:file.txt c:file.txt will move the
file to the c: drive
14. Basic Commands REN
REN will rename the file
Example : REN file.txt myfile.txt will rename the
file.txt to myfile.txt
15. Basic Commands MD
CMD is used to make a directory (folder) in MS-
DOS.
Example: MD myfolder will make a folder called
myfolder in current directory
16. Basic Commands DELTREE
DELTREE command will delete the folder and all of
its contents, including other folders.
Example: DELTREE C:myfolder will delete the
folder and all the contents.
17. Basic Command TREE
TREE shows you all of the folders and files in current
directory like explorer in windows.
19. Attributes
Attributes are the properties of a file such as hidden,
read-only, archive or system file.
In MS-DOS you can view/change attributes with the
attrib command.
Example: attrib +r file.txt will make the file read-
only.
20. The Help Switch /?
You can use the help switch with any command. It
will give you the command structure, and the
availible switches.