Frequently Used DOS Commands
This handout was originally written by David Hull for use in UNCA's CSCI
126, Microcomputer Applications.
Internal Commands
- ATTRIB
- Changes file attributes
ATTRIB +R MYFILE -- make MYFILE read-only
ATTRIB -R MYFILE -- make MYFILE read/write
- CD
- Changes directory
CD \BAKER\MYFILES -- move to the MYFILES sub-directory of
the BAKER directory
CD \ -- move to the root directory
CD .. -- move up to parent directory
- CLS
- Clears the screen
- COPY
- Copies files
COPY MYFILE.TXT YOURFILE.TXT
- DEL
- Deletes files
DEL MYFILE.LTR
- DIR
- Lists files of a directory
DIR -- to produce a list of files in the default directory on the
default disk
DIR C:\DOS -- to produce a list of files in the DOS directory on the
C: drive
Common switches are /P, pause after each screenful; /W,
produce a wide listing; /OD, list in order by date; /OGNE,
list in order by directory, name, & extension.
- MD
- Makes or create a directory
MD \ABLE
- RD
- Removes a directory
RD TEST
- RENAME
- Renames a file
RENAME MYTEST.TST MYOLD.TST
- TYPE
- Displays contents of a file on the screen
TYPE MYLETTER.TXT
- VER
- Displays the DOS version
VER
- VOL
- Displays the disk volume label
VOL C:
External Commands
- CHKDISK
- Shows disk and memory status and checks FAT table for lost allocations.
Replaced by SCANDISK in version 6.2.
- DEFRAG
- Tunes up a disk by defragmenting files
DEFRAG A:
- DELTREE
- Deletes the directory, all its subdirectories, and all files in these.
This is a dangerous command!
- DISKCOPY
- Duplicates a disk to another of the same type and size
DISKCOPY A: A:
- EDIT
- Starts the DOS editor for text files
EDIT MYFILE.TXT
- FORMAT
- Formats a disk to accept data
FORMAT A: -- formats a data diskette
FORMAT A:/S -- creates a system diskette
- HELP
- Help on definition and use of any DOS commands
HELP DELETE
- LABEL
- Changes the disk label
LABEL A:
- MSBACKUP
- Backs up files to and restores from one or more disks
MSBACKUP
- PRINT
- Prints text files
PRINT AUNTJEN.LTR
- SCANDISK
- Replaces CHKDSK to repair some disk problems
- TREE
- Displays directory structure below default directory. With the
/F switch displays both directories and files.
- UNDELETE
- Restores files deleted with DEL. Must confirm file undeletion a
file.
- XCOPY
- Copies files in the current directory and, with /S switch, it
subdirectories. Creates new sub-directories when needed.
Some Special DOS Symbols
- *
- Wildcard to match multiple characters in file names
DIR *.HTM
- ?
- Wildcard to match single characters in file names
DIR CSCI???.HTM
- |
- Pipe to connect the output of one program to the input of another
DIR | MORE
- \
- Path delimiter to separate components of a file
DIR \CSCI\FALL97\C107\INDEX.HTM
- /
- Switch delimiter for switches, or options, to a command
- DIR /P \CSCI
- >
- Redirection to place output of program in a file
DIR > MYDIR.LST