CHAPTER 3

DOS – (Disk Operating System)

MS‐DOS ; acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System is a discontinued operating system for x86‐
based personal computers mostly developed by Microsoft. Collectively, MS‐DOS, it’s rebranding as
IBM PC DOS, and some operating systems attempting to be compatible with MS‐ DOS, are
sometimes referred to as "DOS" (which is also the generic acronym for disk operating system). MS‐
DOS was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s
and the early 1990s, when it was gradually superseded by operating systems offering a graphical
user interface (GUI), in various generations of the graphical Microsoft Windows operating system.
3.1 Introduction & Features
The DOS (Disk Operating System) is the old and single user Operating System in the computer.
Though it is not used by many people at present, it is better to study DOS with a view to understand
how the files are created, maintained and copied in the computer. As this operating system is mainly
deals with different disks like floppy, hard disk etc., it is called as Disk Operating System (DOS).
When we start the computer, it makes the system to work in its internal parts like RAM, ROM and
other peripherals. Here it will check whether the operating system has been loaded in it or not. If it
is loaded, it will start further operations. Disk operating system is thus that part of system which
will co‐ordinate with all the parts of a computer.
Functions of DOS (Disk Operating System)
1. It takes commands from the keyboard and interprets them.
2. It shows all the files in the system.
3. It creates new files and allots space for programme.
4. It changes the name of a file in place of old name.
5. It copies information in a floppy drive and hard disk.
6. It helps in locating a file.
7. It searchers where the file is located in the disk.
8. If we want the information in the file to be printed, it gives printout of the information.
9. It hides the files and directories so as not to be seen by others.
10. It permanently removes the file.
Features of DOS
The primitive operating system of DOS has the following features:
1. It is the primary system where the user will get an environment about the input and output
devices, e.g. Monitor, Keyboard, Printers etc. viz. DOS provides features essential to control
hardware devices such as Keyboard, Screen, Disk Devices, Printers, Modems and
programs.
2. It is helpful in performing file management e.g., creating, editing, deleting files etc.
3. It is a single user operating system. One user can operate at one time in this operating
system.
4. It is Character Based interface system. We can type letters (or characters in this operating
system). DOS translate the command issued of the user in the format that is understood by
the computer to execute it, also error message in the format for the user to understand.
3.2 Internal Commands – DIR, CLS, VER, VOL, DATE, TIME, COPY, TYPE, REN, DEL, CD, MD, RD
These commands are automatic loaded into the memory when operating system is loaded into the
memory. Thus these are also called memory‐resident commands. The commands available are all
combined together and are stored in Command.com file, which is a executable command file. These
internal commands are further grouped according to their properties.

Command Used for Syntax

 This command is used to clear
CLS
the screen or wipe out
Clear the C:\> CLS and press Enter
everything written on the
screen
screen.
Used for listing files and
DIR C:\> DIR [/switches] Example:‐ C:\>
directories present in the
Directory DIR /D
current disk
Version numbers indicates that
VER C:\> VER press enterOutput:‐ C:\>VER
which edition of DOS we are
Version Windows 98 [Version 4.10.2222]
working on
C:\> VOL press enter Output:‐C:\
VOL Displays the disk volume label
>VOLVolume in drive C is JAIVolume
Volume and serial number, if it exist
Serial Number is 3E42‐1907
C:\> DATEC:\>DATECurrent date is Fri
DATE Display the current Date
02‐15‐2002 Enter new date (mm‐dd‐yy):
C:\> TIMEC:\>TIMECurrent time is
TIME Display current time
8:38:47.70a Enter new time:
C:\> COPY CON <Filename>C:\>COPY
CON Rose.txt A clock in a office can never
This command gives the facility
COPY CON get stolen Too many employees watch it
to create a new text file
all the time ^Z 1 file(s) copied ^C
(CTRL+C) button to abort without saving
This command is used to
C:\> TYPE <Filename> A:\>TYPE
TYPE display the contents or text of
Rose.TXT
any file to the display
Copy command is used for copy :\> COPY <Source filename> <Target file
any file to another location or name> C:\>COPY ROSE.TXT ROSE.MSG1
to copy the files to another file(s) copiedTO copy a file from hard disk
COPY directory. This command may to floppy disk C:\>COPY Rose.txt A:1
also be used for copying any file file(s) copiedTo copy a file from Floppy
to another disk with different Disk to Hard disk A:\>COPY LOTUS.TXT
file name/device C:\1 file(s) copied
C:\> REN <Source filename> <Target
This command is used to filename>C:\>REN ROSE.TXT
REN
change the name of any file or GULBAL.TXT To changing the filename
Rename
directory present in floppy diskC:\>REN A:\
ROSE.TXT GULAB.TXT
DEL This command is used for erasing C:\> DEL <Filename> C:\>DEL
Delete any file from the disk LOTUS.TXT
MD
This command allows to create a
MakeDire C:\> MD <Dirname> C:\> MD REPORT
new directory
ctory
To access any directory C:\> CD
CD
We can enter or exit from any <Directory name> C:\> CD REPORT C:\
Change
directory using this command REPORT>To exit from directory C:\>
Directory
CD..C:\REPORT> CD..C:\>
RD This command is used when we
C:\> RD <Directory name> C:\> RD
Remove want to remove any unusable
REPORT
directory directory form our disk
 This command is used for display
or sets directories for executable C:\> PATHC:\> PATH=C:\WINDOWS\
PATH
files. This command display COMMAND;C:\WINDOWS \;C:\TC
current path settings
3.3 External Commands ‐ , ATTRIB, SCANDISK, TREE, MORE, EDIT
External commands are known as Disk residence commands, since they can be stored with DOS
directory or any disk which is used for getting these commands. Theses commands help to perform
some specific task. These are stored in a secondary storage device. Some important external
commands are given below:‐
Command Used for Syntax
Using TYPE command we can see
the content of any file. But if
length of file is greater than 25
lines then remaining lines will C:\> TYPE <File name> | MOREC:\>
MORE scroll up. To overcome through TYPE ROSE.TXT | MORE orC:\> DIR |
this problem we uses MORE MORE
command. Using this command
we can pause the display after
each 25 lines
This command displays free and
C:\> MEMthe computer will display the
MEM used amount of memory in the
amount of memory
computer
This command is used for copy C:\> SYS [Drive name]C:\> SYS A:
system files to any disk. The disk System files transferred This command
SYS having system files are known as will transfer the three main system
Bootable Disk, which are used for files COMMAND.COM, IO.SYS,
booting the computer MSDOS.SYS to the floppy disk.
C:\> ATTRIB [± r] [± a] [± h] [± s] <File
Sets the various type of attribute name> here r ‐ for read only, a‐ for
ATTRIB to a file. Like Read only, Archive, archive, h ‐ for hidden, s ‐ for hidden
Hidden and System attribute. attribute.C:\> ATTRIB +r Gulab.txt This
command will change the attribute of
file gulab.txt to read only mode. To
remove the read only attribute we will
follow this command.C:\> ATTRIB ‐r
Gulab.txt
SCANDISK This command is used to check SCANDISK [d: [d: . .
the status of a disk and show the .]|/all][/checkonly|/autofix[/no
report of result status. Drive custo
volume_name /all m][/surface][/mono][/nosumm
/checkonly /autofix ANDISK volume‐
/custom /surface name[/checkonly|/autofix[/no
/fragment /mono /nosave usto
/nosummary m][/mono][/nosummary]SCAN
/fragment [d:][path]filename
SCANDISK /undo [undo‐d:][/m
The drive letter you want to sca
name of the un‐mountedcompr
volume Checks and repairs al
drives atonce Checks drive fo
 but will notmake repairs Fixe
without asking you first.Saves l
clusters by default as files inthe
root directory. Cannot beused w
/checkonly or /custom Runs
ScanDisk using the settings in[c
section of the scandisk.ini file.C
be used with /autofix or/check
Automatically checks surface
afterother areas are tested
withoutprompting you first. Wh
used with/custom, will overrid
/surfacesetting in[Custom] sect
ofscandisk.ini Checks individu
forfragmentation. Must specify
path, and file name; cannot use
other switches Uses a monoch
display instead ofcolor Delete
clusters found byScanDisk. Can
with /autofix Prevents display
screen summaryafter each driv
with/autofix toprevent prompt
undo diskette
TREE [Drive:[[Path] [/F] [/A]/F
Displays file names in each
Displays directory paths and
directory /A ext characters use
TREE (optionally) files in each
linking lines, instead of graphic
subdirectory
characters. /a is used with code
that do not support graphic
characters and to send output to
printers that do not properly interpret
graphic characters
EDIT [/B] [/H] [/R] [/S] [/<nnn
[file(s)]Forces monochrome
modeDisplays the maximum nu
of lines possible for your
Starts the MS‐DOS editor which is
hardwareLoad file(s) in read‐on
a text editor used to create and
EDIT modeForces the use of short
edit ASCII text files/B /H/R/S
filenamesLoad binary file(s), w
/<nnn>/? [file]
lines to <nnn> characters wide
this help screenSpecifies initial
to load. Wildcards and multiple
specs can be given.
When we need to copy a
C:\> XCOPY < Source dirname >
directory instant of a file from
XCOPY <Target dirname>C:\> XCOPY T
one location to another the we
TURBOC
use xcopy command
MOVE Move command is used for C:\> MOVE <file name> <path n
moving one file or multiple files C:\SONGS> MOVE *.MP3 C:\ SO
from one location to another OLD SONGS\
 location or from one disk to
another disk
This command is capable for
comparing two set of files and C:\> FC <First set of file> <Seco
FCFile Compare
display difference between two of file> C:\> FC ROSE.TXT GULA
files
C:\> SORT /R < Input file name
<output file name> Suppose we
file Player.txt which having the
This command is useful when we
cricket player team and we wan
want to sort a file. When we run
SORT sort the list of players, then we
this command the result can be
commandC:\> SORT Player.txt
got to display device or file.
switch is used for sorting the fil
descending order like from Z to
from 9 to 0
C:\> FIND "String to search" <F
The FIND command is used to
FIND name>C:\TEST>find "office" gu
search a file for a text string.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ gulab.txt
C:\> DISKCOPY <Drive1> <Driv
DISKCOPY copies the contents of > DISKCOPY A: B: This comman
DISKCOPY
a floppy disk to another. be copy all contents of A drive t
drive
C:\> LABELC:\>LABELVolume
If you are not happy with the
C is JAIVolume Serial Number i
LABEL volume label of hard disk, you
1907 Volume label (11 characte
can change it.
ENTER for none)? INFOWAY
This command creates new Track C:\> FORMAT [drive name] [/S
FORMAT
& FORMAT A:
this command will create new track &
sectors.C:\> FORMAT A: /SThis
Sectors in a disk. Every
command will transfer system files
after formatting the disk.
3.4 Wildcards (question mark? asterisk *)
Wildcard commands are used when we are working with multiple files instead of a single file at a
time. These commands uses '?' and '*' symbols
The '?' wildcard character
Suppose we want to list out all the files and directories which have primary file name made of four
characters and secondary name made of 3 characters, here we use DIR command with following
switches
C:\> DIR ????.???
Here a '?' symbol represent that ‘?’ can be any character or it may be special symbols. Suppose we
want to list out all the files which primary field name made of 4 characters, the first character start
with 'C' and secondary name is 'EXE'. Then we use
C:\> DIR C???.EXE
The '*' wildcard character
If we want to list all the files with extension .EXE the command we give is‐ C:\> DIR *.EXE
If we want to display all files with first character 'D' and extension 'EXE' in floppy disk, then we give
the command
C:\> DIR A: D*.EXE
Some Internal commands with wild card
COPY:‐If we have to copy the songs from our CD drive to our Hard disk. Then we suppose E:\ is our
CD drive and we have to store all the songs in C:\ SONGS directory
C:\> COPY E:\ *.MP3 C:\ SONGS
REN:‐ If we want to rename all the files which have extension of 'TXT' to extension 'MSG' then we
give the command
C:\> REN *.TXT *.MSG
DEL:‐ If we want to erase those files which have the extension of 'TMP' from our disk then we uses
the command
C:\> DEL *.TMP
If we use /p switch the computer give ask every time before deleting the file. If we enter 'Y' the it
will erase the file from disk either it will leave the file.