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Dealing with DOS - Part 1

© Chris Cruickshank

There comes a time when using a computer that we have to revert to the "old-fashioned" command prompt and start typing. Even today, with Windows 95/98, it is still preferable at times to use DOS commands.

What is DOS?

DOS - Disk Operating System is the link between the computer and us. Before Windows came along, DOS was the way we conversed with the computer. As the computer only (really) understands ones and zeroes, we needed a way of easily getting the computer to do things. Prior to DOS, the main operating system on micros was CP/M, which, although it used fairly straightforward commands, was a little obtuse.

Bill Gates (yes - he invented DOS), decided, in a garage in his garden, to write an operating system that was not only easy to use, but had commands that were more "obvious" than other operating systems. One of the prime advantages of DOS is that the operating system itself is disk-based (as the name suggests). This means that upgrading the operating system is relatively simple. Those of you who have used other micros will know that your operating system was set as chips inside the computer. Upgrading virtually meant buying a new machine!

This series of articles will look at various DOS commands that are useful to know - even if you only "dip in" occasionally!

Before starting, it is important to know the basic structure of a DOS command. There are up to 3 major components of a DOS command.

Command Arguments /Switches

Each is described below.

Command

The command is the instruction we want the computer to carry out. It can be an actual DOS command or a program. There are 5 types of "command" available.

A batch file (ends with .BAT). This is a series of DOS commands held in a file. Instead of typing in 5 or 6 commands, you can place the commands in a batch file and run them by typing the name of the batch file. For example, RUNME.BAT would be executed by typing "RUNME." These files are often used to run DOS games.

Command file (ends with .COM). Less common these days, .COM files are batch files that have been compiled (optimised) into ones and zeroes that the computer understands. Because the computer does not have to convert the instructions into ones and zeroes, COM files are quicker to run than their batch counterparts.

Executable Files - Programs (ends with .EXE). These are the actual programs/applications that you run on your computer. Your word processor, spreadsheet, game etc are .EXE files. You can't view the contents of these files, as again, they are optimised to be run by the computer.