Uses For A List Of Simple DOS Commands

By Michael Collins

A complete list of DOS commands is a very extensive list. Usually when you search for a list of simple DOS commands, you will only get the top few, or the most popular ones.

The letters DOS actually stand for disk operating system. The Microsoft Corporation uses MS-DOS for it's trademark. It was used to control IBM PC's (hardware). It is software, and it was written for this specific reason. In 1981 it was introduced as Microsoft's leading technology. Microsoft Windows was still a star in the night sky, not even thought of yet. A command line is the user interface that DOS runs on, and it's latest upgrade to version 6.22 happened in 1994.

The command prompt you will find yourself at when on the DOS command line is this: "C:\>". From this prompt, you can tell that unless otherwise specified, the next command you issue is expected to be found on the C drive, which is the main hard disk. To change where you want to run your files from, you can issue the following command "D:" or "E:" etc. Then you will find yourself at a "D:\>" prompt or "E:\>" prompt.

There's been a range of versions of DOS released since it's original release. These are:

1. PC-DOS

2. MS DOS

3. DR-DOS

4. 4DOS.

DOS will run very happily within windows if need be. Sometimes, issuing a DOS command on the command line can be a quicker option than going through the attractive interface Windows presents us with. It is in this situation that it could be advantageous to have a list of simple DOS commands on hand.

Despite the technology of Windows these days, DOS does still have it's use. If (or should I say when) Windows decides to have the day off and crash, you can still communicate with and talk to your computer using DOS commands.

You can actually achieve most basic things you want to achieve by typing DOS commands on the command line at the DOS prompt. This is where a list of simple DOS commands can be very handy.

Microsoft Windows XP actually comes with a DOS command shell. This shell contains 71 DOS commands. The most frequently used DOS commands are all about file management and directory management.

If you find yourself looking for a list of simple DOS commands, the first place you should go is to your DOS user manual if you still have it.

About the Author:

A DOS manual containing the main DOS commands is a must have for people serious about computing. If you cannot find your original user manual, try this great little book on for size - have a look at www.easycomputersolution.com