DOS Guide

The pipe operator | redirects the output produced by one command so that then the output becomes input for another command. For example, the following command will display the output of an ASCII text file one screen or window at a time.

TYPE Templates.txt | MORE

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What does the MORE filter do?

The MORE command displays the output of the TYPE command one screen one screen or window at a time.

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How do you sort the contents of an ASCII text file?

The SORT filter can take input from a command or a file, sort the input, and then display the results. The R is Reverse Switch.

SORT /R < Templates.txt

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Can you search for a text string in an ASCII text file?

The FIND filter searches one or more ASCII text files for a specific string of text and then displays the results by file.

FIND "Sales" Templates.txt

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What is the command for appending output to an ASCII text file?

To append or add, the output of a command to an existing file.

ECHO.>> "Sales Templates.txt"

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How do you redirect output to the printer?

To send output of a command, such as DIR, to the printer, redirect the output with specifying the device name of the printer.

DIR > PRN

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How do you create a copy of a file?

COPY is versatile, internal command that you can use in a variety of ways.

COPY "Five Year Plan Templates.xls" "Five Year Plan Draft.xls"

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What is the general syntax for renaming files?

RENAME or REN

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Can you rename multiple files?

Renames all files that have the first four characters of the filename

REN 2002* 2003*

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What commands can I use to delete files?

DEL^ Templetes.doc DEL ^*.* DEL^ Templates* DEL ^*.chk

ERASE Templates.doc

You should always use the Prompt for Verification switch /P to display a prompt before deleting.

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How do you MOVE files?

MOVE *.ppt Presentations - moves all the files with ppt extensions into a directory called Presentations

MOVE Cashflow.xls Business - moves the particular file Cashflow.xls into a directory called Business

C:\MOVE Cashflow.xls A: - moves a file from drive C: to the current directory on A:

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How do you make a new Directory

MD Designs - makes a directory called Designs

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How do you copy files to a new Directory?

COPY "Final Projects Report.doc: A:\Reports

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What command do you type to view a Directory Structure in Win2000?

TREE

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The command to display a directory tree of a Hard Disk.

TREE C:\ /A > hdtree.txt

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The command to display a directory tree of your Data Disk.

To view a directory tree of your data disk CD /D A:\

TREE /F /A > BEFORETREE.TXT (/F displays the names of the files in each directory)

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What command do you use to remove Directories?

RD /S "New Folder" (/S displays a prompt that gives only a small margin of safety)

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How do you MOVE a directory?

MOVE Training "\My Documents"

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How do you MOVE selected files?

MOVE app* Training

MOVE *.* Training

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What do you do to Rename a directory?

REN Training Training1

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How can I locate files in Directories?

A: DIR Sales*

C: DIR Sales* /S (/S searches for directories below the root directory)

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How do you examine file attributes?

ATTRIB /S | MORE

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What is the command for backing up a directory folder?

XCOPY . "A: \Training Normal Backup" /M /S (the period is the notation of the current directory, the Modify switch /M removes the archive attribute and the Subdirectory switch /S instructs the XCOPY command to copy all subdirectories and their files.

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How do you check the boot order in CMOS?

During rebooting watch the screen for information on which key to press it may be <DEL> F1, F2 or F10

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To format and copy the System files to a disk you use what command?

FORMAT A: /U /S (/U will erase any information already on the diskette, /S copies the operating system file to the diskette after DOS formats it)

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How would you make a Windows setup disk?

Windows: Run a program in MakeBoot.exe in the Win Folder

Command Line: CD D:MAKEBOOT A:

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What are some of the contents of the setup disk?

BIOSINFO.INF - info about using Setup, files with the "inf" contain info about configuring hardware/software (Information File)

DISK101 - ids the diskette number in the current set

NTDETECT.COM - checks your computer's hardware during boot up (Command file)

NTKRNLMP.EX - compressed program file that provides support for multiprocessors ( Executable file)

SETUPLDR.BIN - OS file that loads Win2000 setup (Binary File)

TXTSETUP.SIF - detailed information on installing Win2000 and providing support for hardware devices. (Setup Information File)

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How do you create an Emergency Repair Disk?

NTBACKUP Click on Emergency Repair Disk option, Insert a disk in Drive A:

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How do you use the Emergency Repair Disk?

Boot your computer from the Win2000 setup disks

Setup will ask you if you want to Setup, Repair, or Quit Setup w/o installing Win2000 (Choose Options accordingly)

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How do you use the Check Disk Utility?

CHKDSK A: /F (/F Fix Switch will repair certain types of problems, such as lost clusters.)

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How do you use the Recovery Console?

Install the Recovery Console

D:\>\i386\winnt32 /cmdcons

The Installation Dialog Box will pop up and Click on Yes to Install.

Hard Drive: when you see the OS choices menu press the down arrow Select MS Win2000 Recovery Console

Recovery Console provides a limited set of commands that you can use to repair a Win2000 system that will not start or run properly.

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Back to DOS

Disclaimer: This is not intended to be an exclusive and comprehensive guide for the DOS Command Line.

Melissa Colon Columbia College Revised: August 13, 2004 .

Melissa Colon
Columbia College
Revised: August 13, 2004 .