What is a bootstrap program?

A bootstrap program is the first code that is executed when the computer system is started. The
entire operating system depends on the bootstrap program to work correctly as it loads the
operating system.
A figure that demonstrates the use of the bootstrap program is as follows −

In the above image, the bootstrap program is a part of ROM which is the non-volatile memory.
The operating system is loaded into the RAM by the bootstrap program after the start of the
computer system. Then the operating system starts the device drivers.

Bootstrapping Process
The bootstrapping process does not require any outside input to start. Any software can be
loaded as required by the operating system rather than loading all the software automatically.
The bootstrapping process is performed as a chain i.e. at each stage, it is the responsibility of the
simpler and smaller program to load and execute the much more complicated and larger program.
This means that the computer system improves in increments by itself.
The booting procedure starts with the hardware procedures and then continues onto the software
procedures that are stored in the main memory. The bootstrapping process involves self-tests,
loading BIOS, configuration settings, hypervisor, operating system etc.

MS-DOS Operating System

IBM was looking for an operating system for their new line of personal computers. Bill Gate’s
mother Marry M Gates served on the national board of United Way alongside the CEO of IBM.
IBM got in touch with Bill Gates through his mother when he convinced IBM that his company
Microsoft could deliver the new software for IBM’s personal computer. Bill Gates then bought an
existing OS called 86-DOS also known as QDOS for Quick and Dirty Operating system. He then
adapted QDOS to run on the new IBM computers and called the particular product as “Microsoft
Disk Operating System”.
MS-DOS Operating System also called the Disk Operating system was Developed by Microsoft for
x86 personal computers. It works on the phenomenon of doing less and getting more. It is a 16-bit
operating system. A closed-source model was initially released on August 12, 1981, and the final
release on September 14, 2000.

MS-DOS 

Why is it used? 

It is used for many purposes:

● Education and research: It is used in the Education and research field to know how simple
MS-DOS is and how it works. The source code is available from Microsoft in two versions. 
● Legacy systems: Some organizations prefer using MS-DOS because it has been used reliably
over decades whereas others don’t have the budget to upgrade the application since this process
is costly.
● Embedded systems: Embedded systems are dependent on MS-DOS especially new devices
with x86 processor architecture. It is also used on legacy Embedded systems which have been
used for decades.
● Classic Computer Games: There are still some games that were developed on MS-DOS and
still support only MS-DOS.
Features:

1. It is a minimalist OS which means it can boot a PC and run programs.

2. Still usable for simple tasks like word processing and playing games.
3. The mouse cannot be used to give inputs instead it uses basic system commands to perform the
task.
4. It is a 16-bit, free operating system.
5. It is a single-user operating system.
6. It is very lightweight due to fewer features available and no multitasking.

Working of MS-DOS:

MS-DOS input and output occur at the command line in the form of issued commands and system
results of those commands. When booted, MS-DOS systems display a command prompt. MS-DOS
commands are then entered using a keyboard. Commands are either one of the standard DOS
commands, implemented as part of the OS, or they are the file name of an executable program.
Although it does not natively support a GUI, MS-DOS can run graphical programs if they are
installed on a system disk or diskette. Users enter the command for a graphical program, and the
program takes control of the input and output devices. When the program terminates, the control
reverts to MS-DOS and the command prompt reappears.

Limitations:

1. It is not a multitasking operating system that is we cannot run too many applications in the
background.
2. Files on the system can be easily deleted or the system can also be easily destroyed.
3. It does not provide any warning message before you delete or perform any unwanted task like in
windows or Linux. 
4. It is text-based and it does not have any graphical user interface.
5. Not secure to be used in any kind of public network.
6. Encryption is not supported.
7. Difficulty in memory access. 
8. Mouse cannot be used to give inputs. 

Types of MS-DOS Commands:

There are mainly two types of MS-DOS commands:

1. Internal Commands: Internal commands are those commands that are loaded
automatically in the memory when DOS is loaded into memory during the booting
process. These commands are easier to learn and use. They require no external files
for their storage as in the case of external commands. These are for performing a basic
operation on files and in directories. They do not need any external file support. These
commands are used for common jobs such as copying and erasing files.
2. External Commands: These external commands are for performing advanced tasks
and they do not need some external file support as they are not stored in
COMMAND.com. The external commands are used less frequently and are stored in
some external files which are stored in some secondary storage devices. Whenever an
external command is to be executed then the external file in which that particular
 command is stored is transferred from the secondary storage disk to the main
memory(RAM).

Basic MS-DOS Commands:

Command Description Type

mem Display memory on the system. External
mkdir Command to create a new directory. Internal
mklink Creates a symbolic link. Internal
md Command to create a new directory. Internal
chdir Changes directories. Internal
chkdsk Check the hard drive running FAT for errors. External
chkntfs Check the hard drive running NTFS for External
errors.
choice Specify a listing of multiple options within a External
batch file.
append It Causes MS-DOS to look in other External
directories when editing a file or running a
command.
break Enable and disable the Ctrl+C feature. Internal
del Deletes one or more files. Internal
delete Recovery console command that deletes a Internal
file.
lock  Lock the hard drive. Internal

How to open MS-DOS in windows?

1. Step 1: Click on Windows.

2. Step 2: Search for ‘Run’ or directly use (Windows key+R) to open.
3. Step 3: Type ‘cmd’ in run and press ‘Enter’.
4. Step 4: MS-DOS will open in many cases with default command prompt i.e. c:\>
MS-DOS file and file types:

A computer file created by an application running under the DOS operating system. is called an
MS-DOS file. There are three main files of DOS. During the Booting process, the computer loads
the operating system into its memory. DOS booting involves reading the following files into
memory namely
1. IO. SYS: A hidden executable binary file that processes instructions that tell the operating
system (OS) how the computer is set up when it is booted or started.  It contains the default MS-
DOS device drivers (hardware interfacing routines) and the DOS initialization program.
o It is used to load OS each time the computer boots.
o It contains all the information needed to start the computer.
o and eliminates the need for the CONFIG.SYS and autoexec.bat are in IO.SYS

2. MSDOS. SYS: The MSDOS.SYS file is a hidden, system, read-only file created on the root of
the boot drive. There are several configurations that can be changed using this file. Most values
in the MSDOS.SYS are either 0 or 1, which is off or on.
o DOS will report one of the following error messages:
o 1) No room for system on target disk.
o 2) Incompatible system size. Etc

3. COMMAND.COM: COMMAND.COM is the default command-line interpreter for MS-DOS.

It is the default user interface as well.COMMAND.COM is the command shell on MS-DOS and
PC-DOS, as well as versions of Windows that depend on DOS. Gives users a command line
interface to DOS as well as a way to run scripts called “batch files” with the .BAT file extension.
 >.COM file are commonly used for executing a set of instructions whereas EXE files are used
for fully developed programs.
>Command.COM is basically a Windows shell program used by DOS and Window 95,98. And
it was replaced by cmd.exe in later versions of Windows.

Different Versions of MS-DOS 

1. MS-DOS 1. x
2. MS-DOS 2. x
3. MS-DOS 3. x
4. MS-DOS 4.x/4.0
5. MS-DOS 5. x
6. MS-DOS 6. X
7. MS-DOS 7/8

THE EXECUTION OF THE PROGRAMS UNDER DOS

To execute (run) a file from MS-DOS user must run executable file. Which are .exe .bat or .com
files.

The DIR Command is used to lists all the .EXE files of current directory.
DIR *.EXE

Following commands are used for execution:

CALL
DOS
EXEC
DDE
LAUNCH

CALL executes a specified CAL script. If the call is made from within another script. When called
script finishes execution it return control to the caller.
DOS executes a DOS command line. Follow the DOS keyword with any string you might type at a
DOS command prompt.

EXEC start a windows program and optionally passes it command-line arguments.

EXEC Functions:
⮚ The exec function is used to load the .com and .exe files from the disk files.

⮚ It comes under the Interrupt INT 21H 4BH.

⮚ This function allows an application program to urn another program to run another
program, regaining control when it is finished.
⮚ Caller register contents should be pushed on the stack and stack pointer.