Unit - 2

Good morning
Introduction to MS-DOS
 Introduction

• MS-DOS stands for Microsoft Disk Operating System.

• MS-DOS is a non-graphical command line operating system derived
from 86-DOS that was created for IBM compatible computers.
• MS-DOS originally written by Tim Paterson and introduced
by Microsoft in August 1981 and was last updated in 1994 when MS-
DOS 6.22 was released.
• MS-DOS is a disk-based, single-user, single-task operating system.
 Introduction

• In the personal computer operating systems MS-DOS and PC DOS, a

number of standard system commands were provided for common
tasks such as listing files on a disk or moving files.
• Some commands were built-in to the command interpreter; others
existed as transient commands loaded into memory when required.
• Over the several generations of MS-DOS, commands were added for
the additional functions of the operating system. In the current
Microsoft Windows operating system a text-mode command prompt
window can still be used. Some DOS commands carry out functions
equivalent to those in a UNIX system but always with differences in
details of the function
 Features of DOS

• It is a 16-bit operating system

• The mouse cannot be used to operate it, Input instructions through basic
system commands.
• The maximum space available is 2 GB.
• It is a free OS.
• It uses a text-based interface and requires text and codes to operate
• It does not support graphical interface
• It is a single user operating system.
• It is a character based interface system.
• It is very helpful in making file management e.g., creating, editing, deleting
files, etc.
 DOS FILES

• The main portions of MS-DOS are the IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, and

COMMAND.COM files.
• IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS are special, hidden system files
• The IO.SYS file moves the system’s basic I/O functions into memory
and then implements the MS-DOS default control programs, referred
to as device drivers, for various hardware components.
 COMMAND.COM

• COMMAND.COM is the command shell on MS-DOS and PC-DOS, as

well as versions of Windows that depend on DOS (Windows 1.0 to
Windows 95, 98 and ME). COMMAND.COM gives users a command
line interface to DOS as well as a way to run scripts called “batch files”
with the .BAT file extension. COMMAND.COM reads
the AUTOEXEC.BAT file to automatically run commands on startup
 IO.SYS 

• IO.SYS is a hidden executable binary file or hidden system file

which processes instructions when the operating system is
booted. It was an essential part of MS-DOS and Windows 9x
systems. The instructions tell the operating system how the
computer is set up
Start up of MS-DOS

• To start DOS
Click start, Type cmd, Click Command Prompt, you will get command prompt
window with C:\user\HP>_
• C:\> _
known as C drive or C-prompt, C:\ is used for local disk or hard disk
similarly A:\> is called A-prompt or A drive, Generally A:\ is used as floppy drive
_blinking small bar is on the screen is known as cursor. User writes all
instructions /Commands here.
 File and Directory
• File
A file is a container of information on a particular topic. Every file have a
filename which helps to recognize them. these are divided into two parts
1.File name or Primary name
2.Extension or Secondary name
The primary name can be from 1 to 8 characters long. The extension contains 1
to 3 characters long. A filename and extension are separated by using a dot
symbol. It's structure looks like
Filename        .        Extension
Directory
A directory is a structure or a cabinet which keeps one or more files.
Directories are usually creates for keeping one or more identical files together.
 Internal Commands

• These commands are automatic loaded into the memory when operating
system is loaded.
• These are also called memory-resident commands.
• The command available are all combined together and are stored in
Command.com file, which is a executable command file.
General File related Directory related
Commands Commands commands
CLS COPY CON MD
DIR TYPE CD
VER COPY RD
VOL REN
DATE DEL
TIME
 General Commands

•CLS:- (Clear the screen) This command is used to clear the screen
Syntax:-    C:\> CLS   and press Enter
•DIR:- (Directory) Dir command is used for listing files and directories present in the
current disk.
Syntax:-  C:\> DIR
•VER:-(Version) Version numbers indicates that which edition of DOS we are working
on.
Syntax:-  C:\> VER  
•VOL:-(Volume) Displays the disk volume label and serial number, if it exist.
Syntax:- C:\> VOL 
•DATE:- Display the current Date
Syntax:-  C:\> DATE
•TIME:- Display current time
Syntax:- C:\> TIME
 File related commands

•COPY CON:- This command is used to create a new text file.

Syntax:-  C:\> COPY CON <Filename>
C:\>COPY CON abc.txt
Memory management is a form of resource management applied to computer memory.
^Z
1 file(s) copied
• TYPE:- This command is used to display the contents or text of any file to the display
device.
Syntax:- C:\> TYPE <Filename>
C:\>Type abc.txt
Memory management is a form of resource management applied to computer memory.

•K
 File related commands

• COPY :-  Copy command is used for copy any file to another location or to copy the
files to another directory. This command is also be used for making duplicate copy
of any file with different file name.
Syntax:-  C:\> COPY <Source filename> <Target file name>
C:\>COPY abc.txt abc1.txt
         1 file(s) copied
• REN:- (Rename) This command is used to change the name of any file or directory.
Syntax:- C:\> REN <Source filename> <Target filename>
C:\>REN abc.txt xyz.txt
• DEL:- This command is used for erasing any file from the disk.
Syntax:- C:\> DEL <Filename>
C:\>DEL xyz.txt
 Directory related commands

• . MD:- (Make Directory)- This command is used to create a new directory.

Syntax:- C:\> MD < Directory name >
C:\> MD aa
C:\>
•  CD:- (Change Directory):- We can enter or exit from any directory using this command.
Syntax:- To access any directory
C:\> CD < Directory name >
C:\> CD aa
C:\aa>
•  RD:-(Remove directory):- This command is used to remove any unusable directory
form our disk.
Syntax:- C:\> RD <Directory name>
C:\> RD aa
 External Commands
• External commands are known as Disk residence commands.
• Because they can be store 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.
Example
• MORE • FIND
• SORT
• MEM • ATTRIB
• SYS • DOSKEY
• XCOPY • LABEL
• MOVE • Deltree
• FORMAT
 External Commands
• MEM:-This command displays free and used amount of  memory in the computer.
Syntax:- C:\> MEM
the computer will display the amount of memory.
• SYS:- This command is used for copy system files to any disk. The disk having system files
are known as Bootable Disk, which are used for booting the computer.
Syntax:- C:\> SYS [Drive name]
• XCOPY:- When we need to copy a directory instant of a file from one location to another
the we uses xcopy command. This command is much faster than copy command.
Syntax:- C:\> XCOPY < Source dirname >  <Target dirname>
C:\> XCOPY  TC TURBOC
• MOVE:- Move command is used for moving one file or multiple files from one location to
another location or from one disk to another disk.
Syntax:- C:\> MOVE  <file name>  <path name>

https://kb.iu.edu/d/aerh
 Operating system

• An Operating system (OS) is a software which acts as an interface between the end user and computer

hardware.

• Every computer must have at least one OS to run other programs.

• An application like Chrome, MS Word, Games, etc needs some environment in which it will run and

perform its task.

• The OS helps you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the computer's

language. 
 Introduction to windows

• Microsoft Windows, commonly referred to as Windows, is a group of several proprietary graphical

operating system families,

• All of which are developed and marketed by Microsoft.

• Help to run personal computers (PCs).

• Featuring the first graphical user interface (GUI) for IBM-compatible PCs.
• MS-DOS Windows OS
• Windows 1.0 - 2.0

• Windows 3.0 – 3.1

• Windows 95

• Windows 98

• Windows ME - Millennium Edition Windows Server

• Windows NT 31. - 4.0
Windows Home Server
• Windows 2000

• Windows XP Windows CE

• Windows Vista Windows Mobile

• Windows 7
Windows Phone 7-10
• Windows 8

• Windows 10
https://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/history_of_microsoft_windows_operating_system.html
•
 Using Mouse and moving icons on the screen
• Drag: The drag operation is done to graphically pick up something on the screen and move it. To
do that, you point the mouse at the thing you want to drag, press and hold the mouse's button , and
then move the mouse to another location.

• Most computer mice have at least two mouse buttons. When you press the left one, it is called

a left click.

• When you press the one on the right, it is called a right click.

• By default, the left button is the main mouse button, and is used for common tasks such as
selecting objects and double-clicking.

• To press the right button on the mouse and release it. Also called a "secondary click," right

clicking typically opens a menu of ancillary operations such as copying and pasting, viewing a
file's properties and so on.
How do I turn on/off the moving arrow keys of my
mouse using keyboard

• Press Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock on your keyboard at the

same time to get a dialog box similar to the example shown below.

• When the window appears, press Spacebar or Enter to choose Yes.

• Repeat this process to turn Mouse Keys off.

How to change mouse pointer

 My Computer
• "My Computer" gives us an overview about different types of drives present in

the computer.

• The My Computer folder is a gateway to all the data stored on the computer,

attached devices, and the network .

• as well as a shortcut to most of your system information.

• My Computer is the source of all resources in the computer including drives,

control panels and data. 

 Recycle Bin
• The recycle bin is a virtual trashcan where all your deleted files and folders are tossed into.

• By default, Microsoft Windows uses 10% of available disk space to save files so it functions as a
temporary storage location.

• This means that as long as deleted items remain in there, you can always browse through them and
restore them back to their original location

• In case they were deleted by accident or if you decided you needed them again.

• This gives your files a layer of protection from complete deletion.

• The recycle-bin takes hard drive space.
• This doesn’t mean that you have to empty it but it’s good to remember when you are cleaning your
computer to clear out space.
• To empty the recycle-bin, right click the icon and click the Empty Recycle Bin option.
 Advantages of the Recycle bin

• Deleted files or folders are temporarily stored there.

• Functions as a safe for items are deleted by accident.
• You can restore deleted items to their original location.
• Items remain in there until you restore or dispose of them.
 Window Explorer to view files
• Windows Explorer is the file management
application in Windows. 

• Windows Explorer can be used to navigate your hard

drive and display the contents of the folders and
subfolders you use to organize your files on your hard
drive. 

• Windows Explorer is automatically launched any

time you open a folder in Windows XP.
 folders and directories

• In computing, a directory is a file system cataloging structure which contains references to

other computer files, and possibly other directories.

• On many computers, directories are known as folders, or drawers, analogous to a workbench or the

traditional office filing cabinet.

• The main difference is that a folder is a logical concept that does not necessarily map to a
physical directory.

• A directory is an file system object. A folder is a GUI object. ...

• The term directory refers to the way a structured list of document files and folders is stored on the
computer.
 files and folders

• Computer hard drives hold an enormous amount of data or information.

• Knowing how a computer's organization system works will help you to find what you are looking
for.

• Computers use files and folders to organize data.

• A file is a collection of data that is stored together.

• Files can be stored on a hard drive, a floppy disk, or a CD.

• Everything that a computer does is based on data stored in files.

• You can do lots of things with files - create them, name them, rename them, save them, or delete
them. Certain files can even be looked at, listened to, and run.
• File names often consist of 2 parts
• name
• type
• Computer files come in different types
• text files
• graphic files
• program files
• e-mail files
• In many computer systems, files are named so that you know what type of file it is just by looking at
the abbreviation behind the name. A period is used to separate the name from the type, like this:
"name.type".
• Eg: student.doc , class_2021.jpg , college.mkv
 File operations

• Create
• Copy
• Edit
• Rename
• Delete
• Open
• Close
 Desktop

• The desktop is the main screen area that you see after you turn on

your computer and log on to Windows. Like the top of an actual desk, it

serves as a surface for your work. When you open programs or folders, they

appear on the desktop. ... The taskbar sits at the bottom of your screen.
 Control panel

• The Control Panel is a component of Microsoft Windows that provides the

ability to view and change system settings. ... It consists of a set of applets

that include adding or removing hardware and software, controlling user

accounts, changing accessibility options, and accessing networking settings.

 Short cut

• 1. A shortcut is an abbreviated form of a keyboard shortcut.

• 2. In Microsoft Windows, a shortcut is a link that points to a computer program. 

• Shortcuts allow you to create links to programs in any folder, Start bar, Taskbar,

desktop or other locations on the computer.

 Network Connection

• Network Neighbourhood, also known as My Network Places, was

the network browser feature of Microsoft Windows used to

browse network resources.

• Resources included shared file folders on other computers, networked local printers,

and URLs. ... Entire Network: Provides links to all computers on your network.
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