MS-DOS Commands and Answers
MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) is 86 DOS-derived non-graphical command lie operating system specially created for IBM compatible computers. Although the use of MS-DOS is not more used, its command shell or commonly known as Windows command line is still in use largely due to their convenient user acceptance as it allows the users to navigate, manipulate and open files on their computer systems from a quick command line instead of GUI like windows. Even though MS-DOS commands are not a specific niche for interviewers, DOS commands with examples are standard interview questions to be asked for almost every interview associated with IT sectors. We will discuss a set of MS-DOS commands further here for your acknowledgment, ensuring success for your upcoming interview.
Advantages:
- Easy and direct access to BIOS calls and underlying hardware systems.
- Great for making workarounds, combining programs and managing an MS system
- Boots much faster compared to any windows version
- Very lightweight and offers direct access to most hardware.
Most Frequently Asked MS-DOS Commands
Abbreviation of Microsoft Disk Operating System, MS-DOS is used by computer users for non-graphical command line operating system, which is derived from 86-DOS and created for IBM compatible computers. It performs the crucial housekeeping functions on disk, which includes organizing, moving, copying, locating, storing and retrieving information that resides in the disk.
MS-DOS is written by Tim Paterson and introduced in August 1981 by Microsoft. Mostly active in between 1980 and 1990, it was last updated in 1994 for its version of 6.22.
The full form of MS-DOS is Microsoft disk operating system. Developed by Microsoft originally for IBM-compatible personal computers, it’s a standard operating system.
CD or Change Directory is a syntax or command line used t change the working directory in an MS-DOS operating system. The command line or chdir can be used for both batch file and shell scripts. It is an internal command.
| S.no | DOS | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | It is a single-tasking. | It is multitasking. |
| 2. | DOS is based in an online interface. | Windows is based on a graphical user interface. |
| 3. | Challenging to learn dues to all command prompts. | Easy to learn |
| 4. | Less preferable | More preferable |
| 5. | Limited users | A vast number of users |
| 6. | No mouse click icon on DOS | Mouse click on icons or links is available |
In MS-DOS, the booting is process including a number of steps that a DOS system that includes performance whenever it is rebooted or turned on with the rest of the options available. The initiation of booting always starts with the special program software that is present in the system BIOS ROM.
Here a few basic DOS commands for beginners.
We have to follow these steps to change drive in DOS using the command prompt.
- First access command prompt.
- Then, type the drive's first letter followed by ‘:’
- On the keyboard, press Enter
There are plenty of DOS commands available to be used according to their preference. Here is the list of most used ones:
- command /?–List switched to the DOS command
- type file.ext–To view the contents of the text file mentioned
- edit file.ext–To use the DOS editor to edit the file mentioned
- a: - Change to the mentioned directory
- md c:\diry–Create a new subdirectory named diryin the c:\ directory
- c:\ directory–To change the subdirectory diry
- rd c:\diry–Used to remove existing subdirectory named diry
- verify on–Turn on copy command verification
- copy file1 file2–Copy files of file1 to file2
- disk copy a: b: - To duplicate a disk using the two mentioned floppy drives
- format a:- To format a disk in drive a:
- format a: /s–Format a bootable disk. It can include system files
- backup c:\ a: /s–To back up the entire c: to the a: drive
- chkdsk–To check disk and memory usage of the current disk
- mem–To check the memory usage
Internal & External DOS Command Interview Questions
History
Written by Tim Paterson and introduced by Microsoft in August of 1981, MS-DOS was last updated in 1994 to its version 6.22. Here are a few advantages of using MS-DOS commands