MKDIR or MD
Internal – DOS 2.0 and above
- Creates a directory.
MKDIR [drive:]path MD [drive:]path
MODE
External – DOS 1.0 and above
- Configures system devices..
Printer port: MODE LPTn[:] [COLS=c] [LINES=l] [RETRY=r]
Serial port: MODE COMm[:] [BAUD=b] [PARITY=p] [DATA=d] [STOP=s] [RETRY=r]
Device Status: MODE [device] [/STATUS]
Redirect printing: MODE LPTn[:]=COMm[:]
Prepare code page: MODE device CP PREPARE=((yyy[...]) [drive:][path]filename)
Select code page: MODE device CP SELECT=yyy
Refresh code page: MODE device CP REFRESH
Code page status: MODE device CP [/STATUS]
Display mode: MODE [display-adapter][,n]
MODE CON[:] [COLS=c] [LINES=n]
Typematic rate: MODE CON[:] [RATE=r DELAY=d]
MORE
External – DOS 2.0 and above
- Displays output one screen at a time.
MORE < [drive:][path]filename command-name | MORE [drive:][path]filename Specifies a file to display one screen at a time. command-name Specifies a command whose output will be displayed.
MOVE
External – DOS 6.0 and above
- Moves files and renames files and directories.
To move one or more files:
MOVE [/Y | /-Y] [drive:][path]filename1[,...] destination
To rename a directory:
MOVE [drive:][path]dirname1 dirname2
/Y Suppresses prompting to confirm overwriting of the destination.
/-Y Causes prompting to confirm overwriting of the destination.
The switch /Y may be present in the COPYCMD environment variable.
This may be overridden with /-Y on the command line.
[drive:][path]filename1 Specifies the location and name of the file
or files you want to move.
destination Specifies the new location of the file. Destination
can consist of a drive letter and colon, a directory
name, or a combination. If you are moving only one
file, you can also include a filename if you want
to rename the file when you move it.
[drive:][path]dirname1 Specifies the directory you want to rename.
dirname2 Specifies the new name of the directory.
MSCDEX
External – DOS 6.0 and above
- Loads the CD-ROM support utility.
MSCDEX /D:driver ... [/E] [/K] [/L:letter] [/M:buffers] [/S] [/V] /D:driver Specifies name of CD-ROM driver /E Load buffers in expanded memory (EMS) /K Load Kanji support /L:letter Specifies first drive letter to use /M:buffers Specifies number of sector buffers /S Load server environment support /V Display verbose memory usage statistics
MSD
External – MS-DOS 6.0 and above
- Provides detailed technical information about your computer.
MSD [/I] [/F[drive:][path]filename] [/P[drive:][path]filename]
[/S[drive:][path][filename]]
MSD [/B][/I]
/B Runs MSD using a black and white color scheme.
/I Bypasses initial hardware detection.
/F[drive:][path]filename Requests input and writes an MSD report to the
specified file.
/P[drive:][path]filename Writes an MSD report to the specified file
without first requesting input.
/S[drive:][path][filename] Writes a summary MSD report to the specified
file. If no filename is specified, output is to
the screen.
MSD is only included with MS-DOS versions, PC DOS uses QCONFIG.
NLSFUNC
External – DOS 3.3 and above
- Loads country-specific information.
NLSFUNC [[drive:][path]filename]
[drive:][path]filename Specifies the file containing country-specific
information.
PATH
Internal – DOS 2.0 and above
- Displays or sets a search path for executable files.
PATH [[drive:]path[;...]] PATH ; Type PATH ; to clear all search-path settings and direct DOS to search only in the current directory. Type PATH without parameters to display the current path.
PAUSE
Internal – DOS 1.0 and above
- Suspends processing of a batch program and displays the message “Press any key to continue….”
PAUSE
PAUSE originated as an internal command in 86-DOS.
POWER
External – DOS 5.02 and above
- Reduces power used by your computer.
POWER [ADV[:MAX | REG | MIN] | STD | OFF]
ADV[:MAX | REG | MIN] -- Reduces power by monitoring applications
and hardware devices. MAX provides the most power conservation,
REG provides average power conservation, and MIN provides the
least conservation.
STD -- Reduces power by monitoring hardware devices.
OFF -- Turns off power management.
POWER.EXE must be loaded as a device driver in CONFIG.SYS in order to use this command.
External – DOS 2.0 and above
- Prints a text file while you are using other DOS commands.
PRINT [/D:device] [/B:size] [/U:ticks1] [/M:ticks2] [/S:ticks3]
[/Q:qsize] [/T] [[drive:][path]filename[ ...]] [/C] [/P]
/D:device Specifies a print device.
/B:size Sets the internal buffer size, in bytes.
/U:ticks1 Waits the specified maximum number of clock ticks for the printer
to be available.
/M:ticks2 Specifies the maximum number of clock ticks it takes to print a
character.
/S:ticks3 Allocates the scheduler the specified number of clock ticks for
background printing.
/Q:qsize Specifies the maximum number of files allowed in the print queue.
/T Removes all files from the print queue.
/C Cancels printing of the preceding filename and subsequent
filenames.
/P Adds the preceding filename and subsequent filenames to the print
queue.
Type PRINT without parameters to display the contents of the print queue.
PROMPT
Internal – DOS 2.0 and above
- Changes the DOS command prompt.
PROMPT [text] text Specifies a new command prompt. Prompt can be made up of normal characters and the following special codes: $Q = (equal sign) $$ $ (dollar sign) $T Current time $D Current date $P Current drive and path $V DOS version number $N Current drive $G > (greater-than sign) $L < (less-than sign) $B | (pipe) $H Backspace (erases previous character) $E Escape code (ASCII code 27) $_ Carriage return and linefeed Type PROMPT without parameters to reset the prompt to the default setting.
QBASIC
External – MS-DOS 5.0 and above
Further information: QBASIC
- Starts the MS-DOS QBasic programming environment.
QBASIC [/B] [/EDITOR] [/G] [/H] [/MBF] [/NOHI] [[/RUN] [drive:][path]filename]
/B Allows use of a monochrome monitor with a color graphics card.
/EDITOR Starts the MS-DOS editor.
/G Provides the fastest update of a CGA screen.
/H Displays the maximum number of lines possible for your hardware.
/MBF Converts the built-in functions MKS$, MKD$, CVS, and CVD to
MKSMBF$, MKDMBF$, CVSMBF, and CVDMBF, respectively.
/NOHI Allows the use of a monitor without high-intensity support.
/RUN Runs the specified Basic program before displaying it.
[[drive:][path]filename] Specifies the program file to load or run.
QBASIC replaces GW-BASIC from earlier versions of DOS.
QCONFIG
External – PC DOS 6.1 and above
- Displays detailed technical information about your computer.
QCONFIG [/?][/A][/C][/D][/E][/I][/O[file]][/P][/Q] [key="text"] /? Displays this help information. /A Displays all Micro Channel adapters supported by QCONFIG. /C Displays additional detail on async ports. /D Displays a detailed listing of hardware. /E Displays current environment. /I Displays CONFIG.SYS & AUTOEXEC.BAT. /O Redirects output to file QCONFIG.OUT. /Ofile Redirects output to file (anyname). /P Pauses the output between screens. /Q Does not display redirect message. key="text" Defines key with text to appear in output (must be last option).
QCONFIG is only included with PC DOS versions and replaces the Microsoft MSD utility.
RECOVER
External – DOS 2.0 to DOS 5.0
- Recovers readable information from a bad or defective disk.
RECOVER [drive:][path]filename RECOVER drive:
REM
Internal – DOS 1.0 and above
- Records comments (remarks) in a batch file or CONFIG.SYS.
REM [comment]
RENAME or REN
Internal – DOS 1.0 and above
- Renames a file or files.
RENAME [drive:][path]filename1 filename2 REN [drive:][path]filename1 filename2 Note that you cannot specify a new drive or path for your destination file. Use MOVE to move files from one directory to another, or to rename a directory.
RENAME (but not its alias REN) originated as an internal command in 86-DOS.
REPLACE
External – DOS 3.2 and above
- Replaces files.
REPLACE [drive1:][path1]filename [drive2:][path2] [/A] [/P] [/R] [/W]
REPLACE [drive1:][path1]filename [drive2:][path2] [/P] [/R] [/S] [/W] [/U]
[drive1:][path1]filename Specifies the source file or files.
[drive2:][path2] Specifies the directory where files are to be
replaced.
/A Adds new files to destination directory. Cannot
use with /S or /U switches.
/P Prompts for confirmation before replacing a file or
adding a source file.
/R Replaces read-only files as well as unprotected
files.
/S Replaces files in all subdirectories of the
destination directory. Cannot use with the /A
switch.
/W Waits for you to insert a disk before beginning.
/U Replaces (updates) only files that are older than
source files. Cannot use with the /A switch.
RESTORE
External – DOS 2.0 and above
- Restores files that were backed up by using the BACKUP command.
RESTORE drive1: drive2:[path[filename]] [/S] [/P] [/B:date] [/A:date] [/E:time]
[/L:time] [/M] [/N] [/D]
drive1: Specifies the drive on which the backup files are stored.
drive2:[path[filename]]
Specifies the file(s) to restore.
/S Restores files in all subdirectories in the path.
/P Prompts before restoring read-only files or files changed since
the last backup (if appropriate attributes are set).
/B Restores only files last changed on or before the specified date.
/A Restores only files changed on or after the specified date.
/E Restores only files last changed at or earlier than the specified
time.
/L Restores only files changed at or later than the specified time.
/M Restores only files changed since the last backup.
/N Restores only files that no longer exist on the destination disk.
/D Displays files on the backup disk that match specifications.
REXX
External – PC DOS 7
Further information: REXX
- Execute a REXX program.
REXX filename [parameters] filename Specifies the name of the REXX program to execute. parameters Specifies any parameters for the REXX program.
REXXDUMP
External – PC DOS 7
- Dump the variables of an active REXX procedure.
REXXDUMP
RMDIR or RD
Internal – DOS 2.0 and above
- Removes (deletes) a directory.
RMDIR [drive:]path RD [drive:]path
SCANDISK
External – MS-DOS 6.2 and above
- Runs the ScanDisk disk-repair program.
To check and repair a drive, use the following syntax:
SCANDISK [drive: | /ALL] [/CHECKONLY | /AUTOFIX [/NOSAVE]] [/SURFACE]
To check and repair an unmounted DriveSpace compressed volume file, use:
SCANDISK drive:\DRVSPACE.nnn [/CHECKONLY | /AUTOFIX[/NOSAVE]]
To examine a file for fragmentation, use the following syntax:
SCANDISK /FRAGMENT [drive:][path]filename
To undo repairs you made previously, use the following syntax:
SCANDISK /UNDO [drive:]
For [drive:], specify the drive containing your Undo disk.
/ALL Checks and repairs all local drives.
/AUTOFIX Fixes damage without prompting.
/CHECKONLY Checks a drive, but does not repair any damage.
/CUSTOM Configures and runs ScanDisk according to SCANDISK.INI settings.
/NOSAVE With /AUTOFIX, deletes lost clusters rather than saving as files.
/NOSUMMARY With /CHECKONLY or /AUTOFIX, prevents ScanDisk from stopping at
summary screens.
/SURFACE Performs a surface scan after other checks.
/MONO Configures ScanDisk for use with a monochrome display.
To check and repair the current drive, type SCANDISK without parameters.
Scandisk is only included with MS-DOS versions.
SET
Internal – DOS 2.0 and above
- Displays, sets, or removes DOS environment variables.
SET [variable=[string]] variable Specifies the environment-variable name. string Specifies a series of characters to assign to the variable. Type SET without parameters to display the current environment variables.
SETVER
External – DOS 5.0 and above
- Sets the version number that DOS reports to a program.
Display current version table: SETVER [drive:path]
Add entry: SETVER [drive:path] filename n.nn
Delete entry: SETVER [drive:path] filename /DELETE [/QUIET]
[drive:path] Specifies location of the SETVER.EXE file.
filename Specifies the filename of the program.
n.nn Specifies the DOS version to be reported to the program.
/DELETE or /D Deletes the version-table entry for the specified program.
/QUIET Hides the message typically displayed during deletion of
version-table entry.
SETVER.EXE must be loaded as a device driver in CONFIG.SYS in order to use this command. While the internal version setting functionality was present in DOS 4, the SETVER command did not appear until DOS 5.
SHARE
External – DOS 3.0 and above
- Installs file-sharing and locking capabilities on your hard disk.
SHARE [/F:space] [/L:locks] [/NOHMA] /F:space Allocates file space (in bytes) for file-sharing information. /L:locks Sets the number of files that can be locked at one time. /NOHMA Don't load code into the HMA.
/NOHMA is only available in PC DOS 7.
SHIFT
Internal – DOS 2.0 and above
- Changes the position of replaceable parameters in a batch file.
SHIFT
SMARTDRV
External – DOS 6.0 and above
- Installs and configures the SMARTDrive disk-caching utility.
SMARTDRV [/X] [[drive[+|-]]...] [/U] [/C | /R] [/L] [/V | /Q | /S]
[InitCacheSize [WinCacheSize]] [/E:ElementSize] [/B:BufferSize]
/X Disables write-behind caching for all drives.
drive Sets caching options on specific drive(s). The specified
drive(s) will have write-caching disabled unless you add +.
+ Enables write-behind caching for the specified drive.
- Disables all caching for the specified drive.
/U Do not load CD-ROM caching module.
/C Writes all information currently in write-cache to hard disk.
/R Clears the cache and restarts SMARTDrive.
/L Prevents SMARTDrive from loading itself into upper memory.
/V Displays SMARTDrive status messages when loading.
/Q Does not display status information.
/S Displays additional information about SMARTDrive's status.
InitCacheSize Specifies XMS memory (KB) for the cache.
WinCacheSize Specifies XMS memory (KB) for the cache with Windows.
/E:ElementSize Specifies how many bytes of information to move at one time.
/B:BufferSize Specifies the size of the read-ahead buffer.
SORT
External – DOS 2.0 and above
- Sorts input and writes results to the screen, a file, or another device.
SORT [/R] [/+n] < [drive1:][path1]filename1 [> [drive2:][path2]filename2]
[command |] SORT [/R] [/+n] [> [drive2:][path2]filename2]
/R Reverses the sort order; that is, sorts Z to A,
then 9 to 0.
/+n Sorts the file according to characters in
column n.
[drive1:][path1]filename1 Specifies a file to be sorted.
[drive2:][path2]filename2 Specifies a file where the sorted input is to be
stored.
command Specifies a command whose output is to be sorted.
SUBST
External – DOS 3.1 and above
- Associates a path with a drive letter.
SUBST [drive1: [drive2:]path]
SUBST drive1: /D
drive1: Specifies a virtual drive to which you want to assign a path.
[drive2:]path Specifies a physical drive and path you want to assign to
a virtual drive.
/D Deletes a substituted (virtual) drive.
Type SUBST with no parameters to display a list of current virtual drives.
SYS
External – DOS 1.0 and above
- Copies DOS system files and command interpreter to a disk you specify.
SYS [drive1:][path] drive2: [drive1:][path] Specifies the location of the system files. drive2: Specifies the drive the files are to be copied to.
SYS originated as an external command in 86-DOS.
TIME
External – DOS 1.0
Internal – DOS 1.1 and above
- Displays or sets the system time.
TIME [time] Type TIME with no parameters to display the current time setting and a prompt for a new one. Press ENTER to keep the same time.
TREE
External – DOS 2.0 and above
- Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path.
TREE [drive:][path] [/F] [/A] /F Displays the names of the files in each directory. /A Uses ASCII instead of extended characters.
TRUENAME
Internal – DOS 4.0 and above
- Returns a fully qualified filename.
TRUENAME [drive:][path]filename
This command was undocumented in DOS 3.x.
TYPE
Internal – DOS 1.0 and above
- Displays the contents of a text file.
TYPE [drive:][path]filename
TYPE originated as an internal command in 86-DOS.
UNDELETE
External – DOS 5.0 and above
- Restores files previously deleted with the DEL command.
UNDELETE [[drive:][path]filename] [/DT | /DS | /DOS]
UNDELETE [/LIST | /ALL | /PURGE[DRIVE] | /STATUS | /LOAD | /UNLOAD
/S[DRIVE] | /T[DRIVE]-entrys ]]
/LIST Lists the deleted files available to be recovered.
/ALL Recovers files without prompting for confirmation.
/DOS Recovers files listed as deleted by MS-DOS.
/DT Recovers files protected by Delete Tracker.
/DS Recovers files protected by Delete Sentry.
/LOAD Loads Undelete into memory for delete protection.
/UNLOAD Unloads Undelete from memory.
/PURGE[drive] Purges all files in the Delete Sentry directory.
/STATUS Display the protection method in effect for each drive.
/S[drive] Enables Delete Sentry method of protection.
/T[drive][-entrys] Enables Delete Tracking method of protection.
UNDELETE is licensed from Central Point Software PC Tools
UNFORMAT
External – DOS 5.0 and above
- Restores a disk erased by the FORMAT command.
UNFORMAT drive: [/J]
UNFORMAT drive: [/U] [/L] [/TEST] [/P]
UNFORMAT /PARTN [/L]
drive: Specifies the drive to unformat.
/J Verifies that the mirror files agree with the system information
on the disk.
/U Unformats without using MIRROR files.
/L Lists all file and directory names found, or, when used with the
/PARTN switch, displays current partition tables.
/TEST Displays information but does not write changes to disk.
/P Sends output messages to printer connected to LPT1.
/PARTN Restores disk partition tables.
UNFORMAT is licensed from Central Point Software PC Tools
VER
Internal – DOS 2.0 and above
- Displays the DOS version.
VER
The undocumented /R switch displays the revision level and where DOS is loaded (low, HMA or ROM) in DOS 5 and above.
Version returned:
- MS-DOS up to 6.22, typically derive the DOS version from the DOS kernel. This may be different from the string it prints when it starts.
- PC DOS typically derive the version from an internal string in COMMAND.COM (so PC DOS 6.1 COMMAND.COM reports the version as 6.10, although the kernel version is 6.00.)
- DR-DOS reports whatever value the reserved environment variable VER holds.
VERIFY
Internal – DOS 2.0 and above
- Tells DOS whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk.
VERIFY [ON | OFF] Type VERIFY without a parameter to display the current VERIFY setting.
VOL
Internal – DOS 2.0 and above
- Displays the disk volume label and serial number, if they exist.
VOL [drive:]
XCOPY
External – DOS 3.2 and above
- Copy entire directory trees.
XCOPY [/Y|/-Y] source [destination] [/A|/M] [/D:date] [/P] [/S] [/E] [/V] [/W]
source Specifies the file(s) to copy.
destination Specifies the location and/or name of new files.
/A Copies files with the archive attribute set,
doesn't change the attribute.
/M Copies files with the archive attribute set,
turns off the archive attribute.
/D:date Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
/P Prompts you before creating each destination file.
/S Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones.
/E Copies any subdirectories, even if empty.
/V Verifies each new file.
/W Prompts you to press a key before copying.
/Y Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
existing destination file.
/-Y Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
existing destination file.
The switch /Y may be preset in the COPYCMD environment variable.
This may be overridden with /-Y on the command line
/Y and /-Y are only available in DOS 6 and above.
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