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Welcome to the MS-DOS Guidebook.  This book contains information about Microsoft's Disk Operating System; MS-DOS.  You will learn about its structure and how to use some common commands.  This information can also be used to succeed at "The Adventures of Dr. Tekno:  The Search for the Brigands of the South Seas."   Select a topic to learn about by clicking on the topic name or number.  To get to this Table of Contents any time, click on the MS-DOS Guidebook icon.
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MS-DOS Overview
An operating system is a software program that controls the flow of information between the computer, input/output (I/O) devices, and storage devices.  MS-DOS is one example of an operating system. 
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MS-DOS is an operating system used on personal computers.  It is a set of programs that interfaces between you and the hardware.  This interface allows you to use memory, disk drives, and input/output devices.  It allows you to create and use files, run and link programs, and access printers and disk drives.  With MS-DOS commands and programs, you can direct the computer.  If you are strictly a Windows user, you can perform most functions within the Windows interface to MS-DOS.
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"Booting" MS-DOS
This term comes from the old phrase "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps" because MS-DOS essentially pulls itself up, loading itself from disk into memory, where it then waits for a command from you.  When you power on the system with the ON/OFF switch, it is sometimes called a "cold boot".  When power is first applied to the system, the PC executes the first instruction in memory which starts a Power on Self-Test (POST) process.
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POST is an acronym for POWER ON SELF TEST.  It is recommended that you do not turn the computer OFF during POST.  POST does the following; (1) System area memory is tested and initialized, (2) System board devices are tested, (3) Remaining memory is tested, (4) Keyboards, drives, and their controllers are initialized and tested (5) Speaker sounds one or two short beeps.  This indicates successful completion of POST.
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BOOT ROUTINE
After POST (1), the MS-DOS boot (2) begins.  During the boot, the following happens; (3) If the file CONFIG.SYS is present, each device driver is initialized, (4) Commands in AUTOEXEC.BAT are processed, (5) The MS-DOS prompt is sent to the display.  The prompt indicates that the operating system has successfully loaded and the system is waiting for commands.
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AUTOEXEC.BAT is a special MS-DOS batch file that executes each time the computer is turned on or restarted.  It provides information to MS-DOS and can be used to start programs.  A fairly simple, typical AUTOEXEC.BAT is given here.  Yours may be more complex - especially if you are working in a network environment.
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CONFIG.SYS
The CONFIG.SYS file is a configuration file in the MS-DOS directory that contains commands that affect how MS-DOS runs on the computer and communicates with other equipment.  The commands in this file help define the computer configuration.  MS-DOS carries out the commands in the CONFIG.SYS file only when the computer is turned on or re-started.  
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REBOOT or WARM BOOT
Reboot means to restart the computer when it is already turned on.  To reboot your system, hold down the CTRL key and the ALT key while pressing the DEL key.  A warm boot is preferred over a cold boot, since it does not require you to switch the power OFF/ON.  A warm boot also does not run POST.  That concludes this section.  Select the MS-DOS Guidebook icon to return to the menu, or the right arrow to continue with the next topic.
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MS-DOS FEATURES
The latest version of MS-DOS used by Compaq is MS-DOS 6.  If you have used MS-DOS in the past, the newest version MS-DOS 6, brings some great new features, such as MemMaker, DoubleSpace, and Undelete.
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MS-DOS 6 FEATURES
The screen lists some of the features of MS-DOS 6.  This section will go through some of these new features and give you some ideas of when and how you might use them. 
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MemMaker
MemMaker modifies your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files so that you use less base or conventional memory, this frees this memory for use by programs.  MemMaker frees this memory by loading device drivers and programs into the upper memory blocks (UMB)---the memory area normally set aside for expansion cards.  MemMaker does not run in Windows.
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DoubleSpace
DoubleSpace is a disk compression utility.  It allows you to compress your disk files into less disk space.  DoubleSpace is set up by typing DBLSPACE at the MS-DOS prompt.  Before using DoubleSpace, you should make a backup of your disk -- the backup also can be used if you decide to eliminate the double spacing.  Be aware that disk access may be slowed after DoubleSpace has been accomplished.
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The first time you run DoubleSpace, it creates a new logical drive that, by compressing files, nearly doubles the capacity of your fixed disk drive.  After you set up DoubleSpace, you can maintain your compressed drives using the DoubleSpace maintenance program (a full screen menu system) by typing the DBLSPACE command at the MS-DOS command prompt.
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Undelete
The Undelete utility lets you select levels of Undelete protection.  Sentry protection is the highest level.  It copies deleted files into the Sentry directory and renames them.  Tracker protection is the next level of protection.  It records the addresses of deleted files in a file named PCTRACKR.DEL.  Standard protection is the default and lowest level of protection.  During the MS-DOS 6 Setup, you have the option to have Undelete protection for Windows only, or Windows and MS-DOS.
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BACKUP
The Backup Utility allows you to backup any files on any drive.  All diskettes used for backup must be the same size and capacity.  For example:  you cannot intermingle 360 KB diskettes with 1.2 MB diskettes.  Nor can you use 3.5 inch diskettes intermingled with 5.25 inch diskettes.
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ANTI-VIRUS
The Anti-Virus Utility scans both the memory and fixed disk drive looking for any known viruses.  You may select "detect only" or "detect and clean."  After the scanning is complete, the Statistics screen is displayed.  It lists the files scanned and the viruses found, if any, and if they were cleaned.  
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DEFRAGMENTATION
Over time, disk files become fragmented (1) and access to them slows down.  The Defragmentation utility brings together the scattered file parts in one contiguous stream (2) for faster access.  You should defragment your drive regularly, normally once every 60 days.  Defragmentation cannot be run in Windows.  That concludes this section.  Select the MS-DOS Guidebook icon to go to the menu, or the right arrow to continue with the next topic.
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MS-DOS FILES AND STRUCTURE
The purpose of a computer is to run programs and use data, both kept in files.  Once MS-DOS is loaded, most users manipulate files and run programs.  Let's look at some of those files and file structures.
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MS-DOS FILES
A file is the primary unit of storage on the computer.  A file enables MS-DOS to distinguish one collection of information from another.  For example, when you use a word-processor to write a letter, you store the letter in its own file.  Every file has a name, which generally indicates what type of information the file contains.  Next, we need to look at the way files are named.
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FILE NAMES
Each file has its own unique name so that MS-DOS can distinguish between files when it is reading and writing to them.  The MS-DOS file specification has a base name (up to 8 characters) and an extension (up to 3 characters) which must be separated by a period.  CHAPTER9.DOC is an example.  File names cannot contain any of the following:  "  /  [ ]  :  *  <  >  |  +  ;  .  ?  space.  Click on the valid MS-DOS filenames shown on the screen. 
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DIRECTORIES
Rather than store all files in the same place on the disk, we organize them into file folders.  In MS-DOS these are called directories and subdirectories.  A directory is structured like a tree.  Meaning that a directory (a single storage area name) can have many subdirectories (branches) under it.
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DIRECTORY NAMES
Directories are named when they are made.  Their names are limited to 8 characters.  If you type in more than 8 characters, those characters in excess of 8 are cut off and not used.  Notice that the 10 character directory AUTOMOBILE has been shortened to AUTOMOBI.
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ROOT DIRECTORY
All directories are subdirectories of the root directory.  It is the first directory on the disk.  The root directory is created when you format a disk.  It is represented by a back slash (\).  For example, C:\ is the root directory for drive C.  The Root Directory is highlighted in the display above.  That concludes this section.  Select the MS-DOS Guidebook icon to return to the menu, or the right arrow to continue with the next topic.
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MS-DOS COMMANDS
A MS-DOS command is an order that you tell MS-DOS to carry out.  In this section you will learn and use some of the most used MS-DOS commands.  Others, which are less used, will require some study.  The MS-DOS on-line help will show you the format and function of all MS-DOS commands.
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MAKE DIRECTORY (MD)
A directory is part of the MS-DOS structure.  The command to make a directory is MD, then a space, then the title of the new directory.  Type in the command to make the new directory named AUTOMOBILE on the screen above.  
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CHANGE DIRECTORY
The command to change directories is CHDIR or CD.  Since the maximum characters allowed in a directory name is 8, the new directory name would be AUTOMOBI instead of AUTOMOBILE.  To change to a new directory you would type in CD, a space, and then the name of your destination directory.  Type in the Change Directory command to change to the AUTOMOBI directory.
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CHANGE TO THE ROOT DIRECTORY
To return to the root directory, type in CD \.  The slash represents the root directory and must be used, the space between the D and the slash is optional.  Try it here; type in the command to change to the root directory on the display above, then press the ENTER key.  
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DIRECTORY COMMAND
The directory command (DIR) lets you see a list of files in the directory.  For example, if you wish to see the directory of the C:\> directory, you would type in DIR at the C:\> prompt.  Type in the DIR command to see the list of files.
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You would see a listing of the files and directories in the root directory.  It is similar to this example.  Notice how the directories and files are displayed, including the size and dates of the different files.  Also notice that the new directory AUTOMOBI is displayed.
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REMOVE DIRECTORY
To remove a directory the command is RD and the name of the directory.  All files must be removed from the directory before you can delete the directory itself.  If the files are not removed first you will get an error message telling you that the directory is not empty.  Let's look at how we would remove files.
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DELETE COMMAND
To remove files from a directory, use the Delete command DEL.  To delete the file PROGRAM.EXE, you would type in DEL PROGRAM.EXE at the MS-DOS prompt.
Type in the command to delete the file named XYZ.EXE.  
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The delete command may be used to delete all files in a directory as well.  For example, if you wanted to delete all files in the AUTOMOBI directory, you would use the wild card (global) symbol to delete all files at one time.  The wild card symbol is an asterisk (*).  The command DEL *.* is used to delete files with any name or extension.  
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The wild card symbol also can be used as a partial wild card.  An example is shown.  This partial wild card would delete all files with the EXE extension.
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REMOVE DIRECTORY
After all files have been deleted from the AUTOMOBI directory, you can remove the directory.  At the C:\> prompt above, type in the command to remove the AUTOMOBI directory.
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To check the root directory to see if the AUTOMOBI directory has been removed, you would type in the DIR command.  Type in the DIR command at the prompt above.
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Notice that the AUTOMOBI directory is gone.  With MS-DOS 6 there is a new command that allows you to remove directories without first removing subdirectories and files.  It is the DELTREE command.  To familiarize yourself with this new command, type HELP DELTREE at the DOS prompt or check any MS-DOS 6 manual.
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FORMAT COMMAND
Format structures a disk by dividing it into storage areas called sectors.  Format also creates system tables (1).  The rest of the disk organized to store data in files (2).  If you format a disk with data already on it, the data is gone unless you immediately use the MS-DOS Unformat command.  
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COPY COMMAND
The COPY Command is used to copy a single file.  The COPY Command may be used for fixed disk drives as well as for diskettes.  A basic copying method is to type COPY <SOURCE> to <DESTINATION>.  For example, C:\>COPY ABC.DOC XYZ.DOC, copies the file ABC to the file XYZ.  That concludes this section.  Select the MS-DOS Guidebook icon to return to the Table of Contents, or the right arrow to continue with the next topic.
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ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
MS-DOS Help is an on-line reference to MS-DOS commands.  To get help, type help at the MS-DOS prompt along with a topic.  For example HELP FORMAT.  Books on using MS-DOS are available at your local computer store, library, or bookstore.  The documentation that came with your computer has a lot of helpful information on many subjects.  That concludes the MS-DOS Guidebook.  You can select another guidebook, the game button, or exit.
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