Useful Windows Dos Command

DIR COMMAND USAGE


CD COMMAND USAGE




Lists the contents current directory

C:\>dir

Lists Contents of absolute path

A:\documents\pictures\bitmaps>dir c:\”program files”

Switches: /w /p /s

Sorting Switches: /oe /oen /od /on /one /x

Wildcards: * ?

Wildcard usage:

C:/winnt/system32>DIR *.exe

C:/winnt/system32>DIR *.*


Changes to a directory

Folder by folder method

C:\>cd winnt

C:\winnt>cd system32

Absolute path method

C:\>cd c:\winnt\system32

Move to parent folder

C:\>cd..

Move to root folder

C:\>cd/






The parent folder is what ever folder is above your current folder



The Root folder is the top most folder




COPY/MOVE COMMAND USAGE


DEL COMMAND USAGE


This command is always used in this style

Copy “path of file” “path”

Example1:

C:\>copy Friday.doc c:\”documents and settings”

Example 2:

C:\>copy a:\weekdays\Thursday.doc c:\temp\days

Example 3:

C:\>move Friday.doc c:\”documents and settings”


Delete from current directory

C:\>Del Friday.doc

Delete From Absolute Path

C:\>Del a:\weekdays\Thursday.doc


CLS & TREE COMMAND USAGE


Clears all text from the screen

C:\>CLS

TREE Command will draw a symbolic representation of your location within the file system




FORMAT COMMAND USAGE


EDIT and TYPE COMMAND USAGE


Deletes and Prepares a floppy or hard disk to have new data written to it. When this command is preformed all data on a disk is lost.

Format First hard Drive

C:\>format c:

Format Floppy Drive

C:\>format a:


When the edit command is used on a file, DOS launches and external text editing application to edit the file.

Example 1

C:>edit c:\”documents and settings”\Thursday.txt



The Type Command displays directly on the DOS screen the contents of a file. This command only displays data and will not allow you to edit.

Example 2

C:\>type Thursday.txt


MD & RD & REN COMMAND USAGE


Makes a directory

C:\winnt>MD MYbackup

Removes a Directory

C:\winnt>RD MYbackup


Rename a File Or Folder

C:\>ren bob.txt joey.txt

C:\>ren c:\docs c:\pics


ATTRIB COMMAND


Other External Commands


ATTRIB commands will change the attributes and permissions of a file or folder.

+Adds an Attribute

- Removes an Attribute

c:\>attrib Thursday.doc +h

c:\>attrib Friday.Doc +a -h
All Switches: A R H S

Archive | Read-Only| Hidden | System




External commands are separate tools not always built into dos.

XCOPY – Copies an entire directory along with everything that directory contains.

DELTREE – Deletes an entire directory along with everything that directory contains.

QBASIC – An external application used to write and compile other dos programs from source code.

SCANDISK – Scans a drives directory structure checking for errors.

FDISK – USED to VIEW/CREATE/DELETE partitions

IPCONFIG – Network utility used to display and manage IP addresses




OTHER TIPS:


1) To launch DOS from windows you execute cmd or command from the run prompt in the start menu.

2) The SystemRoot is the directory where the operating systems core files are located Typically c:\winnt on NT based systems.

3)c:\program files\ is typically where most “user installed applications” are located.

4)c:\documents and settings\ is typically where desktop icons, documents, start menu icons and personal preferences are stored. Example: The user bob’s documents would be located in c:\documents and settings\bob\my documents




System information


TIME – Display or Change the system time

Label – Changes the label of a disk

VOL – Displays to label of a disk

VER – Displays what operations system you are using

Change to Default Windows Directory trick

C:\>CD %windir%











Common Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut Keys


Function



Display or hide the Start menu.

+BREAK


Display the System Properties dialog box.

+D


Minimizes all Windows and shows the Desktop

+E


Open Windows Explorer

+F


Search for a file or folder.

+F+CTRL


Search for computers.

+F1


Display Windows 2000 Help.

+L


Locks the desktop

+M


Minimize or restore all windows.

+R


Open the Run dialog box.

+TAB


Switch between open items.

+U


Open Utility Manager

ALT+- (ALT+hyphen)


Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window's System menu.

ALT+ENTER


View properties for the selected item.

ALT+ESC


Cycle through items in the order they were opened.

ALT+F4


Close the active item, or quit the active program.

ALT+SPACEBAR


Display the System menu for the active window.

ALT+TAB


Switch between open items.

ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name


Display the corresponding menu.

BACKSPACE


View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer.

CTRL+A


Select all.

CTRL+B


Bold

CTRL+C


Copy.

CTRL+I


Italics

CTRL+O


Open an item.

CTRL+U


Underline

CTRL+V


Paste.

CTRL+X


Cut.

CTRL+Z


Undo.

CTRL+F4


Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously.

CTRL while dragging an item


Copy selected item.

CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item


Create shortcut to selected item.

CTRL+RIGHT ARROW


Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word.

CTRL+LEFT ARROW


Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.

CTRL+DOWN ARROW


Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.

CTRL+UP ARROW


Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.

CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys


Highlight a block of text.

DELETE


Delete.

SHIFT+DELETE


Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.

ESC


Cancel the current task.

F1


Displays Help

F2


Rename selected item.

F3


Search for a file or folder.

F4


Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer.

F5


Refresh the active window.

F6


Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.

F10


Activate the menu bar in the active program.

SHIFT+F10


Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.

CTRL+ESC


Display the Start menu.

SHIFT+CTRL+ESC


Launches Task Manager

Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu


Carry out the corresponding command.

RIGHT ARROW


Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.

LEFT ARROW


Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.

SHIFT with any of the arrow keys


Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document.

SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive


Prevent the CD from automatically playing.

Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts

Shortcut Keys


Function

CTRL+PLUS
on numeric keypad (+)


Automatically resize the columns in the right hand pane

END


Display the bottom of the active window.

HOME


Display the top of the active window.

NUM LOCK+ASTERISK
on numeric keypad (*)


Display all subfolders under the selected folder.

NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN
on numeric keypad (+)


Display the contents of the selected folder.

NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN
on numeric keypad (-)


Collapse the selected folder.

LEFT ARROW


Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder.

RIGHT ARROW


Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder