Section 2 Getting Started

Section 2

Getting Started

INTRODUCTION

This section guides you through the process of turning on your computer, checking for important control files, setting the system time and date, and then determining what version of DOS you are using.

Commands introduced include:

DATE Display and sets the system date.

TIME Display and sets the system time.

VER Display the current DOS version in use by the system.

Commonly used DOS files that are introduced and examined include:

CONFIG.SYS Configures memory and loads special device drivers at system turn on.

AUTOEXEC.BAT Automatically executes DOS commands that are included in this file.

Comments

The FORMAT command prepares a new disk for use by organizing the disk into magnetic tracks and sectors that are readable by DOS. when a disk is formatted, any files on that disk are usually lost. because of the plethora of disk types and capacities, new parameters were added to the FORMAT command in DOS version 4.01. MS-DOS 5.00 introduction a safe FORMAT command and the ability to UNFORMAT unintentially formatted disks. These parameters and others are presented in the following paragraph and table. FORMAT Command Form: There are a number of FORMAT command forms. These are described in the following list. CAUTION BE aware that the FORMAT command erases all files from the disk being formatted. Many computer users have accidentally formatted the wrong disk. If you have programs or document files you wish to keep, do not format the disk! (DOS 5.00 lets you UNFORMAT disk, but even with this ve...

Making, Changing, and Removing Directories

You used the DIR (directory) command in Section 3 to display a list of filenames on the screen. You can create and name multiple disk directories on a disk to allow for the subdivision of your files. This feature lets you group common files into separate directories. This is similar to subdividing information into file cabinet drawers and file folders. This is particularly convenient when you use a fixed disk containing hundreds or even thousands of files. Instead of listing all files in one directory, you can list files in smaller, more manageable sub directories. Lock at the following directory commands. Command Purpose MKDIR or MD Make a new directory ...

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