Learn DOS From Beginning To Advanced

MEM The MEM command was introduced in DOS version 4.01 and memory information. The MEM command is entered alone or with a modified slightly in MS-DOS 5.00. MEM is used to display system memory information. The MEM command is entered alone or with a parameter. MEM-Displays to all system memory values, including expanded and extended memory values. MEM PROGRAM--Displays programs presently loaded in memory with used and unused memory. You may use /P if you are using DOS 5.00 MEM/DEBUG--Dispiays a list of programs, device drivers, install drivers, and used unused memory. You may use / if you are using DOS 5.00. MEM CLASSIFY (or MEM /C)-Displays programs and cor-responding memory usage. The largest available memory block is also displayed. You may use /C if you are using DOS 5.00. Typing MEM and pressing Enter displays information similar to the following (typical of DOS 5.00): C:\>MEM                  ...

CHKDSK The "hidden files" are your DOS system files. These show up on all DOS disks. "User files" are those that are listed when the DIR command is used. The amount of available disk space is perhaps the most important line in the report. This tells you if you have enough space on a disk for continued work. If the amount of space is limited, it may be time to use another disk, delete obsolete files to recover disk space, or copy inactive files to another disk and then delete them from the current one. Notice that the CHKDSK command also gives you a report on your computer's memory. The total amount of memory and the amount of free memory is displayed. In the first sample report, the system is using 41,520 bytes (or characters) of memory space. This is often called system overhead. The second example shows a substantial amount of memory in use by DOS and other memory-resident programs. Here, it is probably advisable to deactivate memory-resident programs if you m...

CHKDSK The CHKDSK command checks the status of a selected disk. It is an external DOS command, and it displays several information. These include: The total disk space The total disk space occupied and the number of files The total disk space either lost or considered unusable by the system The amount of disk space available for use The total amount of memory available in your computer The amount of memory occupied by the operating system and memory-resident programs The amount of memory available for use DOS Version 4.01 also displays the volume serial number, if one exists, and disk and memory allocation information. The general form of the CHKDSK command is:                                                        CHKDSK D: where D: is the drive letter holding the disk to be checked. For example, the command CHKDSK B: performs a d...

DOS Version 5.00: DOS 5.00 introduced a number of new DIR parameters which are summarized in the following list. In addition to the new parameters, DOS 5.00 also displays the number of bytes contained in the files in the listed directory. Prior DOS versions only displayed the number of files in the listed directory. DIR/A:attribute-  Displays files having certain file attributes, where attribute is one of the following: h     hidden files -h    nonhidden files s      system files -s     nonsystem files d     directory names -d    files only (no directory names) a     files that need archiving (backup) -a    files that have been archived r     read-only files -r    files that are not read-only DIR /A:r-h-  Displays read-only files that are not hidden. DIR /B- Displays a bare filename listing without size, date, and time information...

DIR The DIR command is used to display filenames on your screen. In addition to names, the file size and creation date and time is also displayed. Several forms of the DIR command are available for you to use. A comprehensive list of DIR command forms follows. DIR-Lists a directory of the disk located in the active (or logged) disk drive (disk A if the A> prompt is displayed, B if the B> prompt is displayed, and so on). DIR D:-Lists a directory of the specified disk D:. DIR/P or DIR D:/P- Pauses the directory listing when the screen is full. press any key to see the next screen load of filenames. Typing DIR |MORE achieves a similar result. DIR/W or DIR D:/W- Display a wide directory; omits file size , date, and time information. DIR filename.ext - Displays the specified filename; used to verify the presence of a file on the logged or specified disk. DIR filename.* or DIR filename.???-Displays a directory of all files having the same filename with different extensions....

FORMAT, VOL, AND LABEL COMMAND ACTIVITY In this activity, place a blank disk in drive A (or drive B if you are using a floppy disk system). In this activity and others, use B in place of A if you are using a two-drive floppy system. Your DOS disk should be located in drive A on a floppy system.   1. Type FORMAT A:/S and press Enter. Notice the following display. Insert new diskette for drive A:   and press ENTER when ready...   2. Insert the disk to be formatted and press Enter to start the disk formatting process; notice a "Formatting..." display. It may include the Head and Cylinder location if you have DOS version 3.10 or later.   3. Wait until the following message is displayed.   Format complete   System transferred  xxxxxx bytes total disk space      xxxxx  byte used by system    xxxxxx bytes available on disk Format another (Y/N)?   4. Type N to re display the system prompt.   5. Type LABEL A: NEWNAME an...

FORMAT /Q- Quick format takes less than 10 seconds; this command removes  the files allocation table and root directory; it does not scan the disk for bad areas. The /Q switch cannot be used if you change the capacity of the disk, i.e., format a 1.44MB diskette as 720K. FORMAT /V: labelname- Lets you assign a volume label. Otherwise, you are prompted to enter one of the following operation. Volume labels are uo to 11 characters long. FORMAT /F:size- Specify the size of the   disk belong formatted. Sizes are entered as follows.           Disk Size                   Use          5.25 160K                 160, 160k, 160KB          180K                         180, 180k, 180KB          320K      ...