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Questions tagged [ms-dos]

MS-DOS was the most popular operating system for desktop PCs until the mid-1990s. Do not use this tag for questions about Windows command line programs or scripts.

Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-DOS) is Microsoft’s first OS. Commissioned by IBM, Microsoft bought and modified QDOS for use on IBM’s range of personal computers, or “PCs”.

It soon became the most popular flavor of DOS and remained so for years, however due to its not so user-friendly text-based command-line nature and architecture limitations, it was eventually replaced for general use by Microsoft Windows (and other graphical OSes).

MS-DOS continues to be used for special-purpose uses such as flashing BIOSes and altering disk partitions, as well as for fun by aficionados, although other flavors of DOS including free ones which continue to be developed such as Free-DOS have since become more popular.

Windows command line

Do not use this tag for questions about Windows command line programs or scripts.

Instead, use the tag combination and .

372 questions
32
votes
6 answers

MS-DOS command to delete all files except one

Is there an MS-DOS command that allows me to delete all files except one? Consider as an example the following files: a.001 a.002 a.003 a.exe a.c Is there a command to delete all files except a.c?
nunos
  • 641
15
votes
5 answers

How to list hardware in DOS?

I have a PC running MS-DOS (i.e. no Windows). How can I retrieve a list of all hardware present on the PC? Something like Everest for Windows, or something simpler, like lspci from Linux.
ricardomenzer
  • 331
10
votes
6 answers

Fullscreen digital clock for DOS 6.22?

I came across a Dolch L-Pac 586 a few months ago. My boss was going to throw it out, but I managed to convince him to let me give it a home. Since then, I've been wracking my brains, trying to think of a clever use for it. I have been thinking that…
eckza
  • 1,174
7
votes
1 answer

MS-DOS how to save a file opened with "edit"?

I'm trying to open a file from the command with this line: "edit file_name" And I would like to save it after I have modified it. Do you know the way to do this ? Cheers
mric750
  • 117
5
votes
4 answers

Can ms dos list all files and directory (including hidden ones)

I think there used to be a command called dir -a or something like that. Now it's no longer there isn't it? To see hidden file we need dir /a:h which will show only hidden files, which is not what I want. So how to display all files, whether…
user4951
  • 4,705
3
votes
2 answers

On my old DOS computer I need to run a specific game first otherwise some games won't run

But why is that? It still seems to me almost like magic. The computer is Amstrad PC2086/30, and the game that I have to run first is either The Cycles: International Grand Prix Racing or Grand Prix Circuit, both by Accolade. If I don't do this, the…
user267591
2
votes
3 answers

Resources for Unix users trying to learn DOS?

I am an experienced UNIX user that knows my way around the UNIX terminal. However, whenever I use a Windows computer and try and use the Command Prompt, I cannot do much more than list the contents of a directory with dir and change directory with…
ab217
  • 335
2
votes
2 answers

Run windows command in background

I did run command "START /B " but it shown visible to screen. How can I run any command in background so that it will invisible to screen in the time of execution.
Manas Dash
  • 21
2
votes
2 answers

Script to do a mirror copy

I have adapted a script to find "bookmarks." in the chrome profiles. but I have about 4 profiles. Profile 1, Profile 2, Profile 3, Profile 4. is there a way to create the found "bookmarks." to go into the destination copied profile location? so it…
Dave
  • 23
1
vote
3 answers

Convert .exe to .com

I recently downloaded MS-DOS 6 on my laptop and I want to be able to do all the commands on cmd but I need to go convert the .exe to .com I will download any software to do this.
dsgdfgdsfg
  • 57
1
vote
2 answers

MS-DOS "Divide Overflow" error

When I attempt an installation of an application in MS-DOS, I receive the following error: "Divide Overflow." What is the meaning of this error and how do I fix it? The install procedure is: Partition my HDD Format C drive Install MS-DOS 4 Add the…
repozitor
  • 61
1
vote
0 answers

To replace a string line with a new string after certain line

original file containing ;group 1 -epackage ....... ;group2 -epackage ....... After replaced, it should looks like this ;group 1 -epackage ....... ;group2 ;-epackage Basically what I want is to comment out the second -epackage I tried this…
Will
  • 11
  • 1
0
votes
1 answer

Is there a similar command like COLOR in MS-DOS?

MS-DOS 6.22 is running. Who needs Windows 10? I know that upon starting there is a possibility to change the foreground and background color of the MS-DOS environment. But is this also possible when MS-DOS is already running? My case is, that I want…
Trollwut
  • 451
0
votes
1 answer

How do you copy files using a command line when you the file has four or less characters in the filename?

trying to copy files with four or less characters in the file name with a certain extension to a new folder. I tried to do this for several hours now! getting frustrated. I used the copy command and the wildcard ? and *
user347966
  • 1
0
votes
1 answer

Replace semicolon in @ftime (forfile function) to use in a file name

As you know you can use the function forfile: forfiles /M "fileA" /C "cmd /c copy @path C:\Documents\archives\@fname_ @fdate" I'm trying to use @ftime, but it contains : which I want to replace with space or "". How do I do this?
Mount
  • 1
1
2