MS-DOS questions

[sanmk4890]

hi,
1.how to run MS-DOS programs from the command prompt?
I have some programs describing themselves as MS-DOS programs.They don't have a .exe extension.

2.how to create a directory in C: from the root,using the command prompt?
Is there a root user in ms-dos,like in linux shell?

 

[thecoldone06]

Are you using real DOS or are you using the command prompt in Win XP, 7? If in XP or 7, there is no 'root' user, just uses permissions based on what user you are logged in as. to make a directory:

mkdir C:\<newdir>

What extension does the program have?

 

[studiot]

You don't need to type in the .exe extension for Dos executables it will know what to do with them.

Don't forget that .bat and .com are also executable extensions.

So for instance to start Windows from Dos type

> win (return)

However Dos will only look in the current directory for the program so you must navigate there first, or else supply the full path.

 

[Xander]

You don't need to type in the .exe extension for Dos executables it will know what to do with them.

Don't forget that .bat and .com are also executable extensions.

Also .pif .scr

So for instance to start Windows from Dos type

> win (return)

However Dos will only look in the current directory for the program so you must navigate there first, or else supply the full path.

Default path is usually set on boot with the Autoexec.bat, of course.

 

[studiot]

Default path is usually set on boot with the Autoexec.bat, of course.

Well yes that's true for win, but that was only an example I could have said myprog (.exe).

 

[sanmk4890]

hi,
i use the command prompt in xp(sp3).What's the real DOS?

The programs i was talking about have .com extensions.I navigated to the directory and ran them by typing out their names.

 

[Xander]

The path applies universally. That's why you don't want it being too broad as every time you enter a word, it's cross-referenced against the path to see if that word is the name of a program or, failing, if it's a syntax error. The bigger the path, the longer each cross-reference takes.

 

[Methical]

hi,
i use the command prompt in xp(sp3).What's the real DOS?

The programs i was talking about have .com extensions.I navigated to the directory and ran them by typing out their names.

Can also use <TAB> for auto-complete of filenames.

 

[geeksinroute]

Go to the directory where that program resides in ms dos and then enter the name of the program that you want to execute.

and in order to make new directory from ms dos write this command

makdir c:\<name>

 

[hyfidel]

The command prompt in Windows is not actually DOS. It's more like a stripped down version of it. Most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

If you are having trouble running programs from the command prompt, try DOSBox. It's a free DOS emulator that I've used for some clients that have very old DOS programs (installed from 3.5" floppies!).

I always use "md" for making a directory... the less characters, the better! As an aside, "rmdir" is a great way to delete folders with thousands of files. Faster than using Windows Explorer.

 

[kagman]

Ahh the gold old days of DOS. If you want to really get your hands on DOS use FreeDos or get a copy of MS-DOS and install it on a Virtual Machine.