Ms DOS Commands

Complete DOS Commands List

This document contains all 116 DOS commands, syntax, and description in a table format.

S.N	Command	Syntax	Description
1	APPEND	APPEND [d:]path[;][d:]path[...] /X:on|off /path:on|off /E	Displays or sets the search path for data files.
2	ASSIGN	ASSIGN x=y [...] /sta	Redirects disk drive requests to a different drive.
3	ATTRIB	ATTRIB [d:][path]filename [/S] [+R|-R] [+A|-A] [+S|-S] [+H|-H]	Sets or displays file attributes.
4	BACKUP	BACKUP d:[path][filename] d: [/S] [/M] [/A] [/F:(size)] [/P] [/D:date] [/T:time] [/L:[path]filename]	Makes a backup copy of files.
5	BREAK	BREAK =ON|OFF	Sets whether DOS checks for Ctrl+Break.
6	BUFFERS	BUFFERS=(number),(read-ahead)	Sets number of disk buffers and read-ahead sectors.
7	CALL	CALL [d:][path]batchfilename [options]	Calls another batch file and returns.
8	CHCP	CHCP (codepage)	Displays or changes DOS code page.
9	CHDIR (CD)	CHDIR [d:]path /CHDIR ..	Displays or changes the current directory.
10	CHKDSK	CHKDSK [d:][path][filename] [/F][/V]	Checks a disk and provides status report.
11	CHOICE	CHOICE [/C[:]keys] [/N][/S][/T[:]c,nn] [text]	Provides user choice prompt in batch files.
12	CLS	CLS	Clears the screen.
13	COMMAND	COMMAND [d:][path] [device] [/P][/E:(size)] [/MSG][/Y [/C (command)|/K (command)]	Starts DOS command processor.
14	COMP	COMP [d:][path][filename] [d:][path][filename] [/A][/C][/D][/L][/N:(number)]	Compares two groups of files.
15	COPY	COPY [/Y|-Y] [/A][/B] [d:][path]filename [...] [/V]	Copies or appends files.
16	COUNTRY	COUNTRY=country code,[code page][,][d:][filename]	Sets country-specific conventions in DOS.
17	CTTY	CTTY (device)	Changes standard input/output device.
18	DATE	DATE mm-dd-yy	Displays or sets the system date.
19	DBLSPACE	DBLSPACE options	Compresses and manages disks.
20	DEBUG	DEBUG [pathname] [parameters]	Tests and edits programs.
21	DEFRAG	DEFRAG [d:] [/F][/S[:]order] [/B][/skiphigh][/LCD|/BW|/GO] [/H]	Optimizes disk by reorganizing files.
22	DEL (ERASE)	DEL [d:][path]filename [/P]	Deletes files.
23	DELOLDOS	DELOLDOS [/B]	Deletes files from previous DOS versions.
24	DELTREE	DELTREE [/Y] [d:]path [...]	Deletes directories and subdirectories.
25	DEVICE	DEVICE=(driver name)	Loads device driver in CONFIG.SYS.
26	DEVICEHIGH	DEVICEHIGH=(driver name)	Loads device driver into upper memory.
27	DIR	DIR [d:][path][filename] [/A:(attributes)] [/O:(order)] [/B][/C][/CH][/L][/S][/P][/W]	Displays directory listing.
28	DISKCOMP	DISKCOMP [d:] [d:][/1][/8]	Compares two diskettes.
29	DISKCOPY	DISKCOPY [d:] [d:][/1][/V][/M]	Copies an entire diskette.
30	DOS	DOS=[high|low],[umb|noumb]	Specifies memory location for DOS.
31	DOSKEY	DOSKEY [reinstall] [/bufsize=size][/macros][/history][/insert|/overstrike] [macroname=[text]]	Enables command recall and editing.
32	DOSSHELL	DOSSHELL [/B] [/G:[resolution][n]]|[/T:[resolution][n]]	Starts DOS graphical shell.
33	DRIVPARM	DRIVPARM= /D:(number) [/C] [/F:(form factor)] ...	Sets disk drive parameters.
34	ECHO	ECHO on|off / ECHO (message)	Displays messages or enables/disables command display.
35	EDIT	EDIT [d:][path]filename [/B][/G][/H][/NOHI]	Starts MS-DOS editor.
36	EMM386	EMM386 [on|off|auto] [w=on|off]	Enables/disables expanded-memory support.
37	EXE2BIN	EXE2BIN [d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename	Converts .EXE files to binary.
38	EXIT	EXIT	Exits secondary command processor.
39	EXPAND	EXPAND [d:][path]filename [...]	Expands compressed files.
40	FASTHELP	FASTHELP [command][command] /?	Displays DOS commands with brief explanations.
41	FASTOPEN	FASTOPEN d:[=n][/X]	Tracks files for faster access.
42	FC	FC [/A][/C][/L][/Lb n][/N][/T][/W] [file1] [file2]	Displays differences between files.
43	FCBS	FCBS=(number)	Specifies number of file-control blocks in CONFIG.SYS.
44	FDISK	FDISK [/status]	Prepares fixed disk for DOS files.
45	FILES	FILES=(number)	Maximum number of open files.
46	FIND	FIND [/V][/C][/I][/N] "string" [d:][path]filename [...]	Searches for a string in files.
47	FOR	FOR %%(variable) IN (set) DO (command)	Performs repeated execution in batch or interactive.
48	FORMAT	FORMAT d: [/options]	Formats a disk.
49	GOTO	GOTO (label)	Branches to a label in batch file.
50	GRAFTABL	GRAFTABL [(code page)]	Loads graphics character table.
51	GRAPHICS	GRAPHICS [printer type][profile] [/options]	Prints contents of graphics screen.
52	HELP	HELP [command] [/options]	Displays information about DOS commands.
53	IF	IF [NOT] EXIST filename (command) ...	Conditional operations in batch files.
54	INCLUDE	INCLUDE=blockname	Use commands from one CONFIG.SYS block in another.
55	INSTALL	INSTALL=[d: ][\path]filename [parameters]	Loads memory-resident programs.
56	INTERLINK	INTERLINK [client[:]=[server][:]]	Connects two computers for sharing drives/printers.
57	INTERSVR	INTERSVR [options]	Starts Interlink server.
58	JOIN	JOIN d: [d:path] [/D]	Access directory on a different drive.
59	KEYB	KEYB [xx][,][yyy][,][d:][path]filename [/E][/ID:(number)]	Loads keyboard support program.
60	LABEL	LABEL [d:][volume label]	Creates/changes/deletes volume label.
61	LASTDRIVE	LASTDRIVE=(drive letter)	Sets maximum number of accessible drives.
62	LOADFIX	LOADFIX [d:][path]filename [parameters]	Loads program above 64K memory.
63	LOADHIGH (LH)	LOADHIGH [d:][path]filename [parameters]	Loads program into upper memory.
64	MEM	MEM [/options]	Displays installed and available memory.
65	MEMMAKER	MEMMAKER [/options]	Optimizes computer memory.
66	MENUCOLOR	MENUCOLOR=textcolor,[background]	Sets DOS menu text colors.
67	MENUDEFAULT	MENUDEFAULT=blockname, [timeout]	Sets default menu selection if no key pressed.
68	MENUITEM	MENUITEM=blockname, [menutext]	Creates startup menu item.
69	MIRROR	MIRROR [options]	Saves disk info for recovery.
70	MKDIR (MD)	MKDIR [d:]path	Creates a new subdirectory.
71	MODE	MODE [device] [options]	Sets device or communication modes.
72	MORE	MORE < (filename or command)	Displays output one screen at a time.
73	MOVE	MOVE [/Y|/-Y] [d:][path]filename ... destination	Moves or renames files/directories.
74	MSAV	MSAV [d:] [/options]	Scans for viruses.
75	MSBACKUP	MSBACKUP [setupfile] [/options]	Backup or restores files.
76	MSCDEX	MSCDEX /D:driver [/options]	Access CD-ROM drives.
77	MSD	MSD [/options]	Displays detailed system information.
78	NLSFUNC	NLSFUNC [d:][path]filename	Loads country-specific info.
79	NUMLOCK	NUMLOCK=on|off	Sets NumLock state.
80	PATH	PATH [d:]path[;...]	Sets or displays program search path.
81	PAUSE	PAUSE [comment]	Pauses batch file until key press.
82	POWER	POWER [adv:max|reg|min|std|off]	Controls power management.
83	PRINT	PRINT [options] [d:][path][filename]	Queues files for printing.
84	PROMPT	PROMPT [prompt text] [options]	Changes DOS command prompt.
85	RECOVER	RECOVER [d:][path]filename	Recovers files with bad sectors.
86	REM	REM [comment]	Inserts remarks in batch/CONFIG.SYS.
87	RENAME (REN)	RENAME [d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename	Changes file name.
88	REPLACE	REPLACE [d:][path]filename [d:][path] [/options]	Replaces existing files.
89	RESTORE	RESTORE d: [d:][path]filename [/options]	Restores files from backup.
90	RMDIR (RD)	RMDIR [d:]path	Removes a subdirectory.
91	SCANDISK	SCANDISK [options]	Checks and repairs disk.
92	SELECT	SELECT [d:] [d:][path] [country code][keyboard code]	Formats disk and installs country-specific info.
93	SET	SET (string1)=(string2)	Creates environment variables.
94	SETVER	SETVER [d:]:path][filename (number)][/delete][/quiet]	Sets DOS version reported to programs.
95	SHARE	SHARE [/F:space] [/L:locks]	Enables file sharing/locking.
96	SHELL	SHELL=[d:][path]filename [parameters]	Specifies DOS command interpreter.
97	SHIFT	SHIFT	Shifts batch file parameters.
98	SORT	SORT [/R][/+n] < (filename)	Sorts input and outputs to screen/file.
99	STACKS	STACKS=(number),(size)	Sets number and size of stack frames.
100	SUBMENU	SUBMENU=blockname, [menutext]	Creates multilevel startup menu.
101	SUBST	SUBST d: d:path /D	Substitutes virtual drive letter for path.
102	SWITCHES	SWITCHES= [/K][/F][/N][/W]	Configures DOS special options.
103	SYS	SYS [source] d:	Copies DOS system files to disk.
104	TIME	TIME hh:mm[:ss][.cc][A|P]	Displays/sets system time.
105	TREE	TREE [d:][path] [/A][/F]	Displays directory paths and files.
106	TYPE	TYPE [d:][path]filename	Displays file contents.
107	UNDELETE	UNDELETE [d:][path][filename] [/options]	Restores deleted files.
108	UNFORMAT	UNFORMAT d: [/options]	Undoes disk format.
109	VER	VER	Displays DOS version number.
110	VERIFY	VERIFY on|off	Turns on/off verification of file copy.
111	VOL	VOL [d:]	Displays volume label of disk.
112	VSAFE	VSAFE [/options]	Monitors for viruses.
113	XCOPY	XCOPY [d:][path]filename [d:][path][filename] [/options]	Copies files/directories.