Operating System DOS Commands List

Internal DOS Commands

These are those commands for which the code for executing them is stored in COMMAND.COM and they execute without the requirement of any other file. When an internal command is issue by the user, the transient portion knows what to do and executes that command.

MKDIR (or MD)

It creates a multilevel directory.
Syntax : C:\>MKDIR (or MD) < drive: > < path >

E.g. md c:\test --> Create the "test" directory in the c:\ directory.

    md c:\test1\test2 --> Create the "test1" directory (if it does not already exist), and then the "test2" sub-directory, in the c:\ directory.

CHDIR (or CD)

It changes the current directory or displays the name of the current directory.
Syntax : C:\>CHDIR (or CD) < drive: > < path >

Dir

It displays the list of the files and sub-directories that are in the directory specified.
Syntax : C:\> dir < drive: > < path > < filename >

Copy

It copy one or more files to the location specified and can also be used to combine.
Syntax : C:\>copy < source > < target >

Del

It deletes the files specified.
Syntax : C:\>del < drive: > < path > < filename >

RMDIR (or RD)

It removes the directory.
Syntax : C:\>RMDIR (or RD) < drive: > < path >

Rename (or REN)

It changes the name of the file or files specified and can also rename all files matching the specified filename.
Syntax : C:\>rename (or REN) < drive: > < path >< original filename > < changed filename >

Type

It displays the contents of a text file or view the contents of any text file without modifying it.
Syntax : C:\>type < drive: > < path > < filename >

Path

It is used to earch for the executable files in the directories specified.
Syntax : C:\> path < drive: > < path > < ………… >

Verify

It verifies that the files are written correctly to the disk.
Syntax : C:\>verify

Clear Screen

It clears the screen. The cleared screen shows only the command prompt and the blinking cursor.
Syntax : C:\>cls

Date

It displays the current system date and prompts you to change the date, if necessary.
Syntax : C:\>date < mm-dd-yy >

Time

It sets the computer‘s internal clock if command is issued with parameters otherwise displays the system time.
Syntax : C:\>time < hours: minutes: seconds: hundredths >