Complete List of MS-DOS Commands

Complete list of MS-DOS commands.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR FRIENDS AT:
Complete list of commonly used MS-DOS commands.

kb# SW00021
This is the list that was stole from us and placed on the Black
H0le website. So, remember Tech Tips 4 U had it first.
Software KB
ATTRIB
APPEND
ARP
BACKUP
BREAK
BUFFERS
CALL
CD,MD,RD
CHDIR
CHKDSK
CHOICE
CLS
COMMAND
DATE
DEBUG
DEFRAG
DEL
DELTREE
DIR
DISKCOPY
EXTRACT
FDISK
FIND
FORMAT
FTP
G
H
I
http://www.techtips4u.com/kb/sw/SW00021.htm (1 of 23) [9/1/2009 6:16:49 PM]
ASSIGN
COMP
COPY
J
K
L
LABEL
MEM
MODE
MORE
MOVE
NBTSTAT
NET
NETDDE
NETSTAT
SMARTDRV
SORT
O
P
PING
Q
R
REN
ROUTE
SCANDISK
SCANREG
TELNET
TRACERT
U
V
VER
WIN
XCOPY
Y
Z
Did I miss one? You can add it here if you know it.
Command:
Usage:
Submit
Reset
START
SYS
ATTRIB
Displays or changes file attributes.
ATTRIB [+R | -R] [+A | -A] [+S | -S] [+H | -H] [[drive:][path]filename] [/S]
+
R
A
S
H
/S
Sets an attribute.
Clears an attribute.
Read-only file attribute.
Archive file attribute.
System file attribute.
Hidden file attribute.
Processes files in all directories in the specified path.
attrib +r autoexec.bat - This would make the autoexec.bat so it cannot be modified until the read only attribute is
taken off.
attrib +h io.sys - This would make the config.sys hidden so to the average user this file would not be existent
however if the attrib command it typed alone "attrib" this will show any hidden files.
attrib -h io.sys - This command will do the apposite of the above command. Instead of hiding the file it will unhide
the file if hidden.
Back to Top
ARP
ARP -s [inet_addr] [eth_adr] [if_addr]
ARP -d [inet_addr] [if_addr]
ARP -a [inet_addr] [-N if_addr]
-a
Displays current ARP entries by interrogating the current protocol data. If inet_addr is specified, the IP and Physical
addresses for only the specified computer are displayed. If more than one network interface uses ARP, entries for each
ARP table are displayed.
-g
Same as -a
inet_addr Specifies an internet address.
-N if addr Displays the ARP entries for the network interface specified by if_addr.
-d
Deletes the host specified by inet_addr.
-s
Adds the host and associates the Internet address inet_addr with the Physical address eth_addr. The Physical address
is given as 6 hexadecimal bytes seperated by hyphens. The entry is permanent.
eth_addr Specifies a physical address
if_addr If present, this specifies the Internet address of the interface whose address translation table should be modified. If not
present, the first applicable interface will be used.
arp -a
Interface 220.0.0.80
Internet Address
220.0.0.160
Physical Address
00-50-04-62-F7-23
Type
static
The Physical Address as shown above in the format aa-bb-cc-dd-ee-ff is the unique manufacture identification number. This
number should always be a unique address.
An example of how to change the above IP address 220.0.0.160 to 220.0.0.161 in this case would be:
arp -s 220.0.0.161 00-50-04-62-F7-23
It is important to not that if a IP address has already been assigned to the specific network adapter it is not possible to change that
assigned IP address to a new address. In addition networks italicizing DHCP, BOOTP or RARP will automatically assign the card
an IP address therefore this command would not be utilized.
Back to Top
CD,MD,RD
CD
Changes current directory
CHDIR [drive:][path]
CHDIR[..]
CD [drive:][path]
CD[..]
MD
Creates a directory.
MKDIR [drive:]path
MD [drive:]path
RD
Removes (deletes) a directory.
RMDIR [drive:]path
RD [drive:]path
Back to Top
CHKDSK
Checks a disk and displays a status report.
CHKDSK [drive:][[path]filename] [/F] [/V]
[drive:][path] Specifies the drive and directory to check.
filename
Specifies the file(s) to check for fragmentation.
/F
Fixes errors on the disk.
/V
Displays the full path and name of every file on the disk.
Type CHKDSK without parameters to check the current disk.
Instead of using CHKDSK, try using SCANDISK. SCANDISK can reliably detect
and fix a much wider range of disk problems.
chkdsk = Will display all information described above and also report any crossed linked files.
chkdsk /f = Will fix any crossed linked files however do not run this command while you are in
Back to Top
CHOICE
choice
[/C[:]choices] [/N] [/S] [/T[:]c,nn] [text]
Options:
/C[:]choices
/N
/S
/T[:]c,nn
text
Choice is commonly found in batch files. no example available
Back to Top
CLS
CLS
clears your screen.
Back to Top
COPY
Specifies allowable keys. Default is YN

Do not display choices and ? at end of prompt string.
Treat choice keys as case sensitive.
Default choice to c after nn seconds
Prompt string to display
Syntax= Copy [filename] [location]

copy myfile.txt a:\backup
Back to Top
DIR
Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.

DIR [drive:][path][filename] [/P] [/W] [/A[[:]attributes]] [/O[[:]sortorder]] [/S] [/B] [/L] [/V]
[drive:][path][filename] Specifies drive, directory, and/or files to list. (Could be file specifications or multiple files.)
/P
Pauses after each screenful of information.
/W
Uses wide list format.
attributes:
D Directories
R Read-only files
H Hidden files
/A
A Files ready for archiving
S System files
- Prefix meaning not
List by files in sorted order, sortorder:
N By name (alphabetic)
S By size (smallest first)
E By extension (alphabetic)
/O
D By date & time (earliest first)
G Group directories first
- Prefix to reverse order
A By Last Access Date (earliest first)
/S
Displays files in specified directory and all subdirectories.
/B
Uses bare format (no information summary).
/L
Uses lowercase.
/V
Verbose mode.
Back to Top
Debug
A script compiler used in MS-DOS to compile Assembler scripts
DEBUG [[drive:][path]filename [testfile-parameters]]
[drive:][path]filename Specifies the file you want to test.
testfile-parameters Specifies command-line information required by
the file you want to test.
There are many scripts available online to do different things with your system. TechTips4U has a script that you can use to
perform a low level format on you hard drive located Here
Back to Top
DEFRAG
Used to Defragment your hard dirve
DEFRAG <volume> [-a] [-f] [-v] [-?]
volume drive letter or mount point (d: or d:\vol\mountpoint)
-a Analyze only
-f Force defragmentation even if free space is low
-v Verbose output
-? Display this help text
Back to Top
DELTREE
Deletes a directory and all the subdirectories and files in it.
To delete one or more files and directories:
DELTREE [/Y] [drive:]path [[drive:]path[...]]
/Y Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to delete
the subdirectory.
[drive:]path Specifies the name of the directory you want to delete.
Note: Use DELTREE cautiously. Every file and subdirectory within the
specified directory will be deleted.
To see this command in action click here.
Back to Top
DISKCOPY
Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another.
DISKCOPY [drive1: [drive2:]] [/V]
/V Verifies that the information is copied correctly.
The two floppy disks must be the same type.
You may specify the same drive for drive1 and drive2.
Back to Top
EXTRACT
This command extracts files that are in a .cab file. To see this command in action click here.
EXTRACT [/Y] [/A] [/D | /E] [/L dir] cabinet [filename ...]
EXTRACT [/Y] source [newname]
EXTRACT [/Y] /C source destination
cabinet - Cabinet file (contains two or more files).
filename - Name of the file to extract from the cabinet.
Wild cards and multiple filenames (separated by
blanks) may be used.
source - Compressed file (a cabinet with only one file).
newname - New filename to give the extracted file.
If not supplied, the original name is used.
/A Process ALL cabinets. Follows cabinet chain
starting in first cabinet mentioned.
/C Copy source file to destination (to copy from DMF disks).
/D Display cabinet directory (use with filename to avoid extract).
/E Extract (use instead of *.* to extract all files).
/L dir Location to place extracted files (default is current directory).
/Y Do not prompt before overwriting an existing file.
Back to Top
FDISK
Configures a hard disk for use with MS-DOS.
FDISK [/STATUS] /X
/STATUS Displays partition information.
/X Ignores extended disk-access support .
/MBR - Command used to rewrite the Master Boot Record.
/CMBR <DRIVE> - Recreate Master Boot Record on specified disk. Performs the same functions as FDISK /MBR except can be
used on other disk drives.
1/PRI:nnn - Command line to create a nnn meg DOS partition on hard drive 1.
1/EXT:nnn - Command line to create a nnn meg extended DOS partition on hard drive 1.
1/LOG:nnn - Command line to create a nnn logical drives.
/PARTN - Saves the partition information to a file called PARTSAV.FIL
/Q - Prevents fdisk from restarting the system automatically after quiting fdisk.
/STATUS - Shows you the current status of your partitions.
/ACTOK - Makes FDISK skip disk integrity check wich makes partition creation faster.
/FPRMT - Will force fdisk into using FAT32 on drives smaller then 540MB this command will only work with FDISK that allows
FAT32.
Back to Top
FORMAT
Formats a disk for use with MS-DOS.
FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/F:size] [/B | /S] [/C]
FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/T:tracks /N:sectors] [/B | /S] [/C]
FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/1] [/4] [/B | /S] [/C]
FORMAT drive: [/Q] [/1] [/4] [/8] [/B | /S] [/C]
/V[:label] Specifies the volume label.
/Q Performs a quick version of format.
/F:size Specifies the size of the floppy disk to format (such as 160, 180, 320, 360, 720, 1.2, 1.44, 2.88).
/B Allowes space on the formatted disk for system files.
/S Copies system files to the freshly formatted disk.
/T:tracks Specifies the number of tracks per disk side.
/N:sectors Specifies the number of sectors per track.
/1 Formats a single side of a floppy disk.
/4 Formats a 5.25-inch 360K floppy disk in a high-density drive.
/8 Formats eight sectors per track.
/C Tests clusters that are currently marked "bad."
When using the format command remember all information the drive you wish to format will be completely erased.
format a: Would erase all the contents off the disk in drive a:. Commonly used on a diskette that has not been formatted, give you
an error or a disk you wish to erase.
format a: /q - Quickly erases all the contents of the disk in drive a:. Commonly used to quickly erase a diskette.
Back to Top
FIND
Searches for a text string in a file or files.
FIND [/V] [/C] [/N] [/I] [/OFF[LINE]] "string" [[drive:][path]filename[ ...]]
/V Displays all lines NOT containing the specified string.
/C Displays only the count of lines containing the string.
/N Displays line numbers with the displayed lines.
/I Ignores the case of characters when searching for the string.
/OFF[LINE] Do not skip files with offline attribute set.
"string" Specifies the text string to find.
[drive:][path]filename
Specifies a file or files to search.
If a path is not specified, FIND searches the text typed at the prompt
or piped from another command.
Back to Top
FTP
Used to connect to a remote computer Via File Transfer Protocol
here is a list of commands used while running ftp
Commands may be abbreviated. Commands are:
!
?
append
ascii
bell
binary
bye
delete
debug
dir
disconnect
get
glob
hash
literal
prompt
open
ls
put
close
mdelete
pwd
rename
mdir
quit
mput
mget
quote
help
mkdir
recv
lcd
mls
remotehelp
rmdir
For help with these commands type the command followed by /?
send
status
trace
type
user
verbose
cd
Back to Top
LABEL
Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.
LABEL [drive:][label]
LABEL [/MP] [volume] [label]
drive: Specifies the drive letter of a drive.
label Specifies the label of the volume.
/MP Specifies that the volume should be treated as a
mount point or volume name.
volume Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon),
mount point, or volume name. If volume name is specified,
the /MP flag is unnecessary.
Back to Top
MEM
Displays the amount of used and free memory in your system.
MEM [/PROGRAM | /DEBUG | /CLASSIFY]
/PROGRAM or /P Displays status of programs currently loaded in memory.
/DEBUG or /D Displays status of programs, internal drivers, and other
information.
/CLASSIFY or /C Classifies programs by memory usage. Lists the size of
programs, provides a summary of memory in use, and lists
largest memory block available.
Back to Top
MODE
Configures system devices.
Serial port: MODE COMm[:] [BAUD=b] [PARITY=p] [DATA=d] [STOP=s]
[to=on|off] [xon=on|off] [odsr=on|off]
[octs=on|off] [dtr=on|off|hs]
[rts=on|off|hs|tg] [idsr=on|off]
Device Status: MODE [device] [/STATUS]
Redirect printing: MODE LPTn[:]=COMm[:]
Select code page: MODE CON[:] CP SELECT=yyy
Code page status: MODE CON[:] CP [/STATUS]
Display mode: MODE CON[:] [COLS=c] [LINES=n]
Typematic rate: MODE CON[:] [RATE=r DELAY=d]
Back to Top
MORE
Displays output one screen at a time.
MORE [/E [/C] [/P] [/S] [/Tn] [+n]] < [drive:][path]filename
command-name | MORE [/E [/C] [/P] [/S] [/Tn] [+n]]
MORE /E [/C] [/P] [/S] [/Tn] [+n] [files]
[drive:][path]filename Specifies a file to display one
screen at a time.
command-name Specifies a command whose output
will be displayed.
/E Enable extended features
/C Clear screen before displaying page
/P Expand FormFeed characters

/S Squeeze multiple blank lines into a single line
/Tn Expand tabs to n spaces (default 8)
Switches can be present in the MORE environment
variable.
+n Start displaying the first file at line n
files List of files to be displayed. Files in the list
are separated by blanks.
If extended features are enabled, the following commands
are accepted at the -- More -- prompt:
P n Display next n lines
S n Skip next n lines
F Display next file
Q Quit
= Show line number
? Show help line
<space> Display next page
<ret> Display next line
Back to Top
MOVE
Moves files and renames files and directories.
To move one or more files:
MOVE [/Y | /-Y] [drive:][path]filename1[,...] destination
To rename a directory:
MOVE [/Y | /-Y] [drive:][path]dirname1 dirname2
[drive:][path]filename1 Specifies the location and name of the file
or files you want to move.
destination Specifies the new location of the file. Destination
can consist of a drive letter and colon, a

directory name, or a combination. If you are moving
only one file, you can also include a filename if
you want to rename the file when you move it.
[drive:][path]dirname1 Specifies the directory you want to rename.
dirname2 Specifies the new name of the directory.
/Y Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to
overwrite an existing destination file.
/-Y Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite
an existing destination file.
The switch /Y may be present in the COPYCMD environment variable.
This may be overridden with /-Y on the command line. Default is
to prompt on overwrites unless MOVE command is being executed from
within a batch script.
Back to Top
Ping
Usage: ping [-t] [-a] [-n count] [-l size] [-f] [-i TTL] [-v TOS]
[-r count] [-s count] [[-j host-list] | [-k host-list]]
[-w timeout] destination-list
Options:
-t Ping the specified host until stopped.
To see statistics and continue - type Control-Break;
To stop - type Control-C.
-a Resolve addresses to hostnames.
-n count Number of echo requests to send.
-l size Send buffer size.
-f Set Don't Fragment flag in packet.
-i TTL Time To Live.
-v TOS Type Of Service.
-r count Record route for count hops.
-s count Timestamp for count hops.
-j host-list Loose source route along host-list.
-k host-list Strict source route along host-list.
-w timeout Timeout in milliseconds to wait for each reply.
Back to Top
REN
You can rename a file using this command just type ren then the name of the file you want to rename then the name you want to
rename it
Back to Top
Ver
Displays the Windows version.
Back to Top
Win
Starts Windows.
WIN [/D:[F][M][S][V][X]]
/D Used for troubleshooting when Windows does not start correctly.
:F Turns off 32-bit disk access.
Equivalent to SYSTEM.INI file setting: 32BitDiskAccess=FALSE.
:M Enables Safe mode.
This is automatically enabled during Safe start (function key F5).
:N Enables Safe mode with networking.
This is automatically enabled during Safe start (function key F6).
:S Specifies that Windows should not use ROM address space between
F000:0000 and 1 MB for a break point.
Equivalent to SYSTEM.INI file setting: SystemROMBreakPoint=FALSE.
:V Specifies that the ROM routine will handle interrupts from the hard
disk controller.
Equivalent to SYSTEM.INI file setting: VirtualHDIRQ=FALSE.
:X Excludes all of the adapter area from the range of memory that Windows
scans to find unused space.
Equivalent to SYSTEM.INI file setting: EMMExclude=A000-FFFF.
Back to Top
XCOPY
Back to Top
NBTSTAT
Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT
(NetBIOS over TCP/IP).
NBTSTAT [ [-a RemoteName] [-A IP address] [-c] [-n]
[-r] [-R] [-RR] [-s] [-S] [interval] ]
-a (adapter status) Lists the remote machine's name table given its name
-A (Adapter status) Lists the remote machine's name table given its
IP address.
-c (cache) Lists NBT's cache of remote [machine] names and their IP
addresses
-n (names) Lists local NetBIOS names.
-r (resolved) Lists names resolved by broadcast and via WINS
-R (Reload) Purges and reloads the remote cache name table
-S (Sessions) Lists sessions table with the destination IP addresses
-s (sessions) Lists sessions table converting destination IP
addresses to computer NETBIOS names.
-RR (ReleaseRefresh) Sends Name Release packets to WINS and then, starts Refr
esh
RemoteName Remote host machine name.
IP address Dotted decimal representation of the IP address.
interval Redisplays selected statistics, pausing interval seconds
between each display. Press Ctrl+C to stop redisplaying
statistics.
Back to Top
NET
NET command /HELP
Commands available are:
NET ACCOUNTS
NET HELP
NET SHARE
NET COMPUTER
NET HELPMSG
NET START
NET CONFIG
NET LOCALGROUP
NET STATISTICS
NET CONFIG SERVER
NET NAME NET STOP
NET CONFIG WORKSTATION
NET PAUSE
NET TIME
NET CONTINUE
NET PRINT
NET USE
NET FILE
NET SEND
NET USER
NET GROUP
NET SESSION
NET VIEW
NET HELP SERVICES lists some of the services you can start.
NET HELP SYNTAX explains how to read NET HELP syntax lines.
NET HELP command | MORE displays Help one screen at a time.
Back to Top
NETSTAT
Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP network connections.
NETSTAT [-a] [-e] [-n] [-o] [-s] [-p proto] [-r] [interval]
-a Displays all connections and listening ports.
-e Displays Ethernet statistics. This may be combined with the -s

option.
-n Displays addresses and port numbers in numerical form.
-o Displays the owning process ID associated with each connection.
-p proto Shows connections for the protocol specified by proto; proto
may be any of: TCP, UDP, TCPv6, or UDPv6. If used with the -s
option to display per-protocol statistics, proto may be any of:
IP, IPv6, ICMP, ICMPv6, TCP, TCPv6, UDP, or UDPv6.
-r Displays the routing table.
-s Displays per-protocol statistics. By default, statistics are
shown for IP, IPv6, ICMP, ICMPv6, TCP, TCPv6, UDP, and UDPv6;
the -p option may be used to specify a subset of the default.
interval Redisplays selected statistics, pausing interval seconds
between each display. Press CTRL+C to stop redisplaying
statistics. If omitted, netstat will print the current
configuration information once.
Back to Top
Back to Top
Back to Top
Back to Top
Back to Top
Back to Top
Back to Top
Back to Top
Back to Top
Back to Top
Back to Top
This page was last modified on 09/04/08

Please tell us what you think.
Did this article help resolve your issue?
Yes, helped very much.
No, didn't help at all.
N/A, didn't apply to my issue.
Comments:
Submit
Reset
Recommend This Site

Your Name:
Your Email:
Friends Name:
Friends Email:
Personal note for your friend:
Send me a copy of what is sent to my friend. (recommended)
Submit
5,000 Starter Credits
Reset
Join Now
www.IceBanners.com

Complete List of MS-DOS Commands

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Complete List of MS-DOS Commands

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Complete List of MS-DOS Commands

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Complete list of MS-DOS commands.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR FRIENDS AT:

Complete list of commonly used MS-DOS commands.