Command Name Description

APPEND Allows programs to open data files in specified directories as if they were in the

current directory.

ATTRIB Displays or changes file attributes.

BREAK Sets the Ctrl+Break check on or off. Can be used at the command prompt or in the

config.sys

BUFFERS Allocates memory for a specified number of disk buffers from within the

config.sys

CALL Calls one batch file from another without exiting from the first.

CD or CHDIR Changes the current directory.

CHCP Displays or changes the active code page.

CHKDSK Checks a disk and displays a status report.

CHOICE Waits for the user to choose one of a set of choices.

CLS Clears the screen.

COMMAND Starts a new copy of the MS-DOS Command Interpreter.

COPY Copies the specified files.

COUNTRY Enables MS-DOS to use country-specific conventions.

CTTY Changes the standard Input/ Output device.

DATE Displays or sets the system date.

DBLSPACE Creates or configures DoubleSpace compressed drives.

DEBUG Runs Debug, a program testing and editing tool.

DEFRAG Reorganizes files on disks to optimize performance.

DEL Deletes the specified files.

DELTREE Deletes a directory and all the subdirectories and files in it.

DEVICE Loads a specified device driver into memory from within your config.sys

DEVICEHIGH Loads a specified device driver into the upper memory area from within your

config.sys

DIR Displays the disk directory.

DISKCOMP Compares the contents of two floppy disks.

DISKCOPY Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another.

DOS Specifies from within your config.sys that DOS should maintain a link to the

upper memory area, load part of itself into High Memory Area (HMA) or both.

DOSKEY Edits command lines, recalls MS-DOS commands, and creates macros.

DOSSHELL Starts MS-DOS Shell.

DOSSWAP MS-DOS Task Swapper. This program is used internally by the MS-DOS Shell

and should not be run from the command line.

DRIVPARM Defines parameters for devices such as disk and tape drives when you start MS-DOS.

This command can only be used in the config.sys file.

ECHO Sets Echo to on or off.

EDIT Starts the MS-DOS Editor, which creates and changes ASCII files.

EMM386 Turns on or off EMM386 expanded memory support.

ERASE Deletes the specified files.

EXIT Exits to the previous command level.

EXPAND Expands one or more compressed files.

FASTHELP Provides help information for MS-DOS commands.

FASTOPEN Decreases the amount of time needed to open frequently used files and directories.

FC Compares two files or sets of files and displays the differences between them.

FCBS Specifies from within your config.sys file the number of File Control Blocks

(FCBs) that DOS can have open at the same time.

FDISK Configures a hard disk for use with MS-DOS.

FILES Specifies from within your config.sys the number of files that DOS can have

open at one time.

FIND Searches for a text string in a file or files.

FOR Repeats a command for each item in a set.

FORMAT Formats a disk for use with MS-DOS.

GOTO Jumps to a labelled line from within the same batch file.

GRAPHICS Loads a program that can print graphics.

HELP Starts MS-DOS Help on MS-DOS commands.

IF Allows conditional execution of commands from within a batch file.

INCLUDE Includes from within your config.sys file the contents of one configuration

block within another.

INSTALL Loads a memory resident program into memory from within your config.sys

file.

INTERLNK Connects two computers via parallel or serial ports and enables the computers to

share disks and printer ports.

INTERSVR Provides serial or parallel file transfer and printing capabilities via redirected

drives.

KEYB Configures a keyboard for a specific language.

LABEL Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.

LASTDRIVE Specifies in your config.sys file the maximum number of drives you can

access.

LH - LOADHIGH Loads a program into upper memory.

LOADFIX Loads a program above the first 64K of memory, and runs the program.

MEM Displays the amount of used and free memory in your system.

MEMMAKER Runs the MemMaker memory-optimization program.

MENUDEFAULT Specifies the default menu item on the startup menu in the config.sys file.

MENUITEM Defines an item on the startup menu in the config.sys file.

MD - MKDIR Makes (creates) a new directory.

MODE Configures system devices.

MORE Displays output one screen at a time.

MOVE Moves files and renames files and directories.

MSAV Scans your computer for known viruses.

MSBACKUP Backs up or restores one or more files.

MSCDEX Provides access to CD-ROM drives.

MSD Starts the Microsoft Diagnostics program which provides detailed technical

information about your computer.

NLSFUNC Loads country-specific information.

NUMLOCK Specifies from within your config.sys file whether the numlock key is set to

on or off.

PATH Searches alternative directories.

PAUSE Pauses execution of the the batch file.

POWER Reduces power used by your computer.

PRINT Prints a text file while you are using other MS-DOS commands.

PROMPT Changes the system prompt.

QBASIC Starts the MS-DOS QBasic programming environment.

RD - RMDIR Removes (deletes) a directory.

REM Allows remarks to be added to a batch file.

REPLACE Replaces files.

RESTORE Restores files that were backed up by using the BACKUP command.

SET Changes the system parameters.

SETVER Sets the version number that MS-DOS reports to a program.

SHARE Installs file-sharing and locking capabilities on your hard disk.

SHELL Specifies from within the config.sys file the location of the command

interpreter you want DOS to use.

SHIFT Allows more than 10 replaceable parameters in a batch file.

SIZER SIZER.EXE is used by MemMaker during the memory-optimization process and

is not intended to be started from the command prompt.

SMARTDRV Installs and configures the SMARTDrive disk-caching utility.

SORT Sorts input and writes results to the screen, a file, or another device.

STACKS Supports the dynamic use of data stacks to handle hardware interupts, from within

your config.sys file.

SUBMENU Defines from within the config.sys an item on a start-up menu that, when

selected displays another set of options.

SUBST Associates a path with a drive letter.

SWITCHES Specifies from within the config.sys special DOS options.

SYS Copies MS-DOS system files and command interpreter to a disk you specify.

TIME Displays or sets the system time.

TREE Displays the directory structure in graphical form.

TYPE Displays a specified text file.

UNDELETE Restores files previously deleted with the DEL command.

UNFORMAT Restores a disk erased by the FORMAT command or restructured by the

RECOVER command.

VER Displays the version of MS-DOS.

VERIFY Checks that files are correctly written to disk.

VOL Displays the disk volume label.

VSAFE Monitors your computer for viruses and displays a warning when it finds one