A list of DOS commands for Microsoft's DOS operating system. follows. You can also get help by typing HELP in the shell prompt.

Table of contents
1 dir
2 copy
3 ren
4 cd or chdir
5 md or mkdir
6 rd or rmdir
7 type
8 del
9 attrib
10 deltree
11 ver
12 tree
13 move
14 xcopy
15 format
16 diskcopy
17 undelete
18 unformat

dir

Displays contents of a directory.
Syntax - dir
Options
  • /w : Wide list format
  • /p : Pause at every page
  • /s : Also look in subdirectories
  • /a[xx] : Display files with the specified attributes only
  • /o[xx] : Modifies sort order

copy

Copies a file from one location to another.
Syntax - copy "source" "destination"

ren

Renames a file
Syntax - ren "oldname" "newname"

cd or chdir

Change current directory
Syntax - cd "directoryname"

md or mkdir

Create a directory
Syntax - md "directory name"

rd or rmdir

Remove a directory
Syntax - rd "directory name"

type

Display an ASCII file
Syntax - type "filename"

del

Deletes a file. This commands accepts wildcards
Syntax - del "filename|wildcards"

attrib

Changes attributes of a file
Syntax - attrib "attribute string" "filename|wildcards"
Options
  • To add an attribute attach a '+' in front of it.
  • To remove an attribute attach a '-' in front of it
  • Attributes include
    • A - Archived (used mainly by file archiving software)
    • H - Hidden
    • S - System
    • R - Read-only

deltree

Deletes a complete directory tree along with the files in the directories and subdirectories.
Syntax - deltree "directory"

ver

Shows the version of MS-DOS you are using
Syntax - ver

tree

Shows the directory tree of the current directory
Syntax - tree

move

Moves a file
Syntax - move "source" "target"

xcopy

format

diskcopy

undelete

unformat