Gorman, Stubbs, & CEP Inc.1

Introduction to Operating Systems

Lesson 2

Disk Operating System: DOS

Lesson 2 – Disk Operating System: DOS2

Objectives

Understand why DOS is important to Windows 3.1 and Windows 9x users.

Prepare the hard disk for installation of DOS. Install DOS correctly on your personal

computer. Create and use directories for file

management. Create, view, print, copy, move, delete, and

rename files in DOS using the text editor. Recognize common error messages in DOS.

Lesson 2 – Disk Operating System: DOS3

What Is DOS?

DOS stands for Disk Operating System. DOS is the underlying operating system of

Windows 3.11, 95, and 98. You may need DOS commands to

troubleshoot or repair these older Microsoft operating systems.

Lesson 2 – Disk Operating System: DOS4

Preparing for Installation

1. Install a new hard drive.

2. Low-level format the drive (usually done by the manufacturer).

3. Use FDISK to partition the new hard drive.

4. High-level format the drive using the FORMAT command.

Lesson 2 – Disk Operating System: DOS5

Installing the Operating System

Basic settings:– DATE/TIME– COUNTRY– KEYBOARD– INSTALL TO

Lesson 2 – Disk Operating System: DOS6

Basic Functionalities

Environment Command-line user interface Command prompt

Lesson 2 – Disk Operating System: DOS7

Basic Commands

DIR MD CD EDIT TYPE PRINT COPY

MOVE DISKCOPY DELETE RENAME RD

Lesson 2 – Disk Operating System: DOS8

Common DOS Error Messages

Abort, Retry, Fail? Access denied Bad command or file

name Bad or missing command

interpreter Drive not ready error Duplicate filename or file

not found

File cannot be copied onto itself

File creation error File not found General failure Insufficient disk space Internal stack overflow Invalid directory Invalid drive specification

Lesson 2 – Disk Operating System: DOS9

Common DOS Error Messages (continued)

Invalid filename or file not found

Invalid media, track 0 bad or unusable

Invalid number of parameters

Invalid parameter

Invalid switch Non-system disk or disk

error Not ready, reading drive

X Write fault error Write protect

Lesson 2 – Disk Operating System: DOS10

Summary

DOS controls the flow of information between you and the computer, allows you to store information on your computer, allows you to retrieve information stored on your computer, interprets and translates the software you have on your computer, gives you access to all its functions, and allows you to fix your system when Windows 3.1 or 9x cannot load properly.

Lesson 2 – Disk Operating System: DOS11

Summary (continued)

You prepare your hard drive to hold data by using two external utilities: FDISK and Format.

Install DOS correctly on your personal computer. Create and use directories for file management. Create, view, print, copy, move, delete, and

rename files in DOS. There are many commands in DOS that help you

do more things with the operating system. Recognize common error messages.