webpointmorpheus Computer Info
Operating Systems & the Command Line

     Overview      OS Foundation      DOS Commands      Windows Requirements      Device Manager

©2005 - material compiled by Bob Carnaghi, www.webpointmorpheus.com

Overview     Top of Page

In the general run of computers, the Operating System must provide at least four functions:

1. Communicate with the hardware
2. Provide a user interface for interacting with the computer
3. Provide an organized structure for access to applications and programs
4. Enable users to manipulate programs and the data that is processed by these programs into meaningful information

Operating System Foundation     Top of Page

Operating systems break out into two basic types: Command Line or GUI (Graphical User Iterface.) The earliest operating systems used a series of files to interact with the hardware and load the drivers that made the computer function. To this day, the list of files, or interactions, haven't changed much. The basic original files used by DOS (Disk Operating System) are listed below:

1. IO.SYS - an intermediary to common hardware, such as the keyboard.
2. MSDOS.SYS - The core DOS program.
3. COMMAND.COM - the file that provides the DOS user interface.
4. CONFIG.SYS - a (sometimes hand-customized) file for setting up memory managers, configuring DOS programs and options, loading device drivers, and installing memory resident programs.
5. SYS.COM - Command/program that defines or outlines how the OS works.
6. AUTOEXEC.BAT - a collection of commands placed into a single file that ran as a 'batch' file upon startup of the computer.
7. Other custom .BAT (Batch) files.

Note

In essence, the IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, and COMMAND.COM are all that the MSDOS OS needs to operate. Further, these files take on totally different roles in later versions of Windows. IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS now often sit as empty files in the %SystemRoot% directory, waiting for customization.

Dos Commands     Top of Page

Some Common DOS Commands
Command	Description
ATTRIB	Displays or changes file attributes
BREAK	Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking
CACLS	Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files
CALL	Calls one batch program from another
CHCP	Displays or sets the active code page number
CD - CHDIR	Displays the name of or changes the current directory
CHKDSK	Checks a disk and displays a status report
CHKNTFS	Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time
CLS	Clears the screen
CMD	Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter
COLOR	Sets the default console foreground and background colors
COMP	Compares the contents of two files or sets of files
COMPACT	Displays or alters the compression of files on NTFS partitions
CVT - CONVERT	Converts FAT volumes to NTFS. You cannot convert the current drive
COPY	Copies one or more files to another location
DATE	Displays or sets the date
DEL	Deletes one or more files
DELTREE	Remove a directory and its subdirectories
DIR	Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory
DISKCOMP	Compares the contents of two floppy disks
DISKCOPY	Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another
DOSKEY	Edits command lines, recalls Windows commands, and creates macros
ECHO	Displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off
EDIT
ENDLOCAL	Ends localization of environment changes in a batch file
ERASE	Deletes one or more files
EXIT	Quits the CMD.EXE program (command interpreter)
FC	Compares two files or sets of files, and displays the differences between them
FDISK	Format a disk with a File Allocation Table
FIND	Searches for a text string in a file or files
FINDSTR	Searches for strings in files
FOR	Runs a specified command for each file in a set of files
FORMAT	Formats a disk for use with Windows
FTYPE	Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations
GOTO	Directs the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a batch program
GRAFTABL	Enables Windows to display an extended character set in graphics mode
HELP	Provides Help information for Windows commands. Type the command followed by '/?' for command-specific help.
IF	Performs conditional processing in batch programs
IPCONFIG	Internet protocol configuration
MKDIR, MD	Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.
MODE	Configures a system device
MORE	Displays output one screen at a time.
MOVE	Moves one or more files from one directory to another directory
NSLOOKUP	Name service lookup for domain names
PATH	Displays or sets a search path for executable files
PAUSE	Suspends processing of a batch file and displays a message
PING	Verify the location of a host on a network
POPD	Restores the previous value of the current directory saved by PUSHD
PRINT	Prints a text file
PROMPT	Changes the Windows command prompt
PUSHD	Saves the current directory then changes it
RD, RMDIR	Removes a directory
RECOVER	Recovers readable information from a bad or defective disk
REGEDIT	Registry editor with powerful search feature
REGEDT32	Registry editor
REM	Records comments (remarks) in batch files or CONFIG.SYS
REN, RENAME	Renames a file or files
REPLACE	Replaces files
SET	Displays, sets, or removes Windows environment variables
SETLOCAL	Begins localization of environment changes in a batch file
SHIFT	Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in batch files
SORT	Sorts input
START	Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command
SUBST	Associates a path with a drive letter
TIME	Displays or sets the system time
TRACERT	Trace the route to another host
TITLE	Sets the window title for a CMD.EXE session
TREE	Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path
TYPE	Displays the contents of a text file
VER	Displays the Windows version
VERIFY	Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk
VOL	Displays a disk volume label and serial number
WINIPCONFIG	Windows internet protocol configuration
XCOPY	Copies files and directory trees
Windows XP
Here are a few commands that may only show up in Windows XP
bootcfg	View boot loader settings, boot entries such as which OS is loaded on boot, OS Load Options etc.
defrag	Type 'defrag' into the command prompt for a list of possible arguments, such as the drive letter and other options.
diskpart	Utility to manage disk partitions. Type 'diskpart' into the command prompt to enter the 'diskpart' utility. By typing a question mark a list of possible arguments will be returned. Type exit to leave diskpart.
driverquery	Will return a list of drivers and their properties.
fsutil	Command for managing multiple entities from hardlinks to querying the free space in a volume. Type 'fsutil' into the command prompt for options.
getmac	Will return the MAC (Media Access Control) address.
gpresult	Will return the RSOP, computer group policy and settings as well as user settings.
netsh	A network configuration tool. Type 'netsh' to enter the utility. Type 'netsh /?' for help.
openfiles	Allows the administrator to display or disconnect open files in Windows XP professional. Type 'openfiles /?' for help.
recover	Will recover readable information from a damaged disk. Type 'recover' for syntax options.
reg	Console registry tool. Get syntax help by typing 'reg' into the command prompt. Export the registry, copy, restore, compare, etc.
schtasks	Schedule, run, change, or delete tasks on a local or remote machine. Type 'schtasks /?' for help.
sfc	System file checker scans protected system files and replaces modified or replaced files with the real original Microsoft versions. Type 'sfc' into the command prompt for options.
shutdown	Shut down or restart the local or a remote computer. Type 'shutdown' for a list of possible arguments.
systeminfo	System configuration information, such as uptime, processor type, BIOS version, total and available physical memory, virtual memory settings, etc.
tasklist	Type 'tasklist' into the command prompt for a list of the current processes.
taskkill	Will shut tasks down. Type 'taskkill /?' for help.

Windows OS Hardware Requirements     Top of Page

Listed below are the recommended hardware requirements for installing various Windows Operating Systems. Note the slim requirements by Microsoft, and the expanded requirements for comfortable, smooth operation.

Windows Minimum Requirements
Operating System	Component	Microsoft Recommended	Expanded Recommendation
Windows 9x/Me	CPU	Pentium Class	Pentium II or greater
	Memory	8-32 MB	128-256 MB
	Hard Drive	455-635 MB	4 GB or greater
	Display	VGA Standard	SVGA or greater capable of 16-bit color
	Other	Mouse, CD-ROM, sound card	Mouse, CD-ROM, sound and networkcard
Windows NT 4.0	CPU	Intel 80486 25 MHz	Pentium Class or greater
	Memory	12 MB	128 MB
	Hard Drive	128 MB	2 GB or greater w/1 GB for system use
	Network	None	Modern PCI Expansion Slot Network Card or equivalent
	Display	VGA Standard	SVGA or greater capable of 16-bit color
	CD-ROM		12x or greater
	Floppy		High Density
Windows 2000 Professional	CPU	Intel Pentium 133 MHz	Intel Pentium II 350 MHz or greater
	Memory	64 MB	256 MB
	Hard Drive	2 GB w/650 MB for system use	10 - 20 GB
	Network	None	Modern PCI Expansion Slot Network Card or equivalent
	Display	VGA Standard	SVGA or greater capable of 16-bit color
	CD-ROM		12x or greater
	Floppy		High Density
Windows XP	CPU	Intel / AMD 233 MHz or greater	Intel / AMD 300 MHz or greater
	Memory	64 MB	512 MB
	Hard Drive	1.5 GB	10 - 20 GB
	Display	Video card w/DirectX 8 800 x 600 resolution	Video card w/DirectX 8 800 x 600 resolution
	CD-ROM	Any CD-ROM or DVD DRive	Any CD-ROM or DVD DRive
	Keyboard/ Mouse	Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse (or compatible)	Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse (or compatible)

 

Windows Device Manager     Top of Page

Windows provides a facility called Device Manager to assist in hardware management. There are (at least) three ways to get to the Device Manager:

1. From within the control panel, choose Device Manager.
2. Right click on 'My Computer' - the desktop icon or any other listing - and select 'Manage', then Device Manager.
3. Right click on 'My Computer' - the desktop icon or any other listing - and select 'Properties', then the Hardware tab, then Device Manager.

If or when there is an error code available for a specific device, details for that code can be accessed from the explanation of error codes generated by Device Manager webpage provided by Microsoft.