ARCHIVED: What are some examples of common DOS commands?

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The following is a list of useful DOS commands, with explanations. They are useful on older DOS systems and in the command-line interface on modern Windows systems. To access the command-line interface:

Windows 7 or Vista: Click Start, type cmd, and then press Enter.
Certain commands may require administrative access on Windows 7 or Vista. To launch the command line interface in administrative mode, click Start, type cmd, and then right-click the cmd or cmd.exe search result and choose Run as Administrator.
Windows XP: Click Start, then Run. Type cmd, and then press Enter.

Note: Where example files (e.g., file.ext, file1, file2), file extensions (.ext), directories (e.g., diry, diry1, diry2), commands (e.g., command), and drive letters (e.g., a:, b:, c:) are given, substitute the name of your own file, directory, command, or drive letter. Since DOS is not case-sensitive, you can type these commands in either upper- or lowercase.

`help`	List commands (only in DOS versions 5 or later).
`help command`	See help for the DOS `command`.
`command /?`	List switches for the DOS `command`.
`path=c:\windows` ; `c:\dos`	Specify in which directories DOS searches for commands or programs.
`prompt $p$g`	Make the DOS prompt display the current directory.
`dir`	List files in the current directory in one column.
`dir /w`	List files in five columns.
`dir /p`	List files one page at a time.
`dir *.ext`	List all files with an `.ext` extension.
`dir z???.ext`	List files with `.ext` extensions that have four letters and start with `z` (where `z` is a character of your choice).
`dir file.ext /s`	Search for the `file.ext` in the current directory and all subdirectories under the current directory; most useful if the current directory is the root (i.e., `C:\`).
`type file.ext`	View the contents of the text file `file.ext`.
`edit file.ext`	Use the DOS editor to edit the file `file.ext`.
`a:`	Change to the `a:` drive.
`md c:\diry`	Make a new subdirectory named `diry` in the `c:\` directory.
`cd c:\diry`	Change to subdirectory `diry`.
`rd c:\diry`	Remove the existing subdirectory named `diry`.
`del file.ext`	Delete a file named `file.ext`.
`ren file1 file2`	Rename file `file1` to `file2`.
`copy file1 file2`	Copy file `file1` to `file2`.
`verify on`	Turn on verification of copy commands.
`verify off`	Turn off verification of copy commands.
`xcopy diry1 diry2 /s`	Copy all files and subdirectories in directory `diry1` to `diry2`.
`xcopy diry1 diry2 /p`	Ask for confirmation of each file before copying it from `diry1` to `diry2`.
`diskcopy a: b:`	Duplicate a disk using two floppy drives.
`diskcopy a: a:`	Duplicate a disk using the same floppy drive.
`format a:`	Format a disk in drive `a:` .
`format a: /s`	Format a bootable disk (include system files).
`backup c:\diry\*.ext a:`	Back up all files with the extension `.ext` in `c:\diry\` to drive `a:` .
`backup c:\ a: /s`	Back up the entire `c:` drive to drive `a:`.
`restore a:\ c:\diry\*.ext`	Restore backed-up files with the extension `.ext` in drive `a:` to the `c:\diry\` directory.
`restore a: c:\ /s`	Restore backed-up files and subdirectories from drive `a:` to `c:\`.
`ver`	Check the version of DOS.
`time`	Check or correct the system time.
`date`	Check or correct the system date.
`cls`	Clear the screen.
`scandisk`	Scan and check drive `c:` for errors. ScanDisk replaces `chkdsk` (see below) on DOS version 6.0 and above (including Windows 95).
`chkdsk`	Check disk and memory usage of the current disk.
`chkdsk /f`	Fix errors reported by `chkdsk`.
`chkdsk file.ext`	Check a particular file.
`chkdsk a:`	Check a particular drive (in this case, a floppy in the `a:` drive).
`mem`	Check memory usage.

This list was adapted from the August 1991 issue of PC World magazine, Instant Reference Card #15, p. 237.