A Complete List of MS-DOS Commands Cheat Sheet

MS-DOS or Microsoft Disk Operating System was a 16-bit command user interface operating system used between 1981 and 2000. Following are its features:

1. It runs from a disk drive rather than a paper-based medium like a punch card.
2. It was a common foundation for all Windows 9x operating systems such as Windows 95, 98, and 98SE.
3. The NT kernel completely replaced it in Windows 2000 on the desktop.
4. It doesn’t support multimedia.

Is the Command Prompt in our Machine the Same as MS-DOS?

Command prompt is a command-line interpreter available in all Windows operating systems. It is not the same as MS-DOS but an emulator which can run almost all the commands of MS-DOS. Use the following command to get started with the Command Prompt (CMD):

1. Press the Windows button to open the start menu.
2. Enter CMD.
3. Search results will show the command prompt.

How Many Types of DOS Commands Exist?

There are two broad categories of DOS commands as follows:

1. Internal Commands : They perform basic operations on files and directories and do not need any external file support.

E.g., CLS, CLEAR

2. External Commands : They are for performing advanced tasks and need external file support as they are not stored in COMMAND.COM .

E.g., DISKCOMP, DIR

List of all MS-DOS Commands

Here is a list of all basic MS-DOS commands, along with their syntax and examples.

1. append

This command triggers events for MS-DOS to look over other directories during file editing. It gives the user a way to set the search path for the files.

Type: External

Syntax

APPEND Drive: \Path /X /E Path:on or off

Example

append c:\cards;c:\letters

2.arp

This command displays/adds/modifies/removes the address resolution protocol information from all the devices.

Type: External

Syntax: The following syntax is available as taken from PowerShell

Example

3. assign

This command assigns or routes a drive request to a different drive. An assign command with no switches cancels redirected drive assignments and returns them to their original drives.

Type: External

Syntax

ASSIGN Source = Target /status

Example

assign c: = b:

4. assoc

This command displays the association of a file related to each different extension available in the machine. Without any parameter, this command displays the current file association.

Type: Internal

Syntax

ASSOC [.ext[=[fileType]]]

Example

assoc .exe

5. at

This command allows the user to schedule a fixed time and date to execute a set of programs.

Type: External

Syntax

AT [\\computername] [ [id] [/DELETE] | /DELETE [/YES]]

at 7:00AM "c:\morning.bat"

Deprecated

This command is now deprecated and now replaced with `schtasks.exe`. If it is run without any parameter, it will show all the scheduled tasks for the future time.

Example

6. attrib

This command allows the user to change the attributes of files. With the help of this command, the user can easily hide/display or do any other change in a file.

Type: External

Syntax

ATTRIB [+R | -R] [+A | -A] [+S | -S] [+H | -H] [+O | -O] [+I | -I] [+X | -X] [+P | -P] [+U | -U] [drive:][path][file name] [/S [/D]] [/L]

Here when we first typed the attrib command, it displayed the A attribute of file.txt. A means archive.
Afterward, we set the read-only attribute to the file and hit the attrib command again. Now it displays A and R

7. break

This command enables/disables the keyboard shortcuts for copying and pasting in the command prompt. In other words, Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V.

Type: Internal

Syntax

BREAK [ON | OFF]

Example

It enables the ctrl + C function.

8. bcdedit

Boot Configuration Datastore Editor. This command modifies the boot configuration data store. It also contains information that is required by the system to boot up.

Type: External

Syntax

bcdedit

Example

The content is directly taken from Powershell.

Following are the commands that operate on a store.

9. bootcfg

This command is part of the recovery console and cannot be run directly. It helps users to do editing in the boot.ini file.

Type: Recovery

Syntax

BOOTCFG /parameter [arguments]

BOOTCFG /Copy /D "Edit" /ID 8

This command is used to run a script from within another script. This command cannot be used outside any script or in DOS.

Type: Internal

Syntax

CALL [drive:][path]file name [batch-parameters]

call techgeekbuzz.bat

11. cd

This command is the most used command of DOS. Its full form is C hange D irectory. It is used to browse inside any directory. This is shorthand for chdir command.

Type : Internal

Syntax

CD [/D] [drive:][path]

Example

Before understanding what this command does, we must understand what is an active code page. An active code page is a page which contains character codes and their corresponding characters.
For example, Active code page 437, mostly used in India, contains character code 161 as “b”.
The chcp command helps the user by giving her the option to configure the active code page number. It can be further used to implement the international keyboard allowing DOS to be used in different languages.

Type: External

Syntax

CHCP [nnn]

Example

13. chdir

This command is the same as the cd command. It is used to change the directory.

Type: Internal

Syntax

CHDIR[..]

Example

chdir windows - It will move to the windows directory (Given that the windows directory should be available in the current directory)

Most of the commands are the same as we use with cd. But as we can see, the last command chdir.. is not running

14. chkdsk

This command is an abbreviation of check disk. It is used to identify and resolve errors on the hard disk. It opens a utility that checks the hard disk for any errors.

Type: External

Syntax

CHKDSK [volume[[path]file name]]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/I] [/C] [/L[:size]] [/B] [/scan] [/spotfix]

15. choice

This command is used by a user inside a batch file only. This provides a list of choices available to the user and also returns the index of the selected choice.

Type: External

Syntax

CHOICE [/C choices] [/N] [/CS] [/T timeout /D choice] [/M text]

Parameter List:

Example

16. clip

This command is used to copy the content to the clipboard. The copied item can further be pasted into other files.

Type: External

Syntax

CLIP < FILE.TXT

Example

It copies the current directory listing to the Windows clipboard.

17. cls

This command clears the screen.

Type: Internal

Syntax

cls
clear

Example

18. comp

This command is used to compare two files present in a given directory.

Type: External

Syntax

COMP [data1] [data2] [/D] [/A] [/L] [/N=number] [/C] [/OFF[LINE]] [/M]

19. compact

This command is used to compress files for utility purposes. It is also used to uncompress so that users can use it.

Type: External

Syntax

COMPACT [/C | /U] [/S[:dir]] [/A] [/I] [/F] [/Q] [/EXE[:algorithm]][/CompactOs[:option] [/WinDir:dir]] [filename [...]]

20. convert

This command is used to change the FAT volume to NTFS volume.

Type: External

Syntax

CONVERT volume /FS:NTFS [/V] [/CvtArea:filename] [/NoSecurity] [/X]

Example

convert d: /fs:ntfs

21. date

This command is used to display or allow the user to change the current date.

Type: Internal

Syntax

date

Example

22. defrag

This command is used for defragmenting of drives.

Type: Internal

Syntax

Defrag <Volumes> <Operations> [<Options>]

Volumes:

Operations:

Options:

Example

23.  del / delete

This command is used to delete one or more files from the current directory.

del command is the same as erase command.
Type: Internal

Syntax

del filename

Example

In this example above, we have first looked into the available files in the current working directory.
After that, we run the del command to delete one file.

The following command shows that the file is deleted.

24.dir

This command displays the content(which includes files and folders) of the directory we are currently in. It also displays the file's attributes like last updated, mode and size.

Type: Internal

Syntax

dir

25. diskcomp

This command is hardly used now. This command is to compare the content of two floppy disks. But as floppies are hardly used now, we will not go into the details of these commands.

Type: External.

Syntax

DISKCOMP [drive1: [drive2:]]

26. diskcopy

Similarly, this command is used to copy the content of one floppy to another.

Type: External.

Syntax

DISKCOPY [drive1: [drive2:]] 

27. doskey

This command is used to edit command lines or use the commands the user has previously executed.

Type: External

Syntax

DOSKEY [/REINSTALL] [/LISTSIZE=size] [/MACROS[:ALL | :exename]][/HISTORY] [/INSERT | /OVERSTRIKE] [/EXENAME=exename] [/MACROFILE=filename][macroname=[text]]

Example

doskey /history

It will show the history of commands that have been run in the MSDOS.

28. driverquery

This command displays the list of drivers installed in the system.

Type: External

Syntax

DRIVERQUERY [/S system [/U username [/P [password]]]][/FO format] [/NH] [/SI] [/V]

Example

echo

This command displays any, especially from a batch file.

Type: Internal

Syntax

echo “content”

Example

Here, we have first displayed a message.
In the next command, we have inserted a text into the intro.txt file.

30. edit

This command is used to edit and view files.

Type: External

Syntax

EDIT [/B] [/H] [/R] [/S] [/<nnn>] [/?] [FileName...]

Example

edit C:\techgeekbuzz\intro.txt

31. exit

This command is used to close the command interpreter. There is no particular syntax for the same. Use the command exit to close the command prompt.

32. expand

This command is used to compress the windows files and extract the files available in the CAB files.

Type: External

Syntax

EXPAND [-R] Source Destination

Example

expand d:\udd\file.dl_ c:\windows\system32\check.dll

33. fasthelp

This command explains the details of any other dos command.

Type: External

Syntax

FASTHELP [command]

Example

fasthelp cd

34. fc

This command accepts two files and displays the difference in them. This can be used to compare two files with the help of DOS thoroughly.

Type: External

Syntax

FC [/A] [/C] [/L] [/LBn] [/N] [/OFF[LINE]] [/T] [/U] [/W] [/nnnn] [drive1:][path1]filename1 [drive2:][path2]filename2

Example

fc techgeekbuzzscript.bat techgeekbuzzbatch.bat

35. find

This command is used to search a text inside a given file. The set of files can be more than one.

Type: External

Syntax

FIND [/V] [/C] [/N] [/I] [/OFF[LINE]] "string" [[drive:][path]filename[ ...]]

Example

find /N "this" c:\techgeekbuzz\intro.txt

This command will display the line number of the selected text.

36. findstr

This command locates a file that contains the provided text. This is different from find as that searches for a text inside a file, and this searches for the file of that text.

Type: External

Syntax

FINDSTR [/B] [/E] [/L] [/R] [/S] [/I] [/X] [/V] [/N] [/M] [/O] [/P] [/F:file][/C:string] [/G:file] [/D:dir list] [/A:color attributes] [/OFF[LINE]] strings [[drive:][path]filename[ ...]]

Example

findstr "this" *.txt

This command will print all the lines that contain the text “this” in all available text files.

37. for

This command is a variable that is used inside batch files to run specific commands.

Type: Internal

Syntax

FOR %variable IN (set) DO command [command-parameters]

Example

for /F %%A in ("intro.txt") do If %%~zA equ 10 del intro.txt

The above command will execute over intro.txt. If the file is found in the current directory and the size is 10, it will be deleted.

38. format

This command is used to format a disk with windows

Type: External

Syntax

FORMAT volume [/FS:file-system] [/V:label] [/Q] [/L[:state]] [/A:size] [/C] [/I:state] [/X] [/P:passes] [/S:state]

Example

39. ftp

FTP is a file transfer protocol. This command is used to transfer files to and from a computer running an FTP server service.

Type: External

Syntax

FTP [-v] [-d] [-i] [-n] [-g] [-s:filename] [-a] [-A] [-x:sendbuffer] [-r:recvbuffer] [-b:asyncbuffers] [-w:windowsize] [host]

Example

This command will enable the debugging for all the next commands.

40. goto

This command moves a file to a specified location.

Type: Internal

Syntax

GOTO label

label   Specifies a text string used in the batch program as a label.

Example

GOTO start

41. help

This command displays detailed information of any other command. If you type help in PowerShell, it will display help about PowerShell cmdlets and concepts. A more precise way to use this is with the shortcut “/?”

Type: External

Syntax

[Any command] /?

Example

42. if

This command is a conditional expression inside a batch file.

Type: Internal

Syntax

IF [NOT] ERRORLEVEL number command

NOT Specifies that Windows 2000 or XP should carry out the command only if the condition is false.

ERRORLEVEL number Specifies a true condition if the last program run returned an exit code equal to or greater than the number specified.

Example

IF EXIST intro.txt. (
    del intro.txt.
   ) 
ELSE(
     echo intro.txt. missing.
)

43. ipconfig

This command displays the network setting that includes the IP address associated with all ethernet adapters in the machine.

Type: External

Syntax

ipconfig [/allcompartments] [/? | /all |
                             /renew [adapter] | /release [adapter] |
                             /renew6 [adapter] | /release6 [adapter] |
                             /flushdns | /displaydns | /registerdns |
                             /showclassid adapter |
                             /setclassid adapter [classid] |
                             /showclassid6 adapter |
                             /setclassid6 adapter [classid] ]

where,

adapter             Connection name (wildcard characters * and ? allowed, see examples)

Options :

Example

44. label

This command is used to manage the label of existing drives in the machine. It can create, change or delete the label of a disk.

Type: External

Syntax

LABEL [drive:][label]
LABEL [/MP] [volume] [label]

Example

45. logoff

This command is used to terminate the current session.

Type: External

Syntax

LOGOFF [sessionname | sessionid] [/SERVER:servername] [/V] [/VM]

Example

logoff

46. logon

This command is a recovery console command to enable administrator login.

Type: External

47. map

This is a recovery console command to display the device name of a drive.

Type : Internal

Syntax

map [arc]

arc is an option to provide information to map command about the device names.

48. md/ mkdir

This command is used to create a directory.

Type: Internal

Syntax

md [folder name]

We see that a new folder name dosCheatSheet is created.

49. mode

This command is used to configure system devices or display the settings of the machine.

Type: External

Syntax

Serial port:       MODE COMm[:] [BAUD=b] [PARITY=p] [DATA=d] [STOP=s]
                                [to=on|off] [xon=on|off] [odsr=on|off]
                                [octs=on|off] [dtr=on|off|hs]
                                [rts=on|off|hs|tg] [idsr=on|off]

Example

Typing just mode will print all the ports

50. more

This command is used to display the content of a file, one page at a time.

Type: External

Syntax

more [filename]

51. move

This command is used to move a file from one directory to another.

Type: External

Syntax

MOVE [/Y | /-Y] [drive:][path]filename1[,...] destination

To rename a directory:

MOVE [/Y | /-Y] [drive:][path]dirname1 dirname2

Example

As seen in the image above, we have moved the dos.txt from dosCheatSheet folder to techgeekbuzz

52. nbtstat

NBT stands for NETBIOS over TCP. This command is used to display protocol statistics and TCP connections.

Type: External

Syntax

NBTSTAT [ [-a RemoteName] [-A IP address] [-c] [-n][-r] [-R] [-RR] [-s] [-S] [interval] ]

Example

53. net

This command is used to update and fix the network settings.

Type: External

Syntax

NET [ ACCOUNTS | COMPUTER | CONFIG | CONTINUE | FILE | GROUP | HELP |
      HELPMSG | LOCALGROUP | PAUSE | SESSION | SHARE | START |
      STATISTICS | STOP | TIME | USE | USER | VIEW ]

Example

net send tgb "Hi"

This command will send “Hi” message to remote host named tgb.

54. netsh

This command is used to set dynamic and static network information.

Type: External

Syntax

Usage: C:\Windows\system32\netsh.exe [-a AliasFile] [-c Context] [-r RemoteMachine] [-u [DomainName\]UserName] [-p Password | *]                                                                                                                             [Command | -f ScriptFile]        

Example

This command helps user to see network configuration.

55. netstat

This command helps the user to see the TCP/IP network protocol information.

Type: External

Syntax

NETSTAT [-a] [-b] [-e] [-f] [-i] [-n] [-o] [-p proto] [-r] [-s] [-t] [-x] [-y] [interval]

Example

56. nslookup

This command is used to lookup an IP address on a network.

Type: External

Syntax

Usage:
   nslookup [-opt ...]
   nslookup [-opt ...] - server
   nslookup [-opt ...] host
   nslookup [-opt ...] host server

Example

57. path

This command is used to display or set the search path for any executable file.

Type: Internal

Syntax

PATH [[drive:]path[;...][;%PATH%]
PATH ;

path=c:\windows\command

58. pause

This command is used to suspend the processing of a batch command and display any message.

Type: Internal

59. ping

This command is used to test and send information packets to another network.

Type: External

Syntax

Ping [hostaddress]

60. popd

This command is used to change to a directory stored by the PUSHD command.

Type: Internal

Syntax

popd [OPTIONS] [DIRECTORY]

61. prompt

This command is used to change the DOS prompt.

Type: Internal

Syntax

PROMPT [text]

prompt $t $d$_$p$g

62. rd

This command is used to remove an empty directory.

Type: External

Syntax

RD [directory]

63. ren/rename

This command is used to rename a directory or a file.

Type: External

Syntax

RENAME [drive:][path][directory name1 | file name1] [directory name2 | file name2]
REN [drive:][path][directory name1 | file name1] [directory name2 | file name2]

Example

64. rmdir

This command is used to remove an empty directory.

Type: External

Syntax

rmdir [directory]

65. route

This command is used to manipulate network routing tables.

Type: External

Syntax

ROUTE [-f] [-p] [-4|-6] command [destination][MASK netmask]  [gateway] [METRIC metric]  [IF interface]

Example

66. runas

This command enables a user to run a file as a different user.

Type: External

Syntax

RUNAS [ [/noprofile | /profile] [/env] [/savecred | /netonly] ] /user:<UserName> program

RUNAS [ [/noprofile | /profile] [/env] [/savecred] ]  /smartcard [/user:<UserName>] program

RUNAS /trustlevel:<TrustLevel> program

Example

67. sc

This command is used to communicate with the service manager.

Type: External

Syntax

sc <server> [command] [service name] <option1> <option2>...

Example

sc delete abc.exe

68. scandisk

This command is used to scan the hard drives.

Type: External

Syntax

scandisk [ drive: | volume_name | /all] [/checkonly | /autofix [/nosave] | /custom] [/fragment] [/surface] [/mono] [/nosave] [/nosummary]

.

69. set

This command is used to display, set, or remove cmd.exe environment variable.

Type: Internal

Syntax

SET [variable=[string]]

variable  Specifies the environment-variable name.

string    Specifies a series of characters to assign to the variable.

Example

70. setlocal

This command is used to begin localization of environment changes in a batch file.

Type: Internal

Syntax

SETLOCAL

If Command Extensions are enabled SETLOCAL changes as follows:

SETLOCAL batch command now accepts optional arguments:

ENABLEEXTENSIONS / DISABLEEXTENSIONS : enable or disable command processor extensions. These arguments takes precedence over the CMD /E:ON or /E:OFF switches. See CMD /? for details.

ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION / DISABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION : enable or disable delayed environment variable expansion. These arguments takes precedence over the CMD /V:ON or /V:OFF switches. See CMD /? for details.

71. shift

This command is used to change the position of replaceable parameters in a batch file.

Type: External

Syntax

SHIFT [/n]

72. shutdown

This command is used to shut down the machine.

shutdown

72. start

This command is used to start a separate window to run a specified program.

Type: External

Syntax

START ["title"] [/D path] [/I] [/MIN] [/MAX] [/SEPARATE | /SHARED] [/LOW | /NORMAL | /HIGH | /REALTIME | /ABOVENORMAL | /BELOWNORMAL] [/NODE <NUMA node>] [/AFFINITY <hex affinity mask>] [/WAIT] [/B] [command/program] [parameters]

Example

74. subst

This command is used to associate a path to a drive letter.

Type: External

Syntax

SUBST [drive1: [drive2:]path]

SUBST drive1: /D

drive1:        Specifies a virtual drive to which you want to assign a path.

75. time

This command displays the time.

Example

76. title

This command is used to change the title of the DOS window.

Example

77. type

This command is used to display the contents of a text file or files.

Type: External

Syntax

TYPE [drive:][path]filename

78. ver

This command tells the version of the current operating system.

Example

79. verify

This command is used to verify whether the files are written correctly on a disk or not.

Type: Internal

Syntax

VERIFY [ON | OFF]

80. vol

This command is used to display the disk volume label and its serial number.

Type: Internal

Syntax

vol

Example

81. xcopy

This command copies the file and directory.

Type: External

Syntax

XCOPY source [destination] [/A | /M] [/D[:date]] [/P] [/S [/E]] [/V] [/W]
                           [/C] [/I] [/Q] [/F] [/L] [/G] [/H] [/R] [/T] [/U]
                           [/K] [/N] [/O] [/X] [/Y] [/-Y] [/Z] [/B] [/J]
                           [/EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...] [/COMPRESS]

Example

This command copies all the content of the current folder to the temp folder.

Conclusion

Most of the DOS commands mentioned above have a screenshot of their execution to help you out more effectively. Although we have tried to mention the syntax of each command, there exist some commands which don’t have any specific syntax. For example, time. Users can just write that command in the command prompt to execute it.

There are possibilities that the commands mentioned above will get updated with a new OS release.  If you find any update or have any command in mind, which is essential and not mentioned in the article, then feel free to mention that in the comment below. Also, please comment below if you have any questions and find this article vague/helpful/excellent!

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