DOS For Dummies E-Book

Dan Gookin

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Seitenzahl: 514

Beschreibung

DOS made easy! Windows may rule the world of popular computing on PCs around theglobe, but DOS still has a place in the hearts and minds ofcomputer users who vaguely remember what a C prompt looks like.Even if DOS (with all its arcane commands and its drab, boringlook) isn't your idea of the best way to get things done on a PC,you'll find plenty of fast and friendly help on hand with the thirdedition of DOS For Dummies. Here's a plain-speaking reference guide to all the command-linestuff and nonsense that makes DOS work, whether you're a native DOSuser or are an occasional dabbler who needs the operating system torun all those cool games under Windows. DOS For Dummies, 3rd Edition, avoids all the technicaljargon to cut to the heart of things with clear, easy-to-understandexplanations and step-by-step help for * Changing disks and drives * Dealing with the DOS prompt * Managing files * Running DOS inside Windows * Installing and running DOS-based software programs * Working with the printer and serial ports * Using the mouse and keyboard * Troubleshooting problems * Understanding DOS error messages All the basic DOS commands, from APPEND to XCOPY, aredemystified to make life in DOS much more bearable. This handyguide has plenty of helpful tips and tricks for bending DOS to yourwill, without having to dedicate your life (and all your free time)to mastering this little corner of the PC. Author Dan Gookin's first edition of DOS For Dummies became an international best-seller. He considers himself a computer "guru" whose job it is to remind everyone that computersare not to be taken too seriously. His approach to computers islight and humorous, yet very informative. Gookin mixes hisknowledge of computers with a unique, dry sense of humor that keepsyou informed - and awake.

Leseprobe

DOS For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

by Dan Gookin

author of DOS For Dummies®, Windows® 95 Edition; Word 2000 For Windows® For Dummies®; and the Illustrated Computer Dictionary For Dummies®

DOS For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 1999 Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, [phone], fax [phone], e-mail: permcoordinator@ wiley.com.

Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, A Reference for the Rest of Us!, The Dummies Way, Dummies Daily, The Fun and Easy way, Dummies.com and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of Wiley Publishing, Inc., in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 99-66373

ISBN: 0-7645-0361-8

Manufactured in the United States of America

15 14 13 12 11

About the Author

Dan Gookin got started with computers back in the post slide rule age of computing: 1982. His first intention was to buy a computer to replace his aged and constantly breaking typewriter. Working as slave labor in a restaurant, however, Gookin was unable to afford the full “word processor” setup and settled on a computer that had a monitor, keyboard, and little else. Soon, his writing career was under way with several submissions to fiction magazines and lots of rejections.

The big break came in 1984 when he began writing about computers. Applying his flair for fiction with a self-taught knowledge of computers, Gookin was able to demystify the subject and explain technology in a relaxed and understandable voice. He even dared to add humor, which eventually won him a column in a local computer magazine.

Eventually Gookin’s talents came to roost as a ghostwriter at a computer book publishing house. That was followed by an editing position at a San Diego computer magazine. During this time, he also regularly participated on a radio talk show about computers. In addition, Gookin kept writing books about computers, some of which became minor bestsellers.

In 1990, Gookin and IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., connected on an outrageous book idea: a long overdue and original idea for the computer book for the rest of us. What became DOS For Dummies blossomed into an international best-seller with hundreds and thousands of copies in print and many translations.

Today, Gookin still considers himself a writer and computer “guru” whose job it is to remind everyone that computers are not to be taken too seriously. His approach to computers is light and humorous yet very informative. He knows that the complex beasts are important and can help people become productive and successful. Gookin mixes his knowledge of computers with a unique, dry sense of humor that keeps everyone informed — and awake. His favorite quote is, “Computers are a notoriously dull subject, but that doesn’t mean I have to write about them that way.”

Gookin’s titles for IDG Books Worldwide include the best-selling DOS For Dummies, 1st and 2nd Editions and the Windows 95 Edition; Real Life Windows 95; Word For Windows 95 For Dummies; Microsoft MS-DOS 6.2 Upgrade For Dummies; MORE DOS For Dummies; WordPerfect For Dummies; WordPerfect 6 For Dummies; MORE WordPerfect For Dummies; PCs For Dummies, 1st and 2nd Editions; Word For Windows For Dummies; Word For Windows 6 For Dummies; and all three editions of the Illustrated Computer Dictionary For Dummies. All told, he has written more than 30 books about computers and contributes regularly to DOS Resource Guide, InfoWorld, and PC Computing magazine. Gookin holds a degree in communications from the University of California, San Diego, and lives with his wife and three sons in the as-yet-untamed state of Idaho.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

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Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development

Project Editor: Rebecca Whitney

Acquisitions Manager: Michael Kelly

Technical Editor: Terrie Lynn Solomon

Editorial Manager: Mary C. Corder

Editorial Assistant: Paul E. Kuzmic

Composition

Project Coordinator: E. Shawn Aylsworth

Layout and Graphics: Amy Adrian, Brian Drumm, Kelly Hardesty, Angela F. Hunckler, Kate Jenkins, Barry Offringa, Doug Rolleson, Brent Savage, Jacque Schneider, Janet Seib, Michael A. Sullivan, Mary Jo Weis, Erin Zeltner

Proofreaders: Laura Albert, John Greenough, Nancy L. Reinhardt, Marianne Santy

Indexer: Lori Lathrop

Special Help Dwight Ramsey, Reprint Editor Suzanne Thomas, Associate Editor/Freelance

Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies

Richard Swadley, Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher

Mary C. Corder, Editorial Director

Publishing for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher

Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director

Composition Services

Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Contents

Title

Introduction

About This Book

How to Use This Book

What You’re Not to Read

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I : The Absolute Basics

Chapter 1: Getting On with It

Turning the Computer On

Turning the Computer Off

Turning Off the PC in Windows 3.11

Turning Off the PC in Windows 95 and Windows 98

“I Want to Leave My PC on All the Time”

Snooze, Computer, Snooze!

Resetting

Chapter 2: The PC Hokey-Pokey (Or That’s What It’s All About)

Running a Program

Background Information Worth Skipping

DIR Command

Tech Tidbits to Skip

Looking at Files

Changing Disks

Changing Drives

Technical Background and Other Drivel

Changing Directories

Chapter 3: Life at the DOS Prompt

Names and Versions

The Prompt, or What Do You Want?

Prompt Error Messages

Typing at the Prompt

Beware of Spaces!

Beware of User Manuals and English Punctuation!

F3 Key

Canceling a DOS Command

Prompt Styles of the Rich and Famous

Additional, Worthless Information

Chapter 4: Easier DOS: The DOS Shell

Starting the DOS Shell

Do You Have a Mouse?

Quitting the DOS Shell

Changing the Display in the DOS Shell

Moving between Different Parts of the Shell

Working with Files

Finding a Lost File

Changing from One Drive to Another

Changing from One Directory to Another

Running Programs in the Shell