Need info on dos?

[graymark]

I am fairly new to computers and would like to know as much as I can about the dos systems and how it all works. I know the basic stuff, but not really good and the commands like viewing certain things and opening up programs and deleting things from dos. If any one could help by emailing me a list of dos commands or giving me a web site to go to I would be very greatful.
graymark

[golfcart]

There is a ton of good info here (http://www.computerhope.com/msdos.htm) . http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Philip1952]

Thanks golfcart good site. Didn't know about that one.

[Steve R Jones]

http://www3.sympatico.ca/rhwatson/dos7/index.html

[graymark]

Thanks, but to make my life easier could someone tell me how I can create extra drives on my pc. I only have A:/, C:/ and D:/(my cd rom). can you help me out again.
If I can I would Like a backup drive.

[This message has been edited by graymark (edited 05-07-2001).]

[graymark]

I have tried md[e:]backup
but it tells me "unable to create directory"
what am I doing wrong?

[justy]

Do you just want a backup directory, or an actual backup drive?

If its just a backup directory you want, then type the command " md backup ". This can then be accessed by using " cd backup ".

If you want a backup drive say D: ( cd drive will now be E: ) you will have to repartition your hard drive. If you do this you will lose all data on the current partition. ( c: ).

Hope this helps a little. Have a look in the user to user forum, there is a good chance you could pick up a second hand hard drive very cheaply, that you could use as an actual backup drive. This gets rid of the problem of a physical drive failure losing all your data.

All the best, Justy.

EDIT: spelling as usual.

[This message has been edited by justy (edited 05-07-2001).]

[graymark]

Well what I want are some sub-directtories as well so I can even things out and not have everything on "C:" if you know what I mean. eg. g:games, e:backup, f:music, ect.
so if a nice person can help if would be great,

[rlpos]

you can acheive this through an fdisk. However you will probabaly lose all info and will probably have to reload

[CMonster]

What version of DOS are you using?

Want more info? Try this C:\>help <Enter>

[SoopaStar]

Basically, you have to understand how a harddrive is setup. To use a disk, you have to create a partition(s), then the partitioning software (Fdisk in dos) will create the drive letters.
How large is your harddrive?
Let's pretend you have a 30GB harddrive and you want a c:\ that is 15GB, a d:\ that is 8GB and an E:\ that is 7GB. You cannot assign random drive letters to harddrive partitions. They are assigned automatically (you can change the drive letters on Zip drives and CDroms, however).
Now that we know what sizes we want, you can boot to a win98 boot disk. type
A:\> Fdisk
Say [y] to large drive support. If there is data on the drive (like if you currently use it), you will have to wipe it out. All that is on there WILL be lost if you do this. Use option 3 to delete. If the drive is setupas one large partition then you cna just delete the primary partition. If it has an extended partition, you will have to remove the drive letters, then the extended partitions. Then you can remove the primary.
When you have it all naked http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif , Use option 1 to create a primary partition.
When you create it, it will ask how large you want to make the drive. We decided that we wanted a 15GB C:, so tell it 150000 (is that right? I always get those number screwed up. It will have some number like 300842 or something in there, just change the 30 to 15).
It will do its business and create that for you. Then you can create extended partitions in the size of 8 and 7 (or whatver is left). Once the partitions are created, then you have to reboot again to the floppy. Now we have to format the partitions. at the a: prompt type this:
a:\> format c: /s
Tell [yes] you are sure you want to do it. Give it a label when its done. Then you can format the d: and e: using the plain 'ol format d: and format e: (note, there is no /s which copies the system files to make it bootable. You will now need to install Windows 98 and setup all your hardware, etc.
If you need a windows 98 bootdisk, go here: http://www.myshed.net/disk9x.html

Hope this helps. If you do not want to run FDISK and loose everything, try getting a copy of Partition Magic. Its a windows application that will let you resize, create, and delete your partitions. Its pretty easy to use.

Paul C.

[graymark]

Thanks Soopastar but is their an easier way to do this because I don't really want to loose any info or pics I have saved. Can I get Partition Magic over the net. If I can could I get the address Please.
Thanks Gray

[Foggy]

www.powerquest.com (http://www.powerquest.com)

[graymark]

Thanks foogy, I hope this works

[mousepotato]

...what I'd do is go out and buy another drive...sounds like you only have one (not that that's bad)...if you can get a larger/faster drive you could chose to mirror your present drive to it...
...what I did is to have 3 HD's (a 20 and a 10 gig ATA66 WD drive)...I use the 10 gig as a full working system backup...I can format it and copy to it anytime (using WD's lifeguard tools) from my ATA100 WD 30 gig drive.
the 20 gig is almost full of non system files, set-up programs, music & ****.
my first goal was to preserve the operating system as is...the 10 gig runs just fine...dosen't benchmark as fast as the 30 does with the exact same settings...
to me that's the way to go for backup...mine is in a removeable bay and set for auto detect, I can physicaly remove a full copy of my os at anytime and do almost anything I want and even if I fry a board I can replace it and re-install whatever I want when ever. ( I'll also someday get another drive to have rotating copies )
...hummm...guess my point is ( to me at least) there's nothing better that a hard copy of anything that's important to you although any backup is better than none.
the ONLY time I ever lost any of my OS or files was due to a drive failure and even then I had a dual drive system and saved the better part of the system.

...that said, anyone with some cool DOS tools so I can learn something ????