98SE MSDOS

I have read that if you don't understand DOS, you will never understand Windows. I have tried to disable the attributes that keep DOS & IO hidden when I start in MSDOS. I want to be able to tinker with the hidden files in an effort to understand how DOS works. The two books have enough info to help me get started once I have DOS out in the open. How do I get there? I am not worried about screwing things up. I have 98SE installed on a second drive with only the basics there. I am studying to be a tech and I crave knowledge.

Interesting Philosphy: I've been exposed to DOS since 2.11 days.

I think everyone will have some kind of of opinion.

While windows IS a GUI, most of its inner workings are 'text-based' the ini files, INFs and serval others that don't come to mind right away.

1] My standard question: what would you like to do or accomplish?

if the answer to 1 doesn't involve in-depth inner workings, then forget learning DOS to become comfortable with windows.

That's all I have for now; there are schools out there dying to take all of our money.

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Originally posted by O.B.Oglesby:
<STRONG>The two books have enough info to help me get started once I have DOS out in the open. How do I get there?</STRONG>

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Not sure I understand the question. If you mean get to a true command prompt, just boot off a 95/98 floppy. Or when the machine first starts to boot and you see the text "starting windows98", hit F8 then choose Command Prompt or Safe Mode Command Prompt from the menu.

If you are worryed about messing up the Windows setup, invest in a cheap 486 machine or early Pentium and put a copy of DOS 6.22 on it.

You can now play around with DOS until your hearts content.

Try here http://www.easydos.com/
a quite comprehensive site on all aspects of Microsoft DOS and its evolution across the diferent versions.
There are several different manufacturers of DOS i.e. FREEDOS which you could play with.

If you are trying to "unhide" the system files, at the DOS prompt the command is attrib *.* -h

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I have read that if you don't understand DOS, you will never understand Windows

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I will agree with the above post that learning DOS in depth is not really necessary anymore. However, there are certain fundamental DOS commands all techs should know (FDISK, FORMAT, EDIT, COPY, etc).

I agree with the suggestion to put a real copy of DOS on a 486. You should be able to find a DOS5 for next-to-nothing at a swap meet, likewise some references like Peter Norton Programmers Guide to the PC. (May be one of the un-named books you mention)

The "DOS" system files of Win95 and later are fiddled in comparison with original DOS, one is just a text file, so you won't learn much from it....

A book about DOS would definitely help you!

Thanks to all of you for your replies. I have owned a PC for just about a year, and I spent quite a bit of that time away from it because of my former job. At 57, perhaps starting a new career is a FOOLS ERAND, but I don't want to retire. I just want to find a low impact "sport" that I can work in. Wish me luck. I know that I will need it.

Digging back through the older posts on the WinDrivers forums would provide plenty of information too, not necessarily for DOS, but certainly for understanding Windows.

i can give you a very important tip
Goto to the Installed dos Directory
Dir
and than do /? on each of the things.

i can also send you a text file with all of the Dos commands.

Just Drop a PM
Gabriel

AH, a reason - I concur the above suggestions will work nicely. Version 5 was OK, 6 also, 6.2 got recalled because of a technology issue & 6.22 is the last released Version. I will probably take time to investigate these links later.

have fun.

I concur with all of the above posts, except I think that it's a good idea to play around in DOS a bit. It may not apply much to windows anymore, but it helps you understand more about your computer and what's going on. It's helped me as a tech a great deal.

just my 2 cents

Kudos O.B.!!!! There are people half your age that would be daunted with your excursion
into technology! Bravo! I agree (I don't often concur <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"> with all these posts and also believe DOS to be a stepping stone. Besides if your machine is shredded and your GUI oriented only,your up the creek. Most servers are text based animals so getting to know your computer without cute little pictures and what not is a good thing. I myself had a lot of luck and a few good chuckles starting out with the 'Dummies' books. They don't contain everything but they give you a chance to do the hands on thing without making your eyes glaze over.
And lastly take these guys advice and pick up a 486 someplace,get a copy of 6.22 and 'havatit'. Good luck.

there is a folder on the win98 CD called "olddos" or something similar. if you move the contents of this folder into its own directory, and then browse to it in DOS mode,. it works quite well and has a help file which will tell the commands and give brief explanations on how to use them.

there is a folder on the win98 CD called "olddos" or something similar. if you move the contents of this folder into its own directory, and then browse to it in DOS mode,. it works quite well and has a help file which will tell the commands and give brief explanations on how to use them.