Cable Forum - Using the Command Prompt

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Using the Command Prompt

Well at college, we've been practising how to create directories on a floppy disk, using the command prompt in Windows XP, what i now want to do is learn how to create a sub directory in the Root directory using command prompt. What command would i use? ie, ive got the root as Wayne, and i want a sub directory as Test.

Re: Using the Command Prompt

isn't MD the make directory command? Don't use the command prompt system very often ;)
Some reading for you
http://www.ss64.com/nt/
and

Quote:

To see a list of commands, open the command window by
Start/Run "cmd" to see a list of supported coomands type
"help" (without the quotes, in each case)
Type a command with a space followed by a slash and question
mark to see a list of the switches such as ...
*************************
C:\Documents and Settings\>help
For more information on a specific command, type HELP
command-name
ASSOC Displays or modifies file extension associations.
AT Schedules commands and programs to run on a
computer.
ATTRIB Displays or changes file attributes.
BREAK Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking.
CACLS Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of
files.
CALL Calls one batch program from another.
CD Displays the name of or changes the current
directory.
CHCP Displays or sets the active code page number.
CHDIR Displays the name of or changes the current
directory.
CHKDSK Checks a disk and displays a status report.
CHKNTFS Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot
time.
CLS Clears the screen.
CMD Starts a new instance of the Windows command
interpreter.
COLOR Sets the default console foreground and background
colors.
COMP Compares the contents of two files or sets of
files.
COMPACT Displays or alters the compression of files on NTFS
partitions.
CONVERT Converts FAT volumes to NTFS. You cannot convert
the
current drive.
COPY Copies one or more files to another location.
DATE Displays or sets the date.
DEL Deletes one or more files.
DIR Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a
directory.
DISKCOMP Compares the contents of two floppy disks.
DISKCOPY Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another.
DOSKEY Edits command lines, recalls Windows commands, and
creates macros.
ECHO Displays messages, or turns command echoing on or
off.
ENDLOCAL Ends localization of environment changes in a batch
file.
ERASE Deletes one or more files.
EXIT Quits the CMD.EXE program (command interpreter).
FC Compares two files or sets of files, and displays
the differences
between them.
FIND Searches for a text string in a file or files.
FINDSTR Searches for strings in files.
FOR Runs a specified command for each file in a set of
files.
FORMAT Formats a disk for use with Windows.
FTYPE Displays or modifies file types used in file
extension associations.
GOTO Directs the Windows command interpreter to a
labeled line in a
batch program.
GRAFTABL Enables Windows to display an extended character
set in graphics
mode.
HELP Provides Help information for Windows commands.
IF Performs conditional processing in batch programs.
LABEL Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a
disk.
MD Creates a directory.
MKDIR Creates a directory.
MODE Configures a system device.
MORE Displays output one screen at a time.
MOVE Moves one or more files from one directory to
another directory.
PATH Displays or sets a search path for executable
files.
PAUSE Suspends processing of a batch file and displays a
message.
POPD Restores the previous value of the current
directory saved by PUSHD.
PRINT Prints a text file.
PROMPT Changes the Windows command prompt.
PUSHD Saves the current directory then changes it.
RD Removes a directory.
RECOVER Recovers readable information from a bad or
defective disk.
REM Records comments (remarks) in batch files or
CONFIG.SYS.
REN Renames a file or files.
RENAME Renames a file or files.
REPLACE Replaces files.
RMDIR Removes a directory.
SET Displays, sets, or removes Windows environment
variables.
SETLOCAL Begins localization of environment changes in a
batch file.
SHIFT Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in
batch files.
SORT Sorts input.
START Starts a separate window to run a specified program
or command.
SUBST Associates a path with a drive letter.
TIME Displays or sets the system time.
TITLE Sets the window title for a CMD.EXE session.
TREE Graphically displays the directory structure of a
drive or path.
TYPE Displays the contents of a text file.
VER Displays the Windows version.
VERIFY Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are
written
correctly to a disk.
VOL Displays a disk volume label and serial number.
XCOPY Copies files and directory trees.

C:\Documents and Settings\>xcopy /?
Copies files and directory trees.

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]
[/EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...]

source Specifies the file(s) to copy.
destination Specifies the location and/or name of new
files.
/A Copies only files with the archive attribute
set,
doesn't change the attribute.
/M Copies only files with the archive attribute
set,
turns off the archive attribute.
/D:m-d-y Copies files changed on or after the
specified date.
If no date is given, copies only those files
whose
source time is newer than the destination
time.
/EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...
Specifies a list of files containing strings.
Each string
should be in a separate line in the files.
When any of the
strings match any part of the absolute path
of the file to be
copied, that file will be excluded from being
copied. For
example, specifying a string like \obj\ or
.obj will exclude
all files underneath the directory obj or all
files with the
.obj extension respectively.
/P Prompts you before creating each destination
file.
/S Copies directories and subdirectories except
empty ones.
/E Copies directories and subdirectories,
including empty ones.
Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
/V Verifies each new file.
/W Prompts you to press a key before copying.
/C Continues copying even if errors occur.
/I If destination does not exist and copying
more than one file,
assumes that destination must be a directory.
/Q Does not display file names while copying.
/F Displays full source and destination file
names while copying.
/L Displays files that would be copied.
/G Allows the copying of encrypted files to
destination that does
not support encryption.
/H Copies hidden and system files also.
/R Overwrites read-only files.
/T Creates directory structure, but does not
copy files. Does not
include empty directories or subdirectories.
/T /E includes
empty directories and subdirectories.
/U Copies only files that already exist in
destination.
/K Copies attributes. Normal Xcopy will reset
read-only attributes.
/N Copies using the generated short names.
/O Copies file ownership and ACL information.
/X Copies file audit settings (implies /O).
/Y Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to
overwrite an
existing destination file.
/-Y Causes prompting to confirm you want to
overwrite an
existing destination file.
/Z Copies networked files in restartable mode.

The switch /Y may be preset in the COPYCMD environment
variable.
This may be overridden with /-Y on the command line.

Re: Using the Command Prompt

md test would be the command or md wayne\test if you are at root.

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Quote:

Originally Posted by gazzae

md test would be the command or md wayne\test if you are at root.

I'll test that, and let you know how i get on :)

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Ah the good old days of DOS :eek: Still very useful when all else fails.

You can take it all a stage further...

If your prompt relates to the C drive, but you want to mess up say your D drive, or floppy drive A, you can create your directory (sorry folder)

Code:

MD D:\folder\subfolder

To be really clever, albeit that it's not truly dos compatible (only allowed 8 characters, plus a suffix of 3) you can create a long file name directory using quotes:

Code:

MD "D:\folder\long folder name"

Re: Using the Command Prompt

ahh right, so using this: MD D:\folder\subfolder

I could have A:\Wayne\Test

Re: Using the Command Prompt

why in this day and age would people be taught DOS commands? The whole point of having a GUI is to stop the user having to remember command names and the syntax of those commands
__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne A

ahh right, so using this: MD D:\folder\subfolder

I could have A:\Wayne\Test

yep. specifying the drive letter and the directory structure makes the command independent of the current directory your DOS prompt is in

Re: Using the Command Prompt

I prefer the MKDIR command myself, it makes more sense to read.

ik

Re: Using the Command Prompt

saw this linked on here earlier

MS-DOS help and commands

HTH

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Quote:

Originally Posted by nffc

saw this linked on here earlier

MS-DOS help and commands

HTH

Thanks i'll have a look. :)

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

why in this day and age would people be taught DOS commands? The whole point of having a GUI is to stop the user having to remember command names and the syntax of those commands
__________________

yep. specifying the drive letter and the directory structure makes the command independent of the current directory your DOS prompt is in

Because in some circumstances you need to understand DOS. Many things dont use GUI's.
And secondly 99% of IT courses in school and college are Soooooooo out of date they use DOS still and teach DOS.
Multi autoexec and multi config files was an old fav of mine, as well as using Debug to search for possible virus infection!!!!!

Re: Using the Command Prompt

\
mk test (make a da folda)
cd test (go into da folda)
dir (oooh, dere is nothing here)
cd\ (to go back to the root)
dir (oh, I can see wayne - hello wayne)
exit.
oh great, back at windows.
Now go & lie down & promise never to do that command line stuff again, well maybe not until you start using Linux :)

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoombini

Cant make any promises im afraid. :D

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

why in this day and age would people be taught DOS commands? The whole point of having a GUI is to stop the user having to remember command names and the syntax of those commands

Because writing a batch file is much easier than learning VB and doing the same with that.

Take this example:

We have web servers at a remote location, they're running NT4
We have a reporting server with webtrends installed on it which produces monthly reports on web usage.

Previously, the guys would have to log onto a gateway server at the remote location and map a network drive to it.
Then from the gateway server, connect to the web servers, zip up the web logs, map a drive to the web servers from the gateway server, copy the logs over, then copy them to their local PC.
Then map a drive to the reporting server, upload the zipped log files, log onto the reporting server, unzip the files, manually run the web trends report and then clean up all the files.

It used to take hours.
Now, with a few simple batch files, that is all fully automated.
The web trends report appears as if by magic :)

Now imagine if I didn't know my dos commands... (ok, I've been using it since dos3)

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

why in this day and age would people be taught DOS commands? The whole point of having a GUI is to stop the user having to remember command names and the syntax of those commands

:notopic:, but how do i craete a batch file that clears the pagefile on shutdown?

Re: Using the Command Prompt

There is a setting in Windows that allows this to be done, try using the search facility it should bring up something on here.

Re: Using the Command Prompt

http://support.microsoft.com/default.../314834/EN-US/

Are you worried about the security of your pagefile?

Re: Using the Command Prompt

I've had to use my dos h@><ing skills tonight... http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...1&postcount=13

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

why in this day and age would people be taught DOS commands? The whole point of having a GUI is to stop the user having to remember command names and the syntax of those commands
<snip>

I've recently had an instance where a website would not accept my upload because it 'wasn't a pdf'. As it turned out, the website was case-sensitive regarding uploads, and would only accept .pdf. The file I tried to upload was .PDF, courtesy of my distiller. I don't think I would have been able to upload the file without going into the dos-prompt and changing the extension to lower case. Actually, if I had not known about the prompt, I'd never have been able to figure out what the problem was...

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

http://support.microsoft.com/default.../314834/EN-US/

Are you worried about the security of your pagefile?

I was anyway.

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

There is an option in windows to show file extensions.

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

why in this day and age would people be taught DOS commands? The whole point of having a GUI is to stop the user having to remember command names and the syntax of those commands

Only a couple of days ago, a program installation trashed themeui.dll and uxtheme.dll on my laptop. My pc would not boot in to a GUI, not even in safe mode.

Copied the corrupted files from c:\I386 to c:\windows\system32 using dos and my PC was up and running again within 2-3 min's. A lot quicker than using the installation disks.

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Quote:

Originally Posted by gazzae

There is an option in windows to show file extensions.

I've always thought it's an extremely poor choice on M$' part not to have the "Hide file extensions for known file types" option unselected by default, just in case it upsets the hoi polloi who might not even be able to handle that little piece of information.

Quite apart from the usefulness of being able to see the actual file type, how about the uncounted numbers of viruses and worms that have been activated because the recipient just saw .jpg or .txt etc on the end of a file name, and didn't see the .exe extension at the end that Windows had so thoughtfully hidden?

Go into My Computer or Windows Explorer, Tools -> Folder Options -> View, untick Hide file extensions for known file types and click OK. It will not hurt your system, and next time a file comes along with a dodgy extension, you'll see it.

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Quote:

Originally Posted by gazzae

There is an option in windows to show file extensions.

but windows is not good at renaming files. Sometimes it decides to strip the file extension from it. Much better to pop into dos and rename test.exe realfile.exe or whatever.

I like to drop into dos when I'm fixing people's pc's so they cannot follow what i'm doing.

cls is a wonderful command.
as is dir /w and dir /p

/me drifts down dos memory lane.........:dozey:

Re: Using the Command Prompt

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

why in this day and age would people be taught DOS commands? The whole point of having a GUI is to stop the user having to remember command names and the syntax of those commands

Because the user is thick. In 5 mins I can use the computer management console to start telnet on a PC and connect on. From there I can, say, set DNS. It might take me upto 15 mins to talk the user through making the changes, and it's guaranteed that there'll be no "my network places" on the desktop and that control panel will be in category view :rolleyes: DOS rules :tu:

Re: Using the Command Prompt

I still think that things like this should be BASIC knowledge for Computer people.

This type of command is still in use, esp. in Unix.

Just goes to show how far Micro$oft have come in 20 years ..... GUI's are not the b all and end all.

Re: Using the Command Prompt

I'm an ex master of the batch file, used to do all sorts with them.

In fact it's only this year that a PC at work has been upgraded & my complete batch menu system removed.
ALthough with not using it for so long I have forgotten most & would need a refresher to do anything thats not so simple.

Eee, them were the days....

Now if something specific needs doing I think that I'd rather learn windows scripting instead, I think that has lot's more in it than batch files ever did & can interact with windows much better.