MS-DOS Commands - New Ways To Do Familiar Tasks In XP
MS-DOS Commands - New Ways To Do Familiar Tasks
Windows XP retains and enhances almost all MS-DOS functionality. The following tables explain:
Changes to the functionality of MS-DOS commands.
MS-DOS commands that are no longer available in Windows XP.
MS-DOS commands that are no longer available on Windows XP 64-Bit Edition.
Changes to MS-DOS Commands
The following lists changes to the functionality of MS-DOS commands.
Command ---- Changed features
chcp Changes code pages for all Command Prompt windows.
Example For chcp
Chcp Displays the number of the active console code page, or changes the console's active console code page. Used without parameters, chcp displays the number of the active console code page.
Syntax
chcp [nnn]
Parameters
nnn
Specifies the code page. The following table lists each code page supported and its country/region or language: Code page Country/region or language
• 437 United States
• 850 Multilingual (Latin I)
• 852 Slavic (Latin II)
• 855 Cyrillic (Russian)
• 857 Turkish
• 860 Portuguese
• 861 Icelandic
• 863 Canadian-French
• 865 Nordic
• 866 Russian
• 869 Modern Greek
/?
Displays help at the command prompt.
Remarks
Only the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) code page installed with Windows XP appears correctly in a command prompt window that uses Raster fonts. Other code pages appear correctly in full-screen mode or command prompt windows that use TrueType fonts.
You do not need to prepare code pages, as in MS-DOS.
Programs that you start after you assign a new code page use the new code page, however, programs (except Cmd.exe) that you started before assigning the new code page use the original code page.
Examples
To view the active code page setting, type:
chcp
A message similar to the following appears:
Active code page: 437
To change the active code page to 850 (Multilingual), type
chcp 850
If the specified code page is invalid, the following error message appears:
Invalid code page
Formatting legend
Format --- Meaning
• Italic Information that the user must supply
• Bold Elements that the user must type exactly as shown
• Ellipsis (...) Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line
• Between brackets ([]) Optional items
• Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd} Set of choices from which the user must choose only one
• Courier font Code or program output
diskcomp Command-line options /1 and /8 are not supported.
diskperf No longer needed to act upon a server computer. You can still use diskperf for remote administration.
diskcopy Command-line option /1 is not supported.
doskey Available for all character-based programs that accept buffered input. Doskey has been improved by a series of enhancements.
format Supports 1.44 MB floppy drive only. 20.8 MB floptical (magneto-optical) drive is no longer supported. Command-line options /b, /s, /u, /1, /4, and /8 are no longer supported.
label The caret (^) and ampersand (&) symbols can be used in a volume label.
mode The mode lptn[:][cols=c][lines=n] and mode lptn[:][c][,[n]] syntaxes are not supported.
print Command-line options /b, /c, /m, /p, /q, /s, /t, and /u are not supported.
prompt New character combinations enable you to add ampersands ($a), parentheses ($c and $f), and spaces ($s) to your prompt.
recover Recovers files only.
rmdir New /s command-line option deletes directories that contain files and subdirectories.
sort Does not require TEMP environment variable. File size is unlimited.
xcopy New /g command-line option creates decrypted destination files.
Unavailable MS-DOS Commands
The following MS-DOS commands are not available at the command prompt.
Command ----- New procedure or reason for obsolescence
assign Not currently supported.
backup Not currently supported.
choice Not currently supported.
ctty Not currently supported.
dblspace Not currently supported.
deltree The rmdir /s command deletes directories containing files and subdirectories. For more information about the rmdir command, see Rmdir.
dosshell Function is now inherent.
drvspace Not currently supported.
emm386 Function is now inherent.
fasthelp Not currently supported. Use the help command at the command prompt. For more information about the help command, see Help. For a complete list of command-line tools, see Command-line reference A-Z.
fdisk Not currently supported. Use the diskpart command, which enables you to manage disks, partitions, or volumes. For more information about the diskpart command, see Diskpart.
include Multiple configurations of the MS-DOS subsystem are not supported.
interlnk Not currently supported.
intersrv Not currently supported.
join Increased partition size and an improved file system eliminate the need to join drives.
memmaker MS-DOS subsystem memory usage is automatically optimized.
menucolor Multiple configurations of the MS-DOS subsystem are not supported.
menudefault Multiple configurations of the MS-DOS subsystem are not supported.
menuitem Multiple configurations of the MS-DOS subsystem are not supported.
mirror Not currently supported.
msav Not currently supported.
msbackup Use the ntbackup command for computers with tape drives, or the xcopy command for computers without tape drives. For more information about the ntbackup command, see Ntbackup. For more information about the xcopy command, see Xcopy.
mscdex It is unnecessary to configure the MS-DOS subsystem to use CD-ROM drives. Windows XP provides access to CD-ROM drives for the MS-DOS subsystem.
msd Use the System Information snap-in. To start System Information, click Start, click Run, and then type msinfo32.
numlock Not currently supported.
power Not currently supported.
restore Not currently supported.
scandisk Not currently supported. Use the chkdsk command, which enables you to create and display a status report for a disk based on the file system. Chkdsk also lists and corrects errors on the disk. For more information about the chkdsk command, see Chkdsk.
smartdrv Caching for the MS-DOS subsystem is automatic.
submenu Multiple configurations of the MS-DOS subsystem are not supported.
sys Windows XP does not fit on a standard 1.2 MB or 1.44 MB floppy disk.
undelete Not currently supported.
unformat Not currently supported.
vsafe Not currently supported.
MS-DOS commands no longer available on Windows XP 64-Bit Edition
The following 16-bit MS-DOS subsystem commands are not available on Windows XP 64-Bit Edition.
Command --- Function
append Enables programs to open data files in specified folders as if these files were in the current folder.
debug Starts Debug.exe, a program that you can use to test and debug MS-DOS executable files.
edit Starts MS-DOS Editor, which creates and changes ASCII text files.
edlin Starts Edlin.exe, a line-oriented text editor with which you can create and change ASCII files.
exe2bin Converts .exe (executable files) to binary format.
expand Expands one or more compressed files.
fastopen Windows XP does not use this command. It is accepted only for compatibility with MS-DOS files.
forcedos Starts the specified program in the MS-DOS subsystem. This command is necessary only for those MS-DOS programs that are not recognized as MS-DOS programs by Windows XP.
graphics Loads a program into memory that allows you to print on a printer the displayed contents of the screen when you are using a color or graphics adapter.
loadfix Ensures that a program is loaded above the first 64KB of conventional memory, and then runs the program.
loadhigh (lh) Loads a program into the upper memory area (UMA). Loading a program into the UMA leaves more room in conventional memory for other programs.
mem Displays information about allocated memory areas, free memory areas, and programs that are currently loaded into memory in the MS-DOS subsystem.
nlsfunc Loads information specific to country/region. Windows XP does not use this command. It is accepted only for compatibility with MS-DOS files.
setver Sets the MS-DOS version number that the MS-DOS subsystem reports to a program.
share Windows XP does not use this command. It is accepted only for compatibility with MS-DOS files.
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