AT&T PC 6300 User manual

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Written by
Agora Resource, Inc.
Lexington,
MA
©1984, 1985 AT&T
©1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 By Microsoft Corp.
All Rights Reserved
Printed
in USA
NOTICE
The information in this document is subject to change without
notice.
AT&T assumes no responsibility for any errors that may
appear
in this document.
MS™-DOS is a trademark and Microsoft., is a registered
trademark of Microsoft Corporation. n
n

1
2
MS-DOS User's Guide
Contents
Introduction
What Is MS-DOS?
What Is Covered in This Guide?
How to
Enter Keystrokes
What Is Included with This Guide
Before You Start MS-DOS
About Diskettes
Caring for Diskettes
Write-Enable Notch
Why Copy Your MS-DOS System Diskettes?
Diskettes Need to Be Formatted
1- 2
1- 3
1- 4
1- 5
2- 1
2- 1
2- 6
2- 8
2- 9
What System Do You Have? 2-10
If You Have a Single-Diskette Drive System 2-11
If You Have a Two-Diskette Drive System 2-12
If You Have a Fixed Disk Drive and a
Diskette Drive System 2 -1 3
Files 2-14
Naming Files 2-15
Reserved
Filenames and Extensions 2-20
Wild
Card Characters 2-22
File Specifications 2-24

MS-DOS User's Guide
3
Starting MS-DOS
Loading MS-DOS 3- 1
Inserting Diskettes
3- 3
If Your Computer Is OFF
3- 4
If Your Computer Is ON
3- 5
When MS-DOS Is Ready:
The Prompt
3- 6
Entering Commands
3- 7
If You Make a Mistake
3- 9
Stopping
the Screen to Read It
3-10
Printing What Is on the Screen 3-11
The Default Drive 3-12
Using a Fixed Disk Drive 3-
14
Using MS-DOS Only 3-16
Partitioning Your Fixed Disk
3-19
Creating the MS-DOS Partition
3-21
Changing the Active Partition
3-25
Deleting the MS-DOS Partition
3-26
Displaying the Parti tion Map 3-27
Organizing Your Fixed Disk
3-28
A
Sample Multi-Level Directory
3-30
Using Subdirectories
3-34

4
MS-DOS User's Guide
Using MS-DOS Commands
MS-DOS Commands for Common Tasks
4- 1
Formatting a Diskette
4- 3
Finding Out What Files Are on a Diskette
4- 7
Copying a Diskette
4-10
Comparing Diskettes
4-15
Copying a File 4-20
Comparing Files 4-24
Looking
at a File 4-29
Changing a Filename
4-31
Removing a File from a
Diskette
4-33
Processing a Series of Commands Automatically 4-35
Helpful
Hints 4-37

MS-DOS User's Guide
5
6
MS-DOS Commands
Command Syntax
MS-DOS Commands
Batch Processing Commands
Batch Processing Commands
Stopping Batch Proc e ssing
Parameters in Batch Files
Variables in Batch Files
5- 1
5- 5
6- 1
6- 4
6- 5
6- 6

MS-DOS User's Guide
Appendices
A Messages
A-1
B EDLIN -Th e Line Editor
B-1
c LINK
C-1
D DEBUG D-1
E CONFIG.SYS E-1
F EXE2BIN F-1
G ANSI.SYS G-1
H RAMDISK H-1
Index

n.
n
-~--

1 Introduction
• What Is MS-DOS?
•
What Is Covered in This Guide?
•
How to Enter Keystrokes
• What Is Included with This Guide?

n

Introduction
You may have already seen some of the material in this
Guide in the User's Guide. If you have not read Chapter
2, Getting Started, and Chapter 4, What Every User
Should Know, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself
with them. They provide a useful introduction to
MS-DOS.
This Guide gives you
the concepts and rationale behind
the MS-DOS procedures you followed in the User's
Guide.
It presents the material in the natural sequence
you follow when
using MS-DOS.
*MS"' -DOS is a
trademark ofMicrosoft®
1-1

Introduction
1-2
What Is MS-DOS?
MS-DOS stands for Microsoft-Disk Operating System.
An operating system is the traffic director ofyour com-
puter. Like
the signals at a busy intersection directing
cars, the computer's operating system is at the center of
activity
directing data. MS-DOS is the operating sys-
tem designed to run your AT&T computer. It coordi-
nates the flow of information between the screen,
keyboard, memory,
and storage disks. It also directs
other devices
attached to your computer, such as a
printer or telephone coupler.
You can make your computer perform certain tasks
with a set of MS-DOS commands. This guide teaches
both the fundamental MS-DOS commands and the
more advanced commands that will extend your com-
puting power.

Introduction
What Is Covered in This Guide?
Chapter 1 explains how to follow the examples in this
Guide. It also contains a checklist ofthe diskettes con-
taining MS-DOS and a list of the other manuals to help
you use your computer.
Chapters 2 and 3 introduce you to the basic concepts
ofMS-DOS
and some of the important practices you
should
follow when working with a computer. You will
learn about diskettes and files, and the vital impor-
tance of
making backup copies ofyour important pro-
gram and data diskettes. For users of a fixed di* drive
system, Chapter 3 helps you get MS-DOS
started on
the fixed disk.
In Chapter 4, the concepts you've learned are put into
practice. Contained here is a step-by-step introduction
to
the most commonly used MS-DOS commands, some
information about automatic processing,
and a recap of
some useful practices.
Chapters 5 and 6
are reference chapters. They contain
alphabetic listings ofeach of the MS-DOS commands,
their purpose, correct syntax, rules ofusage,
and exam-
ples
that illustrate how each command is used.
At the end of this Guide are Appendices which contain
information about messages
that appear on your screen,
EDLIN, the line editor program on your
MS-DOS/GWBASIC System diskette, and some infor-
mation
for users ofa single diskette drive system.
1-3

Introduction
1-4
How to Enter Keystrokes
Later in this guide you will be provided with step-by-
step procedures to follow. You are instructed to type
certain words and characters and to press specific keys.
It is important to type exactly what is shown in the
indented example (on ly the boldface part ):
A> type this
The specific keys or sequence of keys which you should
press appear like this :
RETURN
or
CTRL NUM LOCK .
In a sequence oftwo or more keys, as shown above,
press and hold the first keys while you press the last
key in the list.
All other punctuation -commas, colons, slash marks,
equal signs - must be entered exactly as shown.

Introduction
What Is Included with This Guide?
This MS-DOS Version 2.11 Release 2.0 User's Guide
comes
with the following:
• MS-DOS/GWBASIC
System diskette
This diskette contains MS-DOS and its related
programs.
• MS-DOS Supplemental
Programs diskette
This
diskette contains the LINK Utility , EXE2BIN,
DEBUG , BACKUP, SHIP and RESTORE.
Both
diskettes are in the plastic pocket at the back of
this guide. The MS-DOS System diskette referred to
throughout
this guide is the MS-DOS/GWBASIC Sys-
tem diskette .
1-5

2
Before You Start
MS-DOS
• About Diskettes
Caring for Diskettes
Write-Enable Notch
Why Copy Your MS-DOS System Diskettes?
Diskettes Need to Be Formatted
• What System Do You Have?
If You Have a Single-Diskette Drive System
If You Have a Two-Diskette Drive System
If You Have a Fixed Disk Drive and a
Diskette Drive System
• Files
Naming Files
Reserved Filenames and Extensions
Wild Card Characters
File Specifications

Before You Start MS-DOS
About Diskettes
This chapter introduces you to some of the important
concepts and pr actices you must know before you start
using MS-DOS. If yo u are unfamiliar with using a
computer
and diskettes, the section of this chapter
About Diskettes must be read carefully. If yo u have
experience
with computers, the practices in this section
are second nature to you. New and experienced users
a lik e should read the Files section, as the information
here describes
the file naming rules needed to use
MS-DOS.
The following sections cover
the basic information you
need to know
about diskettes . If you are new to using
computers, you shou ld read these sections carefully.
Caring For Diskettes
Your diskettes are very valuable. They contain infor-
mation and data representing hundreds of hours of
work.
You must take care in their handling as well as
follow prudent back up and archival practices.
Here
are some rules and helpful hints to follow.
• Always keep
the diskette in its envelope when it's not
in use. The envelopes are specially
2-1

Before You Start MS -D OS
2-2
treated to resist static electricity and dust
accumulation.
• Never touch
the surface of the diskette. Handle the
diskette by its protective cover.
DI ____ __,
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