中国DOS联盟

Some Suggestions for DOS Beginners
I received a letter consulting about learning DOS, and I think the problem is somewhat representative, so I decided to post the content here while replying. Everyone, please point out any errors or provide additional suggestions for supplementation, and let's discuss.
---------------Original Text---------------
I am a computer enthusiast. I want to first consult you about some information related to DOS. Now, DOS books seem very hard to buy. Which is better, "DOS Encyclopedia" and "DOS Manual", what are the differences, do you know where to buy them? Can you introduce some newly published DOS books that are as comprehensive as "DOS Encyclopedia" and "DOS Manual"? I want to study DOS in depth, but I don't understand DOS and don't know where to start. Do you have any suggestions?
What is the status of DOS in the current various computer technologies?
What are its advantages?
What are its main uses currently?
What help will learning DOS do for me?
Is there a connection between DOS and UNIX, Linux?
-----------------My Comments-------------
Currently, DOS has basically no commercial value in China, so there are quite few DOS books. I myself live in a small town and rarely (and don't like to) go to big cities like Guangzhou and Foshan. So I'm not very aware of the current situation of DOS books, but I can imagine that even if there are, there aren't many.
I haven't read both "DOS Encyclopedia" and "DOS Manual", so of course I can't tell you which one is better. I believe there aren't many friends in this forum who have read them either. Most of us like DOS because we came into contact with DOS in study and work, realized the advantages such as its conciseness, convenience, powerful functions and openness, etc., and thus like it. It's unlikely that it's because we read some books. Of course, if such a book can be found, it's very useful as a reference to help us better understand DOS and improve our skills. However, such books may only be available in very large bookstores, and additionally, maybe in second-hand book places. If you can't buy them, you can find Hong恩's DOS materials and other DOS resources online, and you can also ask others in the United DOS Forum, NetEase Community DOS Forum, etc.
I think the best way to learn DOS is to start from practical applications, gradually master relevant knowledge, learn some practical skills, and gain a sense of accomplishment. Of course, at the beginning, you should learn several most basic DOS commands like DIR, CD, COPY, etc. Then you can learn to use PCTOOLS, NDD, etc., learn the installation process of WIN98 under DOS, use them to solve some practical problems, and even help others solve relevant problems. Or download the input method code table conversion tool from my website to realize the porting of input methods between different operating systems, and then learn practices like WIN98 system disk modification, etc., from which you can learn the creation and use of CONFIG.SYS and BAT files, learn to load and detect CD-ROMs, hard disk partitioning, formatting, etc. If you are interested in computer assembly, you can also learn detection software like HWINFO, BIOS settings, etc. If you like to do it yourself, finally you can learn programming... In short, to learn DOS well, continuous progress and continuous sense of accomplishment are very effective, which is much more interesting than looking for "DOS Encyclopedia" and the like. I myself started from mastering PCTOOLS and NDD back then.
DOS is not technologically backward. What WINDOWS can do, it can also do. Moreover, WIN9X itself is built on the protected mode of DOS. It can also be said that the WINDOWS system is just a very large graphical DOS. It's just that because WINDOWS is intuitive, easy to learn, and easy to operate, it is more suitable for the vast majority of people who are not very interested in technology or have low requirements, so it has been rapidly popularized and has achieved a dominant position. Of course, this is also an inevitable development of computer technology. Only in this way can computers truly enter the lives of the general public and truly establish our information society.
Now, the advantages of DOS are reflected in disk management including disk partitioning, formatting, detection and repair, etc. Because DOS requires quite little, a small floppy disk or a non-writable CD-ROM can boot DOS. This is something that the huge WINDOWS, which cannot operate without the support of a large hard disk and memory space, can never replace. The advantages of DOS enable it to show its worth when WINDOWS crashes (of course, you can also try to work without WINDOWS, etc.). The advantage of DOS over WINDOWS is also in the aspect of programming learning. In some occasions where computers need stability and don't need a graphical interface very much, people are still using DOS. For example, many units' charging systems are built on the basis of DOS.
Currently, besides the above, the main value of DOS is mainly in the learning aspect, unless we develop a graphical system in DOS that can replace WINDOWS. Learning DOS well can on one hand enable us to learn more in-depth computer knowledge, have a deeper understanding of computers, and at least better use and maintain WINDOWS. Another advantage is that after mastering DOS proficiently, it will be very easy to adapt to any other operating system like LINUX. It's very difficult to directly transfer from WINDOWS to LINUX, etc. After all, DOS is integrated with WINDOWS. We can learn DOS while using the familiar WINDOWS, which is also an advantage of DOS.
We believe that a Chinese information paradise cannot be built on WINDOWS because no one knows whether there is anything hidden in the huge WINDOWS, and this is very possible. Just take the mysterious disk file optimization software in OFFICE2000. It took me a long time to figure out where exactly it is hidden. But for our entire nation, that's a very realistic problem. If every computer in China is using WINDOWS, then maybe one day as long as someone presses a few keys somewhere, it can destroy our entire information system, and what awaits all Chinese people will be another repeat of the history after the Opium War. Learning DOS can on one hand better use WINDOWS, and on the other hand, it can be necessary not to continue relying on WINDOWS. If the situation really develops to the point where we can't use WINDOWS one day, Chinese DOS enthusiasts will definitely play an important role in it.
Learning DOS can enable you to master more computer knowledge, better use WINDOWS, and be able to help others solve relevant computer problems.
DOS is one of the early operating systems. Its generation and development all referred to systems like CP/M, UNIX, etc., and the character interface and command line operation mode are common features of early operating systems. LINUX is also a kind of UNIX. If you are familiar with the operation mode of DOS, it will be very easy to adapt to the command line operation mode of LINUX, etc. I came into contact with DEC's VAX system in college, which is also a kind of UNIX. Later, when I learned DOS by myself, I found that many things of VAX were applicable, and vice versa.

I think we should introduce the development of foreign DOS, the use and operation of various aspects of DOS, the spirit of freedom and openness of DOS, etc. Since you mentioned starting with "practical", it should introduce the content of "practical", not just the above-mentioned ones.

I think what the webmaster of "New DOS Era" said makes sense. I also want to know what "practical" content should be introduced next.

It's well - written and detailed, but it's still quite difficult for beginners like us. Guiding a beginner to enter the door is not an easy thing. The two methods mentioned above are worth trying.

What the moderator said is very important. We must develop our own operating system in China! Let's start from DOS!

The first part can be understood, but I get confused about the latter part

It's really hard to understand. Start learning from today.

When self - studying DOS, I find that many things of VAX are useful

That's very good. It seems I should change my learning method.

If the situation really develops to the point where one day we can no longer use WINDOWS, Chinese DOS enthusiasts will definitely play an important role among them.

Good!

My idea is to start learning from DOS

Not knowing DOS may very likely lead to another Opium War... Haha!
What you said makes sense, let's study together

The landlord must be very proficient!! I really envy it!!!!!