China DOS Union

################## Preface #####################

Many people are asking how to learn DOS? I remember I didn't know how to learn DOS at the beginning and took a lot of detours.
In order to let friends who have just come into contact with DOS take fewer detours, I will tell you my learning experience here, which may be helpful to you.
Computer is a technology. It is not possible to learn technology well by just talking on paper. It is also impossible to go deep. Your DOS program needs to be verified. So the first step to learn DOS is to build your experimental environment! The ancient DOS is a 16-bit system. The "DOS" in WinXP is a 32-bit system. In fact, the DOS in WinXP is more appropriately called simulated DOS. Because it only simulates the appearance of the ancient 16-bit DOS system. Then what are the methods to build your own experimental environment?
### Build Experimental Environment

Method 1: Download and install Microsoft's virtual machine. This method is the best. You can install WinXP in the virtual machine, and at the same time, you can also install the DOS system to realize dual-boot. You can also only install the DOS system. For example, you can download DOS 7.1 in this forum to install the DOS system on the virtual machine. In this way, you have built your DOS 16 system. As you study further, you can use software WinImage and UltraISO to make your own virtual floppy disk and virtual CD. WinImage is a necessary software when practicing DOS on the virtual machine. At this time, you can use your virtual floppy disk or virtual CD to boot your virtual machine. By then, your understanding of DOS will have improved a lot.

Method 2: You can make a folder on your computer, for example, call it d:\mydos. Put your DOS files in it. Just pile up your DOS programs like building blocks. It is best for you to set the environment variables of your computer here. Right-click on "My Computer" on the desktop: Properties---Advanced---Environment Variables. You will see the word "path". Add :d:\mydos at the end of path and then confirm and save. In this way, no matter which disk you are in, entering your 16-bit DOS command can normally open your 16-bit system.
But this method has a shortcoming, that is, some commands cannot be practiced under WinXP. You still have to use method 1. So method 1 is the main method.
Why can WinXP run the 16-bit DOS system? Because Microsoft's operating system is downwardly compatible.
You can also go to c:\windows\system32 to have a look. You will see two files, dosx and command. If you click on them, you will find that the 16-bit DOS system is started.
Of course, the simulated DOS is originally running under WinXP. So its experimental environment is originally there. So there is no such thing as building. If you want to make a dual-boot, it is recommended that you still do it on the virtual machine. In addition, Microsoft's virtual machine is free. Don't listen to what is said on the Internet about cracking and other things. You can directly download it from Microsoft's official website. It is better to be in the English version. DOS has to deal with English.

### What tools are needed for beginner DOS?

I think the following tools should be prepared for learning DOS
Foreign language translation software----Recommended to use Lingoes. This software is very small. The translation effect is very good. More importantly, it is free. You can just enter Lingoes in Baidu to find the official download address.
Second, you need to prepare a tool for making floppy disk images----WinImage. This software needs to be registered. You can find a lot on the Internet.
Finally, prepare a software for making virtual CDs----Recommended to use UltraISO. This also needs to be registered. It is easy to find on the Internet.
Also, find the DOS files. It's not difficult. DOS 7.1 is very good.

#### Editor of DOS files

The first one is edit that comes with DOS
The second one is Notepad. I like to use Notepad to edit. It's easy to use
The third one is using commands in cmd. The steps are as follows:
1) copy con d:\my.txt Note: con is the console. Actually, you can just understand it as the cmd screen. This is to create the file my.txt on drive D.
2) Press Enter. At this time, the cursor will remind you to enter content.
3) After entering the content you want to input, press F6. In this way, you have created the file my.txt on drive D. At this time, you can see the file on drive D.

######Read a tutorial---Hongen Online

The first one: The DOS tutorial of Hongen Online. Its clear language, simple example explanations, and comprehensive description of classical DOS. If a tutorial is full of dozens of lines of programs, you will be dizzy. But this tutorial of Hongen Online has no such grand programs. There are only some very simple examples, which are very suitable for beginners of DOS. If you read while doing it. You must gain a lot. The address:
http://www.hongen.com/pc/newer/os/dos/dos0101.htm
The second one: Find DOS 7.1, or Win98, or autoexec.bat, config.sys in the one-key restoration to open and see how it is written.

#####Expand your own experiment and progress in the experiment

Put forward your own experimental topics, such as
Topic: Install WinXP on the virtual machine first. Then try to create a DOS system to realize dual-boot.
You can download a one-key restoration to have a look and see how others do it. When you complete this topic, you will find that you are no longer the original you.

######Review and know new things

DOS commands need to be used frequently to be familiar with them. You must also learn to use "/?". Because for DOS commands, you can't remember each one accurately. Only this "/?" is your most reliable friend.
In addition, make good use of the Help and Support Center on your own computer. This center is on your Start menu. That's Microsoft's explanation, which is authoritative. If you study DOS and haven't been to the Help Center on your own computer, you won't learn DOS.
Finally, you should understand that the 16-bit DOS system has been in history. After all, it represents a glorious era. Friends who like computers must not know nothing about the knowledge of that era. Learning classical DOS today can be used to complete ghost backup and restore the system. Can be used to partition the disk, format the disk, adjust the partition size of the disk, can enter DOS to kill viruses, and can do many, many things. Learning classical DOS can also better understand cmd under WinXP. So we should have a desire to inherit the essence of classical DOS and develop simulated DOS, and work hard to learn classical and modern DOS well.
Time is a long river. Although we have entered the WinXP era, there are still many things that are still inseparable from classical and modern DOS.
Let's roam in this long river of time and appreciate the beauty of DOS in the interweaving of classical and modern!
Revision: 2009-2-15 zunyi by zwd
Note: Microsoft's virtual machine requires that the memory of your PC is not less than 512M. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to run. Microsoft's official download address:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=04d26402-3199-48a3-afa2-2dc0b40a73b6&DisplayLang=en

In fact, this address is from the Start menu on your own computer---Window Catalog---Download (including the English version)---Enter virtual machine to find this address.
If you want to learn network DOS, then the virtual machine is indispensable. For example, if you want to practice sending messages with net send, you really can't practice without a network. That is to say, the virtual machine can form a network on the local computer, and then you can learn network DOS commands on the local computer.


The tools mentioned in the article are actually all in the winpe folder in your system installation disk.


Supplement: ***********************************


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Welcome friends. Post the good articles and good addresses you see behind. Thank you! 2009-2-22

[ Last edited by 5yue5 on 2009-2-22 at 12:20 ]

If you are just

Today, learning it is mainly to cooperate with ghost to back up and restore the system. Do some disk partitioning, format the disk, adjust the partition size of the disk. Learning classical DOS is to better understand the cmd under winxp.

Then I advise you that there is really no need to learn any DOS.

In fact, everyone has different purposes for learning DOS. What I mean by this doesn't mean I have no affection for DOS, nor does it mean that DOS is not important today. I'm just stating my view. I mean that more time should be spent researching and learning to simulate DOS.

This is not a matter of feelings or importance, but a practical issue. First of all, you need to figure out why you want to learn DOS. If in the end it's just to be familiar with the command line under Windows, there's no need to start learning from DOS at all. You can also learn very well directly from the Windows command line. Many concepts under DOS are simply not needed under Windows. I think it's a waste of time to start learning from DOS. A negative example is that many people who learn DOS backwards from Windows apply many concepts under Windows to DOS. Therefore, if your purpose of learning is not to be interested in DOS itself, it's a waste of time to learn.

Re:5yue5
Since your article is for all beginners who want to learn DOS, the "you" I mentioned earlier does not refer to you personally. Generally speaking, your article has a certain guiding role for beginners, but I have a different view on the purpose of learning DOS in the last paragraph.

It's a good thing that someone puts forward opinions. Hehe

Hey, you don't need to change it. Where do I count this as an opinion, it's just a personal different view. Actually, these two learning approaches are not contradictory, it's depending on your personal needs.

The summary by the LZ is very good! LZ has worked hard, thank you LZ for sharing!

Learned, very good summary, thanks for sharing

Got it, very good summary, thanks for sharing

It's quite good to learn!

Learning

Learned. Thanks to the LZ for sharing such valuable experience!

Gain experience! Thanks