Internal and External Commands Used in MS-DOS
Internal command are built in the COMMAND.COM files. Some commands need external additional files with command.com. This note provides an information about internal and external commands used in MS-DOS.
Summary
Internal command are built in the COMMAND.COM files. Some commands need external additional files with command.com. This note provides an information about internal and external commands used in MS-DOS.
Things to Remember
- Internal command are built in the COMMAND.COM files. It can be executed from any DOS prompt because each of the internal commands are memory resident. Some of the examples of internal commands are: DIR, CLS, COPY etc.
- DIR displays files, directories and sub-directory.
- COPY CON creates a text file.
- TYPE displays the content of a file.
- COPY copies file(s) from one location to another.
- REN renames a file.
- RD removes directory, but the directory must be empty
- Commands that need an external additional file with command.com are external commands. Example: XCOPY, CHKDSK, LABEL, TREE etc.
MCQs
No MCQs found.
Subjective Questions
Q1:
What is a bank reconciliation statement?
Type: Very_short Difficulty: Easy
Q2:
What are the need and importance of bank reconciliation statement?
Type: Very_short Difficulty: Easy
Q3:
What are the causes or reasons for the disagreement between the balances shown by the pass book and the cash book?
Type: Very_short Difficulty: Easy
Videos
Bank Reconciliation Statement
How to perform a bank reconciliation

Internal and External Commands Used in MS-DOS
Internal Commands
CLS
This command clears the screen.
Syntax: CLS
Example: C:/> CLS
DIR
Syntax:DIR [drive] [switches]
where switches and their meanings are given below:
Switch | Meaning |
/P | Page-wise pausing |
/W | Wide-wise pausing |
/AD | Directories |
/AH | Hidden files |
/0 | Displays files/directories in sorted order with following specifications |
Use: Displays files, directories and sub-directories.
Example: dir d: /p
Output: Displays list of directory page wise
COPY
Syntax:COPY
Use: This command copies file(s) from one location to another.
Example:C:\>COPY C:\Nepal C:\china
TYPE
Syntax: TYPE
Use: Used to display the content of a file.
Example:C:\>TYPE Nepal.txt
Output: This command display the information contained in the file name Nepal.txt
Other Examples:
C:\>Type REED.txt
Now you can view the content of REED.txt
REN
Syntax: REN
Use: Used to rename a file.
Example:A:\> REN nepal.doc patan.doc
Output: This will rename the old file nepal.doc into patan.doc
Other Examples:
C:\>REN * .COM *.EXE
To rename all the files having .com as an extension into the extension .exe with the same primary file name of drive C.
DEL
Syntax: DEL filename
Use: Used to delete file(s)
Example: C:\>DEL try.exe
Output: It deletes try.exe file from drive C.
MD
Syntax: MD< directory- name>
Use: Used to create a directory
Example: C:\>MD School
Output: A directory named "School" is created in root directory C.
Date
Syntax: Date
Use: This command is used to display and change system date of the computer.
Example: C:\>DATE
Output: Current date is sat 08-04-2004
Enter new date (mm-dd-yy):
Time
Syntax: TIME
Use: This command is used to change and display the current system time of the computer.
Example:C:\>TIME
Output:Current time is 7:15:01.91
Enter new time:
CD
Syntax: CD
Use: Used to change or get into the directory.
Example:C:\> CD School
Output: This command let us get into directory School and we will be in C:\ School>
RD
Syntax: RD [directory]
Use: Used to remove a directory, but the directory must be empty.
Example: C:\>RD School
Output: It removes directory School, which is in C drive.
VOL
This command shows volume level in the disk.
Syntax: VOL [Drive:]
Example: c:/> VOL
External Commands
EDIT
Syntax: EDIT
Use: Used to edit files.
Example: C:\>EDIT Suyasha.txt
Output: This command will open the DOS file Suyasha.txt and will allow us to edit the file.
FORMAT
This command is used to format the disk.
Syntax: Format [Drive:] [Path] File name
Example: c:/ format d:/Q/
Lesson
Operating System : MS-DOS and MS-WINDOWS
Subject
Computer
Grade
Grade 8
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