ProfitPress Mega CDROM2 …eeware (MSDOS)(1992)(Eng)/ProfitPress-MegaCDROM2.B6I/MAGAZINE/MISC/MNFEB91.ZIP/BDOS02

Text File | 1991-01-26 | 9.3 KB | 215 lines

This continues the article for DOS beginners we began last month...

                                CRANK ER UP...

Now that you have been introduced to some of the things DOS does for you,
it's time to start up your system and do something.

Whether you start your computer to use it as a word processor, an
accounting program, a data base program. or to use DOS itself, you begin by
loading DOS into the computer's memory.  Loading the DOS program and
starting it running is sometimes called "booting the system" or "booting
the disk."  This term is borrowed from the phrase "pulling yourself up by
your bootstraps," because DOS essentially pulls itself up by its own
bootstraps, loading itself from disk into memory, where it then waits for a
command from you.

The examples given here assume you have set up your system and are familiar
with its control switches.  If you're using a hard disk, the examples also
assume the hard disk has been prepared so DOS can use it.

If your computer system is new, you haven't yet prepared the hard disk, and
you need some assistance, call a knowledgeable bachelor friend and offer
dinner.

                           ENTERING DOS COMMANDS

The instructions you give DOS are called commands.  For the few commands
listed in this article, you need only the standard typewriter keys on the
keyboard.  Two of those keys, "Enter" and "Backspace", are worth mention.

The Enter key is labeled with a bent left arrow or the word Enter.  Like
the return key on a typewriter, it marks the end of a line.  In general,
DOS doesn't act on what you have typed until you press the Enter key, so
remember to end a command by pressing Enter.

The Backspace key is labeled with a long left arrow or the word Backspace.
Since it erases the last character you typed it can be used to correct
typing errors you've made on the command line.

If you're using a hard disk with DOS on it, the DOS program must be copied
into the computer's memory from the hard disk.

Usually, Drive A and Drive B designations are reserved for diskette drives,
and the hard disk is  known to DOS as drive C.  Before starting the system
make sure the latch on drive A (the diskette drive) isn't closed.
Otherwise, the system will try to load the DOS program into the computer's
memory from the diskette in drive A.



If you're not using a hard disk, the DOS program must be copied into the
computer's memory from the diskette in drive A.  Open the latch of drive A
(either the left-hand or upper diskette drive) and put in the diskette you
use to start DOS the system disk) with the label up and away from the
machine.  If you're using 5.25 inch diskettes, close the latch.  If you're
using 3.5 inch diskettes, you don't have to worry about it.

Now, turn on the system.  The computer may seem to do nothing for several
seconds, but this is normal.  Each time you turn on the power switch, the
computer checks its memory and all attached devices to be sure everything
is working properly.  This is called the POST (Power On Self Test).  The
system beeps once after it has made sure that all is well, the drive lights
flash, and the computer begins loading DOS into memory.

Whenever the system is booted, a chip named the "BIOS" looks to see if the
boot files are on a diskette in drive A.  If there isn't a diskette in
drive A, the BIOS chip looks to see if a hard disk is present.  If a
non-bootable data diskette is in drive A, or ther's no hard disk, an error
message is displayed on the screen.  But, in this case, we'll assume
everything works well.  As soon as the program is loaded, DOS is running
and ready to go to work.


The first thing you usually see after DOS starts is a message like the
following:

                        Current date is Tue 1-01-1980
                        Enter new date (mm-dd-yy):

If you don't see such a message, type "DATE" and press Enter.  The blinking
underline that follows the colon is the cursor.  It shows where DOS will
display whatever you type next.  It also tells you that DOS is waiting for
you to type something.  In this case it's waiting for you to enter a date
in response to its request.  A request made by DOS is called a prompt.

To enter the date, you type the numbers that represent the month, day, and
year, separated by hyphens, and then you press the Enter key.  You do not
type the day of the week; as you will see later, DOS figures out the day
for you and displays both the day and date whenever you ask for them.

For this example, set the date to June 1, 1990, by typing the following (be
sure to press Enter after the last number):

                        Current date is Tue 1-01-1980
                        Enter new date (mm-dd-yy): 05-01-90







You can also use a slash (/) or a period (.) to separate the numbers.  If
you don't do it exactly right (in a way DOS can recognize), DOS displays an
"Invalid date" message and waits for you to try again.  If you make a
mistake or enter the wrong date, don't panic!  You'll soon see, it's easy
to fix such errors.

After it accepts the date, DOS displays a message asking you to enter the
time and waits for you to respond.  The screen should look something like
this:

                        Current date is Tue 1-01-1980
                        Enter new date (mm-dd-yy): 05-01-90
                        Current time is 0:03:30.00
                        Enter new time:

If you don't see the preceding time message, type "TIME" and press Enter.






Before entering the correct time, try the following exercise to see how
easily you can fix typing errors.  Try out the Backspace key.  Type some
characters, such as the following, at random, but don't press Enter:

                        Current date is Tue 1-01-1980
                        Enter new date (mm-dd-yy): 05-01-90
                        Current time is 0:03:30.00
                        Enter new time: xa4325sd73

"xa4325sd73" isn't a valid time!  If you were to press Enter now, DOS would
display the error message, "Invalid time" and wait for your next attempt.
Correct your typing "error" by pressing the Backspace key until all the
characters are erased and the cursor is back to its original position, just
to the right of the colon.  The screen looks like it did before:

                        Current date is Tue 1-01-1980
                        Enter new date (mm-dd-yy): 05-01-90
                        Current time is 0:03:30.00
                        Enter new time:






You enter the time by typing the numbers that represent the current hour
and minute, separated by either a colon or a period.  Don't worry about
seconds and hundredths of seconds.  For this example, set the time to 9:30
A.M. by typing the following (don't forget to press Enter):

                        Current date is Tue 1-01-1980
                        Enter new date (mm-dd-yy): 05-01-90
                        Current time is 0:03:30.00
                        Enter new time: 9:30

DOS works on the basis of a 24-hour clock, so you type 9:30 A.M. as 9:30 or
9:30 P.M. as 21:30.  If your system doesn't keep the date and time current,
and you just press Enter in response to the date and time prompts when you
start the system, DOS starts from its baseline date and time of midnight on
January 1, 1980.  This is a quick way to start the system, but DOS marks
all the disk files you create or change with the time and date.  This
information is very useful, so it's a good idea to set the correct date and
time each time you start the system.



This quick tour of DOS may have introduced several new terms and concepts.
Some key points to remember are:

    1.        A computer system needs both hardware (equipment) and
              software.  Software that do things (applications) such as
              word processing are called programs.

    2.        DOS Disk Operating System) coordinates the operation of all
              parts of the computer system.

    3.        A file is a collection of related information stored on a
              disk.  One sort of related information is the data files
              produced when you write letters, do accounting, or add to
              your mailing list.

    4.        Most of your computer work will involve files.

    5.        Besides running your application programs, DOS is valuable in
              its own right. You can write simple batch files containing a
              number of commands that DOS will run.





This article would'nt really be complete without some mention of the
hardware on which DOS systems will operate.

PC, XT, AT, PCjr, PC Convertible, and the "PS/2" models are names that
identify various desk-top computers made by IBM.  All are compatible with
each other for running most software.

A "clone" is a computer that claims to be IBM PC compatible.  It is
generally 98% compatible with software written for the IBM machines and
100% compatible with the cards that plug into the computer inside its case.

Beware of "compatibility" claims...make sure the software you want to run
on the machine will!  If you don't know what to look for, take along a
friend who does.

Press ENTER for a summary...                                         <PCSUM>

Written by Eugene A. Zeak, Jr.