What is Disk Operating System [DOS]

What is Dos Operating System:: MS-Dos Stands for Microsoft Disk Operating System & It is developed by Microsoft Corporation.

Dos Operating system was developed in 1981 and its first version was named Dos 1.00.

In Dos work is performed by managing disk And disk files. It provides an interface between computer hardware and Software programs.

Dos is a 16-bit operating system which means it can save and process 16 bits of data at a single time. It is a single-user and single-tasking Operating system.

It is NON-GUI (Graphical User Interface) It Works on CUI (Character User Interface) environment.

What is Disk Operating System [DOS]
Microsoft Disk Operating System

It is a command-line operating system which means you have to use commands in the command-line interface to obtain the desired result.

Dos operating system provides control over the computer behavior and functions of computer system.

Over the years dos have been upgraded from 1.00 to 1.1,1.25,6.0.8.0 etc

There are basically two versions of MS-DOS (Dos Operating System)::
  • PC-Dos
  • MS-Dos

Above Both versions of the Dos Operating System have been developed by Microsoft Corporation.

PC-Dos was specially developed for IBM Personal computers and MS-Dos was developed and written for Personal computers or NON-IBM Personal Computers.

As there are no such differences found in both versions of Dos Operating Systems.

Disk operating system (Dos) is a menu-driven operating system that is simpler to use but is not as user-friendly as windows.

In Today’s world MS-DOS is not used, the windows operating system has replaced MS-DOS.

Still, some people use dos operating system as a command line for a certain purpose.

What is Disk Operating System
MS-Dos [Dos Operating System]
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Introduction to Microsoft Dos Operating System [MS-DOS]

MS-DOS stands for Microsoft disk operating system. 

MS-DOS Operating System is a non-graphical command line operating system derived from 86-DOS that was created for IBM-compatible computers.

It was originally written by Tim Paterson and introduced by Microsoft in August 1981.

MS-DOS allows the user to navigate, open, delete, edit copy, and otherwise manipulate files on their computer from a command line instead of a GUI like Windows.

Today, MS-DOS is no longer used; however, the command shell, more commonly known as the Windows command line is still used by many users.

Window more appropriately referred to as the Windows command line looks like running under Microsoft Windows.

What is Dos Operating System
What is Dos Operating System

Most computer users are well-known in how to use Microsoft Windows using the mouse. Unlike Windows.

Microsoft Dos Operating System is a command line and is used by using dos commands.

For example, if you want to see the files and folders in windows you double-click on the drive where you want to view them.

but in dos or in command shell you have to type the dir command, or if you want to delete some file in windows you just right-click on the file or folder and click on delete.

But in the command line or in dos you have to type dos command Del or deltree to delete a file or folder.

What is DOS Operating System OR Command Line?

Dos Operating System or command line is nothing but a non-graphical user interface where you just have to type certain commands mention below to derive the necessary result.

DOS was such difficult for nontechnical persons still the popularity of dos was breathtaking. Only a handful of people use dos operating system nowadays.

Still, there are some users who like a command line.

How Does MS-Dos Boots Or Starts?

Word boot is defined as the process where computer system starts.

There is a Boot Record stored in the computer memory which contains all the necessary files that allow the computer to start or to boot in this process.

MS-DOS is started by reading the dos program from the disk into the computer memory this process is called ‘BOOTING‘.

There are Two Types of Booting
  • Cold Booting
  • Warm Booting
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Cold Booting

In this process, the computer starts by turning the power key of the system. 

Warm Booting:: This is the process where the user deliberately restarts the computer by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL.

You may be found doing this when the system hangs or you restart your computer by pressing the Reset switch key present on the cabinet.

This process is called Warm Booting.

Cold boot is a process where a user just switches on the computer a by pressing the power key. In this process, all the necessary system files are executed to load DOS.

Before the loading of dos takes place BIOS diagnoses the system for Errors.

BIOS firstly checks the system for bootable or startup programs that are loaded in Boot Record.

Which is the first sector of memory? The Boot Record has the complete information of memory such as characteristics of the disk, tracks, sectors, head, etc.

Later the Bootstrap loader loads IO.SYS files into the memory which is responsible for hardware communication, input and output functionality of computer system, and dos routines.

And after the IO.SYS is loaded MSDOS.SYS file is also loaded in the Computer memory.

Later the system looks for CONFIG.SYS file to load as this file has the system configuration of extended and expanded memory

Now the important system file named COMMAND.COM is loaded into the memory and dos get loaded too.

In the process of booting COMMAND.COM runs a file named AUTOEXEC.BAT. & finally, command.com displays a command prompt or dos prompt on the screen.

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