MS-DOS question

[John Goche]

Hello,

What do % signs around a variable mean in DOS?
Where can I find more information on DOS? I can
find lots on Unix shells on the web, but very little
on XP's DOS environment.

Thanks,

JG

 

[Dave B.]

DOS stands for Disk Operating System, there is NO DOS in XP, what you see is
a command line interface.
A quick Google search, which you can do in the comfort of your own home,
turns up many hits on the subject.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ntcmds.mspx?mfr=true

 

[Tim Slattery]

Hello,

What do % signs around a variable mean in DOS?
Where can I find more information on DOS? I can
find lots on Unix shells on the web, but very little
on XP's DOS environment.

That tells the command shell to retrieve the value of the environment
variable whose name is between the % signs, and insert that value into
the command.

To see all the environment variables, type

set

on a command line.

 

[Pop`]

DOS stands for Disk Operating System, there is NO DOS in XP, what you
see is a command line interface.

1. And that's relevant to the OPs question how?
2. You're wrong anyway: There is no MS-DOS but there definitely IS a DOS
within XP. You are misinformed, if you're informat at all, that is.
3. If you feel the need to display your arrogance and disrespect for folks,
why not run over to the Warez group? You'll really be appreciated there.
4. You have only a partial knowledge of what you're trying to talk about,
if you have any at all, and aren't just parroting for narcissistic or
egotistical impact.

A quick Google search, which you can do in the comfort of your own
home, turns up many hits on the subject.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ntcmds.mspx?mfr=true

The link doesn't take one to any particular subject.

Pop`

 

[Jon]

Hello,

What do % signs around a variable mean in DOS?
Where can I find more information on DOS? I can
find lots on Unix shells on the web, but very little
on XP's DOS environment.

Thanks,

JG

If you create a shortcut to the following you will have plenty of reading
material (all one line)

%systemroot%\hh.exe Ms-its:%systemroot%\help\ntcmds.chm::/ntcmds.htm

 

[AJR]

It is as you stae - "%" serves as a "placeholder for a variable. Search for
info on "cmd.exe" rather than DOS./

 

[Tim Slattery]

1. And that's relevant to the OPs question how?
2. You're wrong anyway: There is no MS-DOS but there definitely IS a DOS
within XP.

No there isn't. There is a command console, which can run many 16-bit
real-mode DOS programs, and its command interpreter understands many
commands that the DOS command interpreter does. But it's definitely
not DOS, it's a 32-bit command console that can do far more than DOS
can.

 

[Dave B.]

You are the one who is misinformed, and you have no knowledge of what you
are talking about.

 

[Tom Willett]

You are correct, there is no DOS. This is from an article on the MS web
site:

"Windows XP is based on a completely different kernel. It's built on code
that was introduced in Windows NT, evolved into Windows 2000, and was
enhanced for Windows XP. The Windows NT kernel doesn't have any MS-DOS
components in it at all—it's a pure 32-bit beast. It includes a 16-bit
emulator and a command prompt mode that looks like MS-DOS"

We have a couple of machines at work that require MS-DOS for some older
programs to function. Therefore, we had to install DOS on a separate
partition.

Tom
| You are the one who is misinformed, and you have no knowledge of what you
| are talking about.
|
| | >
| > 1. And that's relevant to the OPs question how?
| > 2. You're wrong anyway: There is no MS-DOS but there definitely IS a
DOS
| > within XP. You are misinformed, if you're informat at all, that is.
| > 3. If you feel the need to display your arrogance and disrespect for
| > folks, why not run over to the Warez group? You'll really be
appreciated
| > there.
| > 4. You have only a partial knowledge of what you're trying to talk
about,
| > if you have any at all, and aren't just parroting for narcissistic or
| > egotistical impact.
| >
|
|

 

[Tim Slattery]

We have a couple of machines at work that require MS-DOS for some older
programs to function. Therefore, we had to install DOS on a separate
partition.

XP's 32-bit command console will run some - but not all - DOS apps. In
particular, anything that tries to directly manipulate hardware, like
writing directly to the video memory which some DOS apps did to speed
things up, will not work.

 

[Rock]

1. And that's relevant to the OPs question how?
2. You're wrong anyway: There is no MS-DOS but there definitely IS a DOS
within XP. You are misinformed, if you're informat at all, that is.

<snip>

Where do you get this about "there definitely IS a DOS within XP"?

 

[Pop`]

<snip>

Where do you get this about "there definitely IS a DOS within XP"?

No computer can operate with one.
MS defines it correctly if you READ what they wrote. Even Help includes a
LOT of info about "DOS" commands, etc., but does not talk about MSDOS, which
is not the same thing.

THAT is how it's relevant when you put it in context of your post to the OP
that you neatly snipped in order to avoid embarassment.

 

[Rock]

No computer can operate with one.
MS defines it correctly if you READ what they wrote. Even Help includes a
LOT of info about "DOS" commands, etc., but does not talk about MSDOS,
which is not the same thing.

THAT is how it's relevant when you put it in context of your post to the
OP that you neatly snipped in order to avoid embarassment.

I'm sorry but I don't understand your post at all. What do you mean by "No
computer can operate with one?". XP is not based on DOS in any way. It has
a command line interpreter with commands similar to the DOS commands, but
DOS does not exist in XP.