Any operating system which runs from the hard disk drive is termed a Disk Operating System (DOS). This also refers to the specific family of disk operating systems known as MS-DOS or Microsoft disk operating system. Anything that commands and controls the computer’s hardware and peripheral devices with control over the program, and its functionality is known as the operating system. This operating system which runs through the hard disk, is known as a disk operating system. For the first time, it was made and introduced for IBM by Microsoft, known as IBM PC DOS, in 1981.
MS-DOS is one of the oldest and widely used operating system. DOS is a set of computer programs, the major functions of which are file management, allocation of system resources, providing essential features to control hardware devices.
DOS commands can be typed in either upper case or lower case.
Features of DOS
- It is a single user system.
- It controls program.
- It is machine independence.
- It manages (computer) files.
- It manages input and output system.
- It manages (computer) memory.
- It provides command processing facilities.
- It operates with Assembler.
Types of DOS Command
Following are the major types of DOS Command:
Internal Command: Commands such as DEL, COPY, TYPE, etc. are the internal commands that remain stored in computer memory.
External Command: Commands like FORMAT, DISKCOPY, etc. are the external commands and remain stored on the disk.