Microsoft DOS command

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About command
Availability
Syntax
Examples

About command

The command.com is the command interpreter for MS-DOS and is required for the majority of Microsoft's Operating Systems. Without command.com the computer running a Microsoft Operating System would be unable to boot.

When running Windows NT, 2000, XP, or future operating systems there are two versions of the command interpreter, command.com and cmd.exe. Cmd offers additional environment variables than command.com; however, it is recommend if you are attempting to run a MS-DOS utility that you utilize the command.com. To use command.com, click Start / Run and type command.

Information about creating a bootable diskette, which also requires command.com, can be found on our boot diskette page.

Additional information about shells can be found on our shell dictionary definition.
Additional information about COMMAND vs. CMD can be found on document CH000395.

Availability

Command or command.com is the command interpreter and without it you would be unable to use MS-DOS therefore this command is available in all versions of Microsoft Operating Systems.

All Versions of MS-DOS
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows ME
Windows NT
Windows 2000
Windows XP

Index

Category:
MS-DOS

Companies:
Microsoft

Related Pages:
Boot Diskette
Operating Systems

Resolved

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Syntax

Starts a new copy of the Windows Command Interpreter.

COMMAND [[drive:] path] [device] [/E:nnnnn] [/L:nnnn] [/U:nnn] [/P] [/MSG] [/LOW] [/Y [/C|K] command]

[drive:]path	Specifies the directory containing COMMAND.COM.
device	Specifies the device to use for command input and output.
/E:nnnnn	Sets the initial environment size to nnnnn bytes. (nnnnn should be between 256 and 32,768).
/L:nnnn	Specifies internal buffers length (requires /P as well). (nnnn should be between 128 and 1,024).
/U:nnn	Specifies the input buffer length (requires /P as well). (nnn should be between 128 and 255).
/P	Makes the new Command Interpreter permanent (can't exit).
/MSG	Stores all error messages in memory (requires /P as well).
/LOW	Forces COMMAND to keep its resident data in low memory.
/Y	Steps through the batch program specified by /C or /K. (Only available in MS-DOS 6.x and above).
/C command	Executes the specified command and returns.
/K command	Executes the specified command and continues running.
/Z	Display the errorlevel of every command executed (Only available in MS-DOS 7.x and above).

Examples

command = If typed when in dos, will just load new DOS session.
command /p = If you are in a DOS shell through Windows, will make it so that you cannot get out of DOS session, making it permanent.

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