several DOS questions

[lehe]

Hi,
I have some problems for DOS.

1. I have a directory I:\program_files
I want to change to it, so I tried several ways but all failed

Code: [Select]

I:\>cd program_files
Invalid directory

2. is there any shortkey that can fetch the previous-typed command from history in command line window?

3. is there any way to make select and copy easier to use in command line window?

Thanks and regards!

[BC_Programmer]

1.Are you sure the directory name has an underscore (_) and not a space? If it's a space, you would need to enclose the name in quotes, like this:

Code: [Select]


cd "Program Files"


2. use the up arrow key, or F3, to retrieve the last typed command. you can keep pressing the up arrow and down arrow keys to navigate amongst saved commands for that session..


3. Not that I know of. I've never really had to copy and paste very frequently so Mark->Copy has always been enough for me.

[lehe]

Thank you!

1. yes, I created a directory I:\program_files

Code: [Select]

I:\>dir program_files
 Volume in drive I is tingli
 Volume Serial Number is 0B05-09C6

 Directory of I:\program_files

04/17/2009  05:57 PM    <DIR>          .
04/17/2009  06:04 PM    <DIR>          ..
03/01/2009  02:16 PM    <DIR>          ann_1.1.1
04/17/2009  05:57 PM    <DIR>          Python-2.5.2
03/29/2009  11:00 AM    <DIR>          gprof-helper
03/29/2009  11:16 AM    <DIR>          datatool
04/14/2009  06:13 PM    <DIR>          svm_light
04/17/2009  03:28 PM    <DIR>          libsvm-2.89
               0 File(s)              0 bytes
               8 Dir(s)  1,006,499,233,792 bytes free

I:\>cd program_files
Invalid directory

It seems that cd works fine for a directory like I:\t_e but not for a directory like I:\eeeeeee_fffff. 

2. I tried arrow and F3 keys. None works as fetching previous command.

[BC_Programmer]

try

Code: [Select]

cd Progr*

Also- is this the commandline under window or a pure DOS environment? which version?

[lehe]

I am using the commandline under Windows XP Professional Version 2002.

1. Guess you mean "progr*". Anyway not work either

Code: [Select]

I:\>cd progr*
Invalid directory

2. Although the up key and F3 cannot fetch previous command, I just found the right arrow key can get back the last command but that is the only command it can get.

[squall_01]

I dont think that you can do that in dos.  You sure the 8.3 rule dont apply

[lehe]

what does "the 8.3 rule" mean?

[squall_01]

eight characters three extension

[Dias de verano]

eight characters three extension

does not apply in xp.

maybe you should do a chkdsk

you can press the TAB key to get command completion, so in I:\ what happens if you type cd pro and then press tab?

[lehe]

Are you assuming program_files is a file? It is a directory and has no extension...

When typing cd_pro, pressing tab will just move the curser several spaces ahead, not doing completion job.

[squall_01]

really at the very least I thought that he would need ""

[lehe]

"" not work either

Code: [Select]

I:\>cd "program_files"
Parameter format not correct -  "program_files"


[Dias de verano]

really at the very least I thought that he would need ""

no spaces, no need for quotes.

[Dias de verano]

"" not work either

Code: [Select]

I:\>cd "program_files"
Parameter format not correct -  "program_files"


Possibly your disk is scrambled. Or cmd.exe is corrupted.

can you cd to any folder at all (e.g. on other disks)?

[Reno]

Code: [Select]

I:\>cd program_files
Invalid directory


C:\>cd non_existent_directory
The system cannot find the path specified.

do you by any chance have cd.exe, cd.com, cd.bat, cd.cmd at I drive or in one of the %path% directory?

[Dias de verano]

Why do I get the feeling this is going to be a long one?

[BC_Programmer]

one can use the longhand chdir to change directories as well. try using chdir in place of cd. if that works, then their is something stopping the shorthand version from working. If not Dias is probably right regarding a corrupted cmd.exe.

[lehe]

I don't think cd is an alias of something else,  as it works fine on directories of I: and C: disks until this I:\program_files case.  chdir works same as cd

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I:\>chdir program_files
Invalid directory

Alithough mentioned already, I think still worth saying cd can work for a directory like I:\t_e but not for a directory like I:\eeeeeee_fffff.

I am not sure it is related that my I: disk is attached to a linux server via Network File System. So it is impossible to do chkdsk to my knowledge.

[BC_Programmer]

I don't think cd is an alias of something else,  as it works fine until this I:\program_files case.  chdir works same as cd

Code: [Select]

I:\>chdir program_files
Invalid directory

Alithough mentioned already, I think still worth saying cd can work for a directory like I:\t_e but not for a directory like I:\eeeeeee_fffff.

I am not sure it is related that my disk is attached to a linux server via Network File System. So it is impossible to do chkdsk to my knowledge.

weird, because on my computer I can cd to any directory regardless of the name. I think the fact that it is attached to a Linux server via NFS is extremely relevant. But I'm not to experienced with Linux Filesystems.

[Dias de verano]

I am not sure it is related that my disk is attached to a linux server via Network File System.

Now he tells us 

[squall_01]

yeah 

[lehe]

I am not sure if NFS is the issue. The same thing also happen on my local disk C. I.e., if I create C:\program_files, cd cannot change to it. Also cd can work for a directory like C:\t_e but not for a directory like C:\eeeeeee_fffff.

[Dias de verano]

I am not sure if NFS is the issue. The same thing also happen on my local disk C. I.e., if I create C:\program_files, cd cannot change to it. Also cd can work for a directory like C:\t_e but not for a directory like C:\eeeeeee_fffff.

Are you using command or cmd?

[lehe]

I am using command.
Yeah, changing to cmd solve the problem!
So cmd is not DOS but command is?

[Dias de verano]

I am using command.
Yeah, changing to cmd solve the problem!
So cmd is not DOS but command is?

At last.

Squall noticed this first. CMD.EXE is a 32 bit program. It's what you get when you select Command Prompt on the Windows Accessories menu. COMMAND.COM, on the other hand, exists only for compatibility and 16bit programs. It exists solely for those programs which have not been updated since the days of MS-DOS. It's designed to run 16bit applications, and operates just like the old MS-DOS did.

[BC_Programmer]

In short- use cmd.

[squall_01]

couldnt he go to start - accesories - cmd and work it just the same?