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?