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DR. MAC'S COMPUTER CLINIC
No. 13
HOW TO BE THE BOSS - LEARN DOS
Hallo and greetings once again. As promised, today we will show you how to start
working in DOS. This is the Disk Operating System that users of Windows 95 and 98
see when you first turn on your computer. Windows ME users do NOT see the b&w DOS
when they boot, but rest assured, it's there. Your computers depends on DOS to work.
FOR THESE PRACTICAL EXERCISES YOU WILL NEED :-
A mind ... young enough to want to learn.
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A mind ... mature enough to be WILLING to learn!
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A burning desire to be The Boss!
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A Windows Emergency Boot/Startup disk
A WINDOWS EMERGENCY BOOT DISK
Please review Clinic 12 for full details on how to
download and make your own boot disk. If you are using Windows 98 or ME, you
can use the in-built program on your computer. Double-click on the Control Panel
shortcut (we told you how to make many useful shortcuts in Clinic 3) -
then double-click on the "Add/Remove Programs" icon. Now, on the box that
pops up, click on the "Startup Disk" tab. and follow directions.
WINDOWS 95 USERS - remember - your computer does make a boot disk but WITHOUT the
necessary drivers to run your CD! That makes it pretty worthless! Go to last weeks
Clinic and download your OWN boot-disk-maker program that WILL have CD-ROM drivers!
There are also download links for Windows 98 and ME users if you want to make your own
boot-disk. However, the Start-up disk your own computer makes WILL have the necessary drivers.
BUT ... WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DOS ?-
If your computer cannot boot into Windows, you need to carry out First Aid in DOS.
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If a virus prevents you from using programs in Windows - including your Anti-viral programs - you need to carry out a disinfect ("heal") scan in DOS. And believe me ... it DOES happen!
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If a virus is so vicious that it prevents you from even getting into Windows, you have no option BUT to work in DOS.
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If you ever get stomach-sinking messages like "
Invalid system disk" or "Files missing - re-install Windows" then most times you can administer effective First Aid in DOS and thus prevent having to format (wipe totally clean) your whole hard drive (and loose everything) and install Windows again.
If you ever DO need to install Windows again, you can only do so in DOS - so you NEED TO BE FAMILIAR with DOS.
To be the Boss of your computer - instead of the other way 'round!
Because it's FUN !
You will NOT be able to read this web page in DOS. You will NOT be able to open it
as the single file you have saved into your special "Computer Clinics" folder.
You
either need to write down these instructions OR print them out so that you can follow them.
If you haven't got a printer, then save this whole page as a single web-page
(full instructions are in Clinic 2) and then onto a floppy (Clinic 8) and see my
TIP
in that same Clinic
" How to print if
you haven't got a printer."
RIGHT ! TIME TO START LEARNING !
USE YOUR WINDOWS BOOT DISK TO ACCESS DOS
NOTE : What appears on your DOS screen depends on the type of boot disk and version
of Windows you are using. You will only see ONE of the following possibilities - so
just act on what you DO see on screen -
Close your computer down in the normal way and then SWITCH OFF using the main On/Off switch.
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Wait about 10 seconds for your PC to settle.
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Now, put your
WINDOWS BOOT DISK into the A (floppy) drive
Switch your computer ON using the main On/Off switch.
Your computer will either boot directly to the A Command Prompt ( It looks like this : A:\> ) OR you will be presented with a menu of options.
If your boot disk takes you directly to the A:\> Command prompt, SKIP THE NEXT SECTIONS and go directly to EXERCISE 1.
However, if you do get options, and depending on which boot disk you are using, the option "WITH CD-ROM SUPPORT" may be the first option, and highlighted. It will look like this :
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Your boot disk may present you
with this screen. Option 1 "With
CD-ROM Support" is already
highlighted. All you need to
do is press the "Enter" key on
your keyboard.
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If you get a different menu, and the "Help" option is No 1 and highlighted, use your "down-arrow" to move to the next option - "WITH CD-Rom Support" - it looks like this :
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You may get this menu. Option 1
is highlighted. You want CD-ROM
support. So, use your "down-arrow"
to move "down" to Option 2.
When it is highlighted, press the
"Enter" key on your keyboard.
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Either way, files will load from the floppy and you will get to the "A" Command Prompt.
NOTE :
If you are using one of the Windows 95 or 98 disks that you downloaded last week, it will automatically go to the "A" Command prompt AND you will have CD Rom support.
Dr. Mac's Bedside Reassurance :
The above might sound awfully complicated! Actually,
it's dead-pan easy. Although I have presented all three possible options one could get,
with the particular boot-disk you are using you will only get ONE of them! Just follow
the steps above one line at a time, doing what it says! When you actually SEE what happens
on your DOS screen, you will "see" how easy it is to follow.
EXERCISE 1-
No matter which boot disk you used, by following the steps they will ALL get to the "A:\" Command prompt. NOW ....
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At the "A" command prompt, type C:\
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That is : the letter C (it can be Capitol OR lower case - it makes no difference in DOS) - a full colon - make absolutely sure it is NOT a SEMI-colon ( ; ) - and a Backwards slash. No spaces! Just C:\
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This is how it looks in DOS :
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This is the "A" Command prompt.
At the A prompt type C:\
Then press "Enter"
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When you press "Enter" on your keyboard. The "A" Command prompt changes to a "C"
command prompt. It looks like this : C:\>_ (There will be a white cursor " _ "
blinking at the end) GOOD!
EXERCISE 2-
At the "C" Command Prompt, type in skandisk - that's all. Do NOT type a space first, do NOT try to type in BOLD letters, do NOT do anything fancy. Just type in the word skandisk
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You should now see the following on your DOS screen :
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YES! I know the spelling is wrong!
It's part of your learning-curve!
After changing to the "C" prompt,
simply type in ...
skandisk
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Let's pretend that you NOW notice your error! How do you correct things?
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First, try to use your mouse! Go on ... click away madly and try highlighting the words !
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You cannot use your mouse in DOS, so use the "Back-space" key on your keyboard to "wipe over" most of the word "skandisk" - erase all the letters except the first letter "s"
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The back-space key sits directly above your "Enter" key - it's the one with a long arrow pointing to the LEFT. (Note: The Back-space key is NOT one of the 4 "left/right/up/down" arrow keys)
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Back-space to the first letter "s" - then type the rest of the word in correctly - candisk
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You should now have : C:\>scandisk_ (REMEMBER : this last "_" is not something you type in. It automatically appears at the end of each Command prompt and any word you have typed. It's a cursor that blinks on and off. It tells you that you can now type something.)
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Now, play around! Use your back-space key to take ALL of scandisk away. Now type in your name. And take that out etc. Get used to NOT having a mouse!
GOOD! Now you know how to correct mistakes in DOS.
EXERCISE 3
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Back-space to wipe over any word you may have on your screen.
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All you can see now is your "C" Command prompt - C:\>
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Now, type A:\
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That is, the letter A (Capitol OR small) - a FULL colon - and a backwardsslash. NO SPACES!
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Now, press the "Enter" key on your keyboard.
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You should now be back at the "A:\>" Command prompt.
GOOD FOR YOU ! You've now learned (1) How to boot from your particular Windows boot-disk (2)
How to change to your hard drive's "C:\" command prompt. (3) How to type in commands (4) How
to correct mistakes and (5) How to get back to the "A:\" Command prompt.
NOW IT'S TIME TO LEAVE DOS AND GET BACK INTO WINDOWS. -
If you have followed the exercise above, you should now be back at the "A:\>" prompt.
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First - TAKE YOUR BOOT DISK OUT OF THE FLOPPY DRIVE.
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NOW, follow the steps below ....
HOW TO EXIT DOS AND REBOOT INTO WINDOWS-
Make absolutely sure there are NO FLOPPIES in the A (floppy) drive.
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Now, HOLD DOWN BOTH the "Ctrl" and the "Alt" keys. You will find them at the bottom, left corner of your keyboard.
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Still holding BOTH the Ctrl + Alt keys down, press ONCE on your "Del" (Delete) key.
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Your DOS screen will go completely blank.
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When the screen goes completely blank, you can release the keys you were holding down.
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Your computer will now reboot back into comfortable, colourful Windows again!
YOU'VE DONE IT ! AND LEARNED A GREAT DEAL IN THE PROCESS !
You see - I told you! It's really easy! AND ... don't you feel more masterful and in control of the hidden workings of your PC now ! You also have a "fix-it" tool that you can use if you ever have BIG PC problems.
In the next Clinic I will show you how to render effective
First Aid
to your computer in DOS
and how to make absolutely sure you can access your CD-ROM drive .... so ... see you again next
time.
Don't forget to give your PC its weekly MOT using "End It All" and "Scandisk" - and make
sure you check for viral updates for your AVG program. The "how to's ..." are all in previous
Clinics, so please VISIT THE LIBRARY for a complete listing and description
of ALL the Clinics. For ease of reference, you should save EACH complete Clinic as
a single file, in a special folder, on your own PC. Then, you can revise them at
any time - at your own pace - and without being connected to the internet. The
full "how to do it" is in Clinic 2
Best wishes and Happy Computing ...
(And ... how does it feel to be ... The Boss !)
Dr. Mac
Dr. Mac's Computer Clinic
LIBRARY
All the
Computer Clinics that have appeared on the idf50 web-site
are HERE
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HEALTH WARNING
Outdated programmes and lack of "know-how" can seriously affect the health of your PC including your internet and e-mail enjoyment
CLICK HERE
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