Type: Internal (2.0 and later) Syntax: BUFFERS=(number),(read-ahead number) Purpose: Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set the number of disk buffers (a number from 1 to 99) that will be available for use during data input. Also used to set a value for the number of sectors to be read …

Type: External (1.0 and later) Syntax: DISKCOPY [d:] [d:][/1][/V][/M] Purpose: Makes an exact copy of a diskette. Discussion This command is used only for copying diskettes, not fixed disks. The first drive you specify is the drive for the source diskette. The second is the drive for the target diskette. …

Type: External (6.0 and later) Syntax: MSCDEX /D:driver [/D:driver2. . .] [/E][/K][/S][/V][/L:letter] [/M:number] Purpose: Used to gain access to CD-ROM drives. Discussion MSCDEX can be loaded from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file or from the command prompt to gain access to CD-ROM drives. The device driver that came with your CD-ROM must …

VOL (Volume) Type: Internal (2.0 and later) Syntax: VOL [d:] Purpose: Displays a disk’s volume label. Discussion The VOL command is used to display the volume label. It is not used to add or change the volume label on a disk. For information on how to create, change, or delete …

Type: External (3.0 and later) Syntax: SHARE [/F:(space)] [/L:(locks)] Purpose: Installs support for file sharing and file locking. Discussion The SHARE command is used only when networking is active. After you use this command, DOS will check all read or write requests to determine the file sharing or locking status. …

Type: Internal (5.0 and later) Syntax: SWITCHES= [/K][/F][/N][/W] Purpose: Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to configure DOS in a special way; for example, to tell DOS to emulate different hardware configurations. Discussion One useful function of the SWITCHES command is if you are using older applications with a new enhanced …

Type: External (6.0 and later) Syntax: VSAFE [/option[+|-]…] [/NE][/NX][Ax|/Cx][/N][/D][/U] Purpose: VSAFE is a memory-resident program that continuously monitors your computer for viruses and displays a warning when it finds one. Discussion The VSAFE memory-resident program uses 22K of memory. You should not use the VSAFE command when Windows is running. …

Type: Internal (2.0 and later) Syntax: VER Purpose: Displays the DOS version number. Discussion VER displays the DOS version number for the version of DOS currently active. Example To display the currently operating version of DOS, enter ver The program will display MS-DOS Version (version number)

Type: Internal (3.1 and later) Syntax: FCBS=(number) Purpose: Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to specify the number of file-control blocks (FCBs) for file sharing. Discussion You should only include an FCBs in your CONFIG.SYS if the program you are using requires it. Most newer programs do not use FCBs. For …

Type: Internal (3.2 and later) Syntax: STACKS STACKS=(number),(size) Purpose: Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set the number of stack frames and the size of each stack frame. Discussion One stack is required whenever DOS receives a hardware interrupt from a device. The information DOS needs to resume the interrupted …