P.S. Please note that regardless of what your DOS system prompt happens to look like, it does NOT affect what you type in order to change the drive or directory.
In your case, just because your prompt is “C>”, this does not mean that to change the directory to PEW you would type “CD>PEW”. No matter what your prompt looks like, you still use the backslash (“CD\PEW”) to change directories; use the colon to change drives. If you use some other character or weird combination of characters, as you seem to have done, DOS won’t know what you’re talking about.
Good luck! You’ll get the hang of it . . . eventually.
OK, I loaded in a DOSMENU to help me fin my way around. All went well with the automatic installation process. I opened the files, read the examples and closed it down, to locate my previously loaded word processor.
Then I discovered that it made its own directory.
The I discovered that upon opening it up again, it kept loading in a sample display. I have to delete a few files. I had deleted fires from the other directory. So no problem.
Suddenly, my new directory will not let me delete files from the C> prompt! I go to C:\DOSMENU, go to the C> prompt and do the following: C>:ERASE\DOSMENU.TXT and it pops up ‘file not found.’
NOT FOUND?? IT’S RIGHT THERE! I can see it!
I tried the same with ORDER.BAT – it couldn’t find that one either.
You can’t just highlight what you want removed in DOS can you?
In my other DIR I have PCW <DIR>, which is a word processor. I go to the C> prompt and type: C>:PCW and I get bad command. I type in PCW.DIR and get bad command. I type PCW.EXE and get file not found.
Is it possible just to purge the computer of ALL DOS and load something else in? How about a DOS based word processor? I’ve loaded in menus from the DOS page to help me manage everything but I can’t even get the FRIGGIN’ MENUS TO FRIGGIN’ LOAD!!!
'xcuse me. I’ve a 6 pack waiting. It might not be enough.
Now, (several beers later) I made a discovery. I can load in the menu program by typing the following: (C>)DIR\DOSMENU, then (C>)DOSMENU\DOSMENU.EXE.
Up pops the menu – which does nothing because I have to use DOS TO ADD IN THE FRIGGIN’ PROGRAMS!!
So, I went back to C> directory. Located my word processor listed under PCW (DIR). I used the same formula as above – only with PCW to open the dir. Unfortunately, typing in (C>)PCW.EXE gets me nothing but a file not found!
It’s there, but the damn DOS can’t see it!!
I typed in (C>)PCW\WP2PCW.EXE another exe file and this popped up:
USAGE: PCW2WP infile outfile [frontfile][/version] [/e] {infile != outfile}
You know, you are sure spending a lot of time on that little program. DOS has a great wordprocessor, its called EDIT.COM & its located in the DOS directory.
Let’s just back up a little and forget details for a minute.
DOS runs programs by looking in several places, and running the first thing it finds with the name you typed. (Most command-line operating systems work this way, although the rules for searching vary a bit.)
First, there are built-in commands that run directly; they’re parts of COMMAND.COM, which loads as the machine starts up. There’s nothing much you can do about them.
Then DOS looks in the current directory. (Use Athena’s method so you can see where you are. I was really impressed that she remembered! I think I’m in love!)
Last, it looks through a list of directories in the PATH variable. Joe_Cool posted a start; add the directory names of any apps you install, separated by semicolons, so the path statement in AUTOEXEC.BAT right now could look like ‘path=c:\DOS;c:\DOSMENU;c:\pcw’. (See how I used the Disable Smilies checkbox? Did it work?)
Most DOS apps don’t really need any more installation than that. In fact, ‘CD \pcw’ before trying to run it would avoid having to fix your path.