MS DOS Command: FILES

Reference from Microsoft MS-DOS cmd help

Description

Specifies the number of files that MS-DOS can access at one time. You can use this command only in your CONFIG.SYS file.

Syntax

FILES=x

Parameters

x	Specifies the number of files that MS-DOS can access at one time. Valid values for x are in the range 8 through 255. The default value is 8.

Remarks

Although the default setting for the x parameter is 8, some programs require a larger value. A typical setting is 30.

The value you set for FILES may not be the only determining factor in how many files a program can have open at a time. The design of the program may limit how many files it can have open.

Examples

To specify that MS-DOS can access up to 20 files at one time, add the following line to your CONFIG.SYS file:

files=20

MS DOS Command: FORMAT.COM

Reference from Microsoft MS-DOS cmd help

Description

Formats a disk for use with MS-DOS.

The FORMAT command creates a new root directory and file allocation table for the disk. It can also check for bad areas on the disk, and it can delete all data on the disk. In order for MS-DOS to be able to use a new disk, you must first use this command to format the disk.

Syntax

FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/U] [/F:size][/B|/S] [/C]

FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/U] [/T:tracks /N:sectors] [/B|/S] [/C]

FORMAT drive: [/V[:label]] [/Q] [/U] [/1] [/4] [/B|/S] [/C]

FORMAT drive: [/Q] [/U] [/1] [/4] [/8] [/B|/S] [/C]

Warning: Do not format a floppy disk at a size higher than it was designed for. For more information, see Format--Notes.

Parameters

drive:

Specifies the drive containing the disk you want to format. You must specify a drive parameter. If you do not specify any of the following switches, FORMAT uses the drive type to determine the default format for the disk. If the disk was previously formatted and you do not use the /U switch, the old file allocation table and root directory are saved to allow unformatting of the disk if necessary. If you realize that you formatted the wrong disk, use the UNFORMAT command as soon as possible.

Switches

/V:label	SSpecifies the volume label. A volume label identifies the disk and can be a maximum of 11 characters. If you omit the /V switch or use it without specifying a volume label, MS-DOS prompts you for the volume label after the formatting is completed. If you format more than one disk by using one FORMAT command, all of the disks will be given the same volume label. The /V switch is not compatible with the /8 switch. For more information about disk volume labels, see the DIR, LABEL, and VOL commands.
/Q	Specifies a quick format of a disk. With this switch, FORMAT deletes the file allocation table (FAT) and the root directory of a previously formatted disk, but does not scan the disk for bad areas. Use the /Q switch to format only previously formatted disks that you know are in good condition.
/U	Specifies an unconditional format of a disk. Unconditional formatting destroys all existing data on a disk and prevents you from later "unformatting" the disk. You should use /U if you have received read and write errors during use of a disk. For information about unformatting a disk, see the UNFORMAT command.
/F:size	Specifies the size of the floppy disk to format. When possible, use this switch instead of the /T and /N switches. Use one of the following values for size: 160 (or 160K or 160KB) 160K, single-sided, double-density, 5.25-inch disk 180 (or 180K or 180KB) 180K, single-sided, double-density, 5.25-inch disk 320 (or 320K or 320KB) 320K, double-sided, double-density, 5.25-inch disk 360 (or 360K or 360KB) 360K, double-sided, double-density, 5.25-inch disk 720 (or 720K or 720KB) 720K, double-sided, double-density, 3.5-inch disk 1200 (or 1200K or 1200KB or 1.2 or 1.2M or 1.2MB) 1.2-MB, double-sided, quadruple-density, 5.25-inch disk 1440 (or 1440K or 1440KB or 1.44 or 1.44M or 1.44MB) 1.44-MB, double-sided, quadruple-density, 3.5-inch disk 2880 (or 2880K or 2880KB or 2.88 or 2.88M or 2.88MB) 2.88-MB, double-sided, extra-high-density, 3.5-inch disk
/B	Reserves space for the system files IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS (as hidden files) on a newly formatted disk. In previous versions of MS-DOS, it was necessary to reserve this space before using the SYS command to copy the system files to the disk. This switch is maintained in MS-DOS version 6.0 for compatibility reasons only.
/S	Copies the operating system files IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, and COMMAND.COM from your system's startup drive to a newly formatted disk that you can use as a system disk. If FORMAT cannot find the operating system files, it prompts you to insert a system disk.
/T:tracks	Specifies the number of tracks on the disk. When possible, use the /F switch instead of this switch. If you use the /T switch, you must also use the /N switch. These two switches provide an alternative method of specifying the size of the disk being formatted. You cannot use the /F switch with the /T switch.
/N:sectors	Specifies the number of sectors per track. When possible, use the /F switch instead of this switch. If you use the /N switch, you must * also use the /T switch. These two switches provide an alternative method of specifying the size of the disk being formatted. You cannot use the /F switch with the /N switch.
/1	Formats a single side of a floppy disk.
/4	Formats a 5.25-inch, 360K, double-sided, double-density floppy disk on a 1.2-MB disk drive. Some 360K drives cannot reliably read disks formatted with this switch. When used with the /1 switch, this switch formats a 5.25-inch, 180K, single-sided floppy disk.
/8	Formats a 5.25-inch disk with 8 sectors per track. This switch formats a floppy disk to be compatible with MS-DOS versions earlier than 2.0.
/C	Retests bad clusters. By default, if a drive contains clusters that have been marked as "bad", FORMAT does not retest the clusters; it simply leaves them marked "bad". Use the /C switch if you want FORMAT to retest all bad clusters on the drive. (In previous versions of MS-DOS, FORMAT always retested any bad clusters.)

Related Command

For information about restoring disks after using the FORMAT command, see the UNFORMAT command.

Remarks

Formatting a floppy disk

Do not format a floppy disk at a size higher than it was designed for. For example, do not format a 360K floppy disk at 1.2MB.

Also, if you use the FORMAT command without specifying the size of the floppy disk, MS-DOS will format the floppy disk at the disk capacity of the disk drive. Thus, if you format a floppy disk without specifying the size, be careful not to use a floppy disk smaller than the capacity of the disk drive.

Typing a volume label

After formatting a floppy disk, FORMAT displays the following message:

Volume label (11 characters, ENTER for none)?

The volume label can be a maximum of 11 characters (including spaces). If you do not want your disk to have a volume label, press ENTER. For information about volume labels, see the LABEL command.

Formatting a hard disk

When you use the FORMAT command to format a hard disk, MS-DOS displays a message similar to the following before attempting to format the hard disk:

WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK

DRIVE x: WILL BE LOST!

Proceed with Format (Y/N)?_

To format the hard disk, press Y; if you do not want to format the disk, press N.

FORMAT messages

When formatting is complete, MS-DOS displays messages showing the total disk space, any space marked as defective, the total space used by the operating system (if you used the /S or /B switch), and the space available for your files.

Safe formatting

If you do not specify the /U switch or a switch that reformats the disk to a different size, FORMAT performs a "safe" format. It clears the file allocation table and root directory of the disk but does not delete any data. You can then use the UNFORMAT command to recover the disk if you did not intend to format the disk. FORMAT also checks each sector on the disk to ensure that the sector can properly store data. If it locates a sector that cannot store data, FORMAT marks that sector to prevent MS-DOS from using it.

If you specify the /U switch or any switch that changes the size of the disk, FORMAT performs an unconditional format by deleting all data on the disk.

Quick formatting

You can speed up the formatting process by using the /Q switch. Use this switch only if you have not received read or write errors on your disk. You can speed up the process even more by using both the /Q and /U switches. If you use the /U switch, FORMAT does not save the information necessary to later unformat the disk.

Formatting a new disk

When you use FORMAT to format a disk that has never been formatted, you can specify the switches /U /C to reduce formatting time.

If you are using DriveSpace and don't often use compressed floppies, you might also want to disable the AutoMount feature to further reduce formatting time. To do this, use the DRVSPACE /AUTOMOUNT command, or turn off the Automount option in the Options dialog (start DriveSpace, and then choose Options from the Tools menu).

Using format with a SUBST drive or a network drive

You should not use the FORMAT command on a drive prepared by using the SUBST command. You cannot format disks over a network or an Interlnk drive.

FORMAT exit codes

The following list shows each exit code and a brief description of its meaning:

0	The format operation was successful.
3	The user pressed CTRL+C or CTRL+BREAK to stop the process
4	A fatal error occurred (any error other than 0, 3, or 5).
5	The user pressed N in response to the prompt "Proceed with Format (Y/N)?" to stop the process.

You can check these exit codes by using the ERRORLEVEL condition with the IF batch command. For an example of a batch program that supports ERRORLEVEL conditions, see the CHOICE command.

Examples

To format a new floppy disk in drive A using the default size, type the following command:

format a:

To perform a quick format on a previously formatted disk in drive A, type the following command:

format a: /q

To format a floppy disk in drive A, completely deleting all data on the disk, type the following command:

format a: /u

To format a 360K floppy disk in drive A and copy the operating system files to the disk to make it a system disk, type the following command:

format a: /f:360 /s

To format a floppy disk in drive A and assign to it the volume label "DATA", type the following command:

format a: /v:DATA

MS DOS 6.22 Commands Fasthelp

Reference from Microsoft FASTHELP.EXE

MS-DOS 6.22 Fast Help

APPEND	Allows programs to open data files in specified directories as if they were in the current directory.
ATTRIB	Displays or changes file attributes.
BREAK	Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking.
CD	Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHCP	Displays or sets the active code page number.
CHDIR	Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHKDSK	Checks a disk and displays a status report.
CHOICE	Prompts the user to make a choice in a batch program.
CLS	Clears the screen.
COMMAND	Starts a new instance of the MS-DOS command interpreter.
COMP	Compares the contents of two files or sets of files.
COPY	Copies one or more files to another location.
CTTY	Changes the terminal device used to control your system.
DATE	Displays or sets the date.
DBLSPACE	Creates and manages drives compressed by using DoubleSpace.
DEBUG	Starts Debug, a program testing and editing tool.
DEFRAG	Reorganizes the files on a disk to optimize the disk.
DEL	Deletes one or more files.
DELOLDOS	Deletes the OLD_DOS.1 directory and the files it contains.
DELTREE	Deletes a directory and all the files and subdirectories in it.
DIR	Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.
DISKCOMP	Compares the contents of two floppy disks.
DISKCOPY	Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another.
DOSKEY	Edits command lines, recalls MS-DOS commands, and creates macros.
DOSSHELL	Starts MS-DOS Shell.
DRVSPACE	Creates and manages drives compressed by using DriveSpace.
ECHO	Displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
EDIT	Starts MS-DOS Editor, which creates and changes ASCII files.
EMM386	Enables or disables EMM386 expanded memory support.
ERASE	Deletes one or more files.
EXIT	Quits the COMMAND.COM program (command interpreter).
EXPAND	Decompresses one or more compressed files.
FASTHELP	Provides summary Help information for MS-DOS commands.
FASTOPEN	Decreases the amount of time needed to open frequently used files and directories.
FC	Compares two files or sets of files, and displays the differences between them.
FDISK	Configures a hard disk for use with MS-DOS.
FIND	Searches for a text string in a file or files.
FOR	Runs a specified command for each file in a set of files.
FORMAT	Formats a disk for use with MS-DOS.
GRAPHICS	Loads a program that can print graphics.
HELP	Provides complete, interactive Help information for MS-DOS commands.
INTERLNK	Connects two computers via parallel or serial ports.
INTERSVR	Starts the Interlnk server.
KEYB	Configures a keyboard for a specific language.
LABEL	Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.
LH	Loads a program into the upper memory area.
LOADFIX	Loads a program above the first 64K of memory, and runs the program.
LOADHIGH	Loads a program into the upper memory area.
MD	Creates a directory.
MEM	Displays the amount of used and free memory in your system.
MEMMAKER	Starts the Memmaker program, which optimizes your computer's memory.
MKDIR	Creates a directory.
MODE	Configures a system device.
MORE	Displays output one screen at a time.
MOVE	Moves one or more files. Also renames files and directories.
MSAV	Scans your computer for known viruses.
MSBACKUP	Backs up or restores one or more files from one disk to another.
MSD	Provides detailed technical information about your computer.
NLSFUNC	Loads country-specific information.
PATH	Displays or sets a search path for executable files.
PAUSE	Suspends processing of a batch file and displays a message.
POWER	Turns power management on and off.
PRINT	Prints a text file while you are using other MS-DOS commands.
PROMPT	Changes the MS-DOS command prompt.
QBASIC	Starts the MS-DOS QBasic programming environment.
RD	Removes a directory.
REN	Renames a file or files.
RENAME	Renames a file or files.
REPLACE	Replaces files.
RESTORE	Restores files that were backed up by using the BACKUP command.
RMDIR	Removes a directory.
SCANDISK	Checks a drive for errors and repairs any problems it finds.
SET	Displays, sets, or removes MS-DOS environment variables.
SETVER	Sets the version number that MS-DOS reports to a program.
SHARE	Installs file-sharing and locking capabilities on your hard disk.
SORT	Sorts input.
SUBST	Associates a path with a drive letter.
SYS	Copies MS-DOS system files and command interpreter to a disk you specify.
TIME	Displays or sets the system time.
TREE	Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path.
TYPE	Displays the contents of a text file.
UNDELETE	Restores files previously deleted with the DEL command.
UNFORMAT	Restores a disk erased by the FORMAT command.
VER	Displays the MS-DOS version.
VERIFY	Directs MS-DOS to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk.
VOL	Displays a disk volume label and serial number.
VSAFE	Continuously monitors your computer for viruses.
XCOPY	Copies files (except hidden and system files) and directory trees.