I used to use DOS, a LONG time ago. I remember a little, but not a lot. Here is my problem: I have an OLD computer that does have some recent files on it. There are two hard drives in this machine, both with data I MUST retrieve. Recently, WIND98 went totally south in the machine. I do not know what caused it, nor how to fix it, but have not the time to fix it so I want to use DOS to retrieve what I need. I know most of the commands I think I need but do not remember how to properly use them. I need to know the following:
Starting from C: I need to get into My Documents. But I do not remember the command to change directory. Then I want to run a list of the directory contents, one page at a time so I can actually read what is there. Then I want to move some files from that directory to a thumb drive I will have in the machine which will be F: To get them to the thumb drive, I can either copy or move and do not care which but believe I want to do copy thus leaving a copy on the hard drive in the machine, JIC.
Can anyone help me with this, please.
DaAncientOne"cd " changes directories
and I believe you use "F:" to change to the F drive, But this could be wrong.

Try using "copy -?" or "copy /?".Hello DaAncientOne:
It is posoble, please check

a.- Starting from C:

C: and PRESS ENTER

b.- I need to get into My Documents.

CD C:\Users\DaAncientOne\Documents and Press ENTER

Note: if is necesario Change the PATH:
C:\Users\DaAncientOne\My Documents
for: The Path on your computer to "My Documents"

c.- Then I want to run a list of the directory contents,
one page at a time so I can actually read what is there.

Dir /p

d.- Then I want to move some files from that directory to a
thumb drive I will have in the machine which will be F:
To get them to the thumb drive,

One file at a time, with Move.

MOVE C:\Users\DaAncientOne\My Documents\File01 F:\Saved_Files\File01

or
One file at a time, with Copy

COPY C:\Users\DaAncientOne\My Documents\File01 F:\Saved_Files\File01

or
All My-Documents Sub-directory
and Sub-Sub-Subdirectories.

xCOPY C:\Users\DaAncientOne\My Documents\*.* F:\Saved_Files\*.* /D/E/V/H/K/Y/I

At end, all the files are on drive F:

If the machine has a cdrom then you can boot up a bootable cdrom of a Live linux OS and it will have a GUI file manager that you can browse the files with and copy them to a USB flashdrive.

The only points you may need to know is that drives are not called c: d: but are called hda1 hda2 hdb1 and sda1 etc. The Linux should mount the available drives when booting - Ubuntu does I think.

Linux Mint is said to be most like Windows.Adan, Thanks you very much. You hit the nail RIGHT on the head. As I read your post, it all flowed back into my tired old brain. Since posting this, I remembered I have the o/s on disc. IF I can find that, I figured I could boot up with it in the machine and maybe gain control. I have no idea what happened. I love auto racing (INDY style and most others) and have a ton of photos I was looking at thru VuePrint and all of sudden, the machine went bonkers and off it went into a tirade like a 3 year old kid. Finally, it stopped. Lately, when viewing the pictures, they have been very blurred. I tried some things and it helped a bit. AFter the tirade, they were clearer than ever before. I don't use this machine very often, it is in my workshop and I mainly now put ideas and creations into it before trying them to so I can refer to them to refresh this old brain. After the tirade, I didn't shut it down for a couple of days and finally I did. Then when I tried to turn it on, it was a disaster. Now it goes into scandisk and then just sits there doing nothing. I have tried to get into command prompt and that is when my DOS memory went blank. I might try the O/S disk, or I might just copy what I need and discard it somewhere if I can find anyone who can use I will give it to them, AFTER I clear everything in it as there is ALSO a ton of business files in it. I had considered adding it to my current system, but it is also very old (eight years) and I am getting a new one before the end of the year. Then I might clear out this one (the newest) and add the hard drives from the old one but that is almost a waste of time considering now how small they are. So for me, it is get what I can from the old, put on this machine. then get a new machine. I just have too much work to do and do not trust anyone else to do it. I have had many "experts" over the years do things and they always screw it up. Oh well.

Thanks again guys for answering and to Adan for exactly what I was looking for. And, thank God for this board!Before I get out of everyone's hair, I read on the net that beginning with Windows 8, you can no longer use DOS. Is that true?

And of the latest versions of windows, what do you all recommend? I am very happy with XP Pro SPC, but it has to go now, I guess.Quote from: DaAncientOne on August 24, 2013, 05:53:33 PM

Before I get out of everyone's hair, I read on the net that beginning with Windows 8, you can no longer use DOS. Is that true?
...

Before I get out of everyone's hair, I read on the net that beginning with Windows 8, you can no longer use DOS. Is that true?

And of the latest versions of windows, what do you all recommend? I am very happy with XP Pro SPC, but it has to go now, I guess.

I read on the net that beginning with Windows 8, you can no longer use DOS. Is that true?

64 bit windows of any kind cannot run 16 bit programs.