What's new or different from MS-DOS

Windows 2000 retains and enhances almost all the functionality of MS-DOS. These tables explain new Windows 2000 commands not found in MS-DOS, changes to MS-DOS commands, and unavailable MS-DOS commands.

Windows 2000 Commands

This table explains Windows 2000 system commands not found in MS-DOS.

Command	Function
at	Schedules commands and programs to run on a computer at a specified time and date.
cacls	Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files.
convert	Converts file systems from FAT or FAT32 to NTFS.
dosonly	Prevents starting applications other than MS-DOS-based applications from the Command.com prompt.
echoconfig	Displays messages when reading the MS-DOS subsystem Config.nt file.
endlocal	Ends localization of environment variables.
findstr	Searches for text in files using regular expressions.
ntcmdprompt	Runs the Windows 2000 command interpreter, Cmd.exe, rather than Command.com after running a TSR or after starting the command prompt from within an MS-DOS application.
popd	Changes to the directory last set with the pushd command.
pushd	Saves the current directory for use by the popd command, and then changes to the specified directory.
setlocal	Begins localization of environmental variables.
start	Runs a specified program or command in a secondary window and in its own memory space.
Title	sets the title of the command prompt window.
&&	Command following this symbol runs only if the command preceding the symbol succeeds.
\|\|	Command following this symbol runs only if the command preceding the symbol fails.
&	Separates multiple commands on the command line.
( )	Groups commands.
^	Escape character. Allows typing command symbols as text.
; or ,	Separates parameters.

Changes to MS-DOS Commands

This table lists changes and improvements to MS-DOS commands.

Command	Changed features
chcp	Changes code pages for full-screen mode only.
cmd	Cmd.exe replaces Command.com.
del	New switches provide many more functions.
dir	New switches provide many more functions.
diskcomp	Switches /1 and /8 are not supported.
diskcopy	Switch /1 is not supported.
doskey	Available for all character-based programs that accept buffered input. Doskey has been improved by a series of enhancements.
format	20.8 MB optical drive supported. Switches /b, /s, and /u are not supported.
label	The symbols ^ and & can be used in a volume label.
mode	Extensive changes.
more	New switches provide many more functions.
path	The %PATH%environment variable appends the current path to a new setting at the command prompt.
print	Switches /b, /c, /m, /p, /q, /s, /t, and /u are not supported.
prompt	New character combinations allow you to add ampersands ($a), parentheses ($c and $f), and spaces ($s) to your prompt.
recover	Recovers files only.
rmdir	New /s switch deletes directories containing files and subdirectories.
sort	Does not require TEMP environment variable. File size is unlimited.
xcopy	New switches provide many more functions.

Unavailable MS-DOS Commands

The following MS-DOS commands are not available at the command prompt.

Command	New procedure or reason for obsolescence
assign	Not supported in Windows 2000.
backup	Not currently supported.
choice	Not currently supported.
ctty	Not currently supported.
dblspace	Not supported.
defrag	Windows 2000 automatically optimizes disk use. To optimize a disk manually, right-click it in My Computer, click Properties, and then, on the Tools tab, click Defragment Now.
deltree	The rmdir /s command deletes directories containing files and subdirectories.
diskperf	Not currently supported.
dosshell	Unnecessary with Windows 2000.
drvspace	The Drvspace program is not currently supported.
emm386	Unnecessary with Windows 2000.
fasthelp	This MS-DOS 6.0 command is the same as the Windows 2000 command help. Windows 2000 also provides an online command reference.
fdisk	Disk Management prepares hard disks for use with Windows 2000.
include	Multiple configurations of the MS-DOS subsystem are not supported.
interlnk	The Interlnk program is not supported.
intersrv	The Intersrv program is not supported.
join	Increased partition size and an improved file system eliminate the need to join drives.
memmaker	Windows 2000 automatically optimizes the MS-DOS subsystem's memory use.
menucolor	Multiple configurations of the MS-DOS subsystem are not supported.
menudefault	Multiple configurations of the MS-DOS subsystem are not supported.
menuitem	Multiple configurations of the MS-DOS subsystem are not supported.
mirror	Not supported in Windows 2000.
msav	The Msav program is not supported.
msbackup	Windows 2000 provides the Backup utility (in the Administrative Tools in Control Panel) for computers with tape drives, or the xcopy command for computers without tape drives.
mscdex	It is unnecessary to configure the MS-DOS subsystem to use a CD-ROM drives. Windows 2000 provides access to CD-ROM drives for the MS-DOS subsystem.
msd	Use the System Information snap-in. To start System Information, click Start, click Run, and then type `msinfo32`.
numlock	Not currently supported.
power	The Power utility is not supported.
restore	Not currently supported.
scandisk	The Scandisk utility is not supported.
smartdrv	Windows 2000 automatically provides caching for the MS-DOS subsystem.
submenu	Multiple configurations of the MS-DOS subsystem are not supported.
sys	Windows 2000 will not fit on a standard 1.2 MB or 1.44 MB floppy disk.
undelete	Not supported in Windows 2000.
unformat	Not supported in Windows 2000.
vsafe	The Vsafe program is not supported.