DOS Shell

Shells provide the user interface in DOS, or the way you interact with the system. COMMAND.COM is the program that provides the command-driven user interface described in this tutorial. Other shells can be substituted for COMMAND.COM, by adding the Shell command in the Config.sys file; for example:

            shell=xyzmenu.com

DOS 4.01 came with an optional user interface known as the DOS Shell that let you command DOS with menus. The DOS install program created the DOSSHELL.BAT batch file, which loaded the DOS Shell as follows (it did not use the Shell command, because it was an alternate, not a substitute):

            dosshell

As of DOS 5, the DOS Shell was completely revised, and DOSSHELL.COM is used to start it. Run it by typing:

      dosshell /t    text (character) mode
      dosshell /g    graphics mode
      dosshell /bw   black & white (laptops)

Download Computer Desktop Encyclopedia to your iPhone/iTouch