command-line
Edit: Command Prompt is the correct name.
In your start menu, under accessories select the windows command prompt. Type the proper commands in, press enter. The proper commands can be found by hitting the help button for more information.
It's blurred (intentionally, by Microsoft). An operating system is the program that allows the computer to communicate with all its parts. Windows is a GUI (graphic user interface) that "allows" humans to operate a computer. Believe it or not, under the pretty pictures, (and that long pause after you turn it on), your computer is still running DOS (or MSDOS : Microsoft disk operating system)
Not sure what you mean by "clutter". You can simplify your windows down to just the command window by toggling all of them off under the "windows" toolbar.
Yes. The software needs to be able to use the commands and files that are available in Windows XP. Windows Vista will have these available as well as other files and commands that have been developed since Windows XP was released. However, do not confuse this with device drivers. If you have a piece of hardware that specifies that the drivers are for Windows XP, these will not necessarily work under Windows Vista and you will need to download the correct drivers from the manufacturer's website.
If you're using Windows Vista or Windows 7, the easiest way is simply to type 'cmd' into the search box on the Start menu, then choose cmd.exe from the results. If you have any older Windows, like Windows Xp, windows 98 etc. You will have to search for it, click start, and look under accessories.
Under accessories in Windows, you'll find something called MS Dos Prompt or something to that effect, which is somewhat similar. However, you can't use the same commands for obvious reasons, given the differences in the OS structures.
We would have lost the war and still be under the British Commands
Yes, You can use winzip or winrar and it should work without these also.
In 1985 we were using computers with DOS 2.0 for IBMs. Windows was still a few years away. Even after Windows286 was introdused, windows didn't really take hold until Windows 3.1. And they still required DOS to be running "under" them.
That is not an upgrade. The first version of Windows "upgraded" from MS-DOS text command interface to a graphical user interface. If you want to run DOS commands under Windows, open a command line window.
In general, yes; most software that runs under windows 7 will run under windows 8.
Yes, electrical outlets can go under windows.