If you load MS-DOS from the hard disk, the command prompt looks like this:

C:\>

The hard disk prompt is different because the Apex 100\20 has been set up with a special command that changes the command prompt to show the current directory. (A directory consists of a group of files stored together under an identifying name. See Chapter 3 for a complete description of directories.)

The command that changes the command prompt is called PROMPT and it is stored in a file called AUTOEXEC.BAT. The AUTOEXEC.BAT file contains a series of commands that your computer performs each time it loads MS-DOS. You can add commands to this file to automate a set of procedures you normally perform each time you turn on the computer. See Chapter 3 for more information about using the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

Note

For consistency, this manual uses the same format for the command prompt for both drive A and drive C, that is: A> and C>.

Setting the Time and Date on the Apex 100\20

The first time you use your Apex 100\20, you need to set the correct date and time for the computer’s real-time clock. Follow these steps:

1.At the C> prompt, type DATE and press Enter. The screen displays the following:

Current date is Mon 7-24-89

Enter new date (mm-dd-yy):

Setting Up Your System

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