Epson 20, 386 Using MS-DOSwith Your Equity, Starting and Exiting MS-DOS

Chapter 5

Using MS-DOS with Your Equity 386

Your Equity 386 comes with version 3.3 of MS-DOS. This operating system manages your computer by organizing the computer’s memory, controlling the monitor display, accepting keyboard input, and directing external communications.

To communicate with the operating system, you use MS-DOS commands. How much you need to know about MS-DOS depends on how you plan to use your computer. If you plan to use it for running application programs only, the few MS-DOS commands you’ll need are introduced in this chapter. If you plan to use advanced features or create your own programs, see your MS-DOS Reference Manual for a complete description of MS-DOS.

Starting and Exiting MS-DOS

Before you can run an MS-DOS application program, MS-DOS must be running in memory If you have a hard disk that you prepared according to the procedures in Chapter 3, MS-DOS is loaded automatically when you turn on the computer. If you do not have a hard disk, insert your working copy of the MS-DOS Startup diskette in drive A and then turn on or reset the computer. The computer then loads MS-DOS from drive A.

When the date and time prompts appear, press Enter to accept the date and time shown. The screen then displays the MS-DOS command prompt, A > or C >. This tells you that MS-DOS is loaded and identifies the current drive.

Before you turn off the computer, make sure the A > or C > prompt is displayed. Then remove your diskettes, turn off your computer, and turn off any peripherals.

Using MS-DOS with Your Equity 386 5-1