Epson Q50188015-1 Using MSDOS with Your Equity Ie, Starting and Exiting MS-DOS

Chapter 4

Using MSDOS with Your Equity Ie

Your Equity Ie comes with MS-DOS, version 3.3. MS-DOS manages your computer system by doing such things as keeping the computer’s memory organized, 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 use are introduced in this chapter. If you plan to use advanced features or create your own programs, see your MS-DOS 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 2, MS-DOS loads automatically when you turn on the computer. If you do not have a hard disk, insert your working copy of the Startup/Operating 1 diskette in drive A and turn on or reset the computer. MS-DOS then loads automatically 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 any peripherals, and then turn off the computer.

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