Using MS-DOS With the Equity LT
Your Equity LT comes with version 3.2 of MS-DOS, the disk operating system by Microsoft? In this chapter, you’ll learn some of the basic procedures for using MS-DOS with your computer.
MS-DOS manages the routine work of your system, such as keeping the computer’s memory organized, controlling screen displays, accepting keyboard input, and directing external communication. Your software cannot communicate with the computer’s hardware without instructions from the operating system. The operating system controls system input and output and the operation of all disk drives.
Before you can use an MS-DOS application program, MS-DOS must be running in your computer’s memory. This means that you must first load MS-DOS so that the operating system can accept your instructions and make the right connections.
To communicate with the operating system, you need to enter MS-DOS commands. How much you need to know about the MS-DOS commands depends on how you plan to use your Equity LT. If you plan to use it only for running application programs, you’ll use very few MS-DOS commands. If you plan to use advanced features or create your own programs, you’ll want to know as much as possible about MS-DOS.
If you plan to use your computer primarily for running application programs, you’ll find that this chapter introduces you to the MS-DOS features you’ll use the most. For more in- depth information about MS-DOS, see your MS-DOS manual.
The basic procedures you must know include how to do the following:
• Start and exit MS-DOS
| Using MS-DOS With the Equity LT | 4-1 |