List of DOS commands depending on PC98
For general DOS commands, refer to other websites. This page lists specific DOS commands depending on NEC PC-9800 series.
General DOS commands you must know
You must know bellow commands if you use MS-DOS.
Copy the entire contents of floppy disk | DISKCOPY |
Format a floppy disk or a hard disk | FORMAT |
Display a list of files and directories | DIR |
Copy one or more files | COPY |
Copy files with directory trees | XCOPY |
Delete one or more files | DEL(ERASE) |
Create a directory | MD(MKDIR) |
Delete a directory | RD(RMDIR) |
Change the current directory | CD(CHDIR) |
Display the content of a text file | TYPE |
Use the screen editor (text editor) | SEDIT |
Paginate and display the content of a text file | MORE |
Create or update CONFIG.SYS file | CUSTOM |
Show or change the current date | DATE |
Show or change the current time | TIME |
Red commands indicates DOS commands depending on PC98.
DOS commands depending on PC98
In MS-DOS 3.1 and laters, many commands have text-based menus, so you don't have to try parameter switches. Note that MS-DOS Version 2.11 was sold as MS-DOS 2.0, and Version 5.0A-H was installed in some models, but not sold separately.
AVGDRV | |
Function | Install the extended graphics driver |
Supported | 5.0A-H, 6.2 |
Format | AVGDRV [/E] [/C] [/S] [/R] |
Note | This is the runtime library using the 256 color mode of PC-9821 series. Softwares written for the library use the driver. |
AVSDRV | |
Function | Install the extended sound driver |
Supported | 5.0A-H, 6.2 |
Format | AVSDRV [/E] [/F] [/P] [/R] |
Note | This is the runtime library using PCM/FM sound chips of PC-9801-86 or equivalents. Softwares written for the library use the driver. |
BATKEY | |
Function | (Batch) Show the message and wait for keyboard input |
Supported | 5.0 - |
Format | BATKEY [0|1|2] [message] |
Note | The command will wait for numeric keys (0), Y or N keys (1), or all keys (2), specified by the first parameter. The value of input key is put into ERRORLEVEL as numbers (0-9), Y (0), N (255) or ASCII code. |
COPY2 | |
Function | Transfer files between a hard disk and a floppy disk |
Supported | 2.11 - |
Format1 | COPY2 filepath [drive:] |
Format2 | COPY2 filepath [path] /R |
Note | This command backups or restores large size of files to floppy disks. |
COPYA | |
Function | Transfer a file through serial port |
Supported | 2.11 - |
Format1 | COPYA |
Format2 | COPYA [/B] AUX filepath |
Format3 | COPYA [/B] filepath AUX |
Menu | |
Note | The command transfer file between two PCs using the RS-232C reversed cable. |
CUSTOM | |
Function | Edit the configuration files (CONFIG.SYS) |
Supported | 3.1 - |
Format | CUSTOM [filepath] |
Menu | |
DICM | |
Function | Edit the user-dictionary of the language input (NEC AI Kana Kanji Converter) |
Supported | 2.11 - |
Format | DICM [filepath] |
Menu | |
DISKCOPY | |
Function | Copy/Verify a floppy disk |
Supported | 2.11 - |
Format | DISKCOPY [drive:] [drive:] [/V] |
Menu | |
Note | FDNCOPY command can duplicate a floppy disk faster than DISKCOPY. |
DUMP | |
Function | Display the content of a file with hex digits |
Supported | 2.11 - |
Format | DUMP [filepath] [start address [end address]] [/D] |
Menu | |
FILECONV | |
Function | Transfer a file between N88-Nihongo BASIC(86) and MS-DOS file systems |
Supported | 3.1 - |
Format | FILECONV |
Menu | |
Note | It was initially a standalone software sold as N88/MS-DOS File Converter (PS98-216). |
FDNCOPY | |
Function | Fast copying the entire contents of a floppy disk |
Supported | 5.0A-H |
Format | FDNCOPY [drive: [drive:]] |
Menu | |
Note | Faster version of DISKCOPY command. It requires extended memory and a hard disk. |
FORMAT | |
Function | Format a floppy disk, a magnetic optical disk (MO), or a hard disk |
Supported | 2.11 - |
Format1 | FORMAT |
Format2 | FORMAT [drive:] [/S|/B] [/V] [/1|/4|/5|/6|/9|/M] [/P] [/Q] [/U] |
Format3 | FORMAT /H|/E|/F |
Menu | |
HDUTL | |
Function | Diagnose a harddisk, remap skip sectors, copy the entire contents of a hard disk |
Supported | 3.3 - |
Format | HDUTL |
Menu | |
INSTAP | |
Function | Add an application to DOS Shell |
Supported | 5.0 - |
Format | INSTAP [/M] |
Menu | |
KEY | |
Function | Assign an operation to function keys |
Supported | 2.11 - |
Format | KEY [filepath] [/S] [/N] |
Menu | |
MAOIX | |
Function | Install an application which provides the i Script |
Supported | 5.0 - |
Format | MAOIX [filepath] |
Menu | |
MENU | |
Function | Show the command menu |
Supported | 3.1 - |
Format | MENU [filepath] /L |
Menu | |
Note | The command was added in MS-DOS 3.1, and was superseded by DOSSHELL in MS-DOS 5.0. |
MENUCONV | |
Function | Add applications written in the Menu File (*.MNU) to DOSSHELL |
Supported | 5.0 - |
Format | MENUCONV [filepath] [filepath] |
MENUED | |
Function | Edit the Menu File (*.MNU) |
Supported | 3.3 - 3.3D |
Format | MENUED [filepath] |
Menu | |
NECAIKEY | |
Function | Change the key assign of language input (NEC AI Kana Kanji Converter) |
Supported | 3.3C - |
Format | NECAIKEY [filepath] |
Menu | |
PATCH | |
Function | Modify the binary of a file |
Supported | 3.3B - |
Format | PATCH |
Menu | |
RENDIR | |
Function | Change the directory name |
Supported | 3.1 - |
Format | RENDIR [drive:]path path |
SEDIT | |
Function | Run the screen editor |
Supported | 3.3D - |
Format | SEDIT [filepath] |
Menu | |
Note | SEDIT of MS-DOS 5.0 limits editing a file up to 250 lines. (Up to 64 KB or 1600 lines in MS-DOS 5.0A, 128KB in MS-DOS 6.2) I recommend JED instead of this. |
SETUP | |
Function | Install an application which provides SETUP.INI |
Supported | 3.1 - |
Format | SETUP [filepath] |
Menu | |
SPEED | |
Function | Set the data rate of RS-232C interface |
Supported | 2.11 - |
Format1 | SPEED |
Format2 | SPEED port-number baud-rate char-length parity-check stop-bits X-parameter |
Menu | |
Note | You need run this command before you use AUX device or COPYA command. In MS-DOS 3.1 and later, you need add 'DEVICE=RSDRV.SYS' to CONFIG.SYS. |
SWITCH | |
Function | Change the memory switches |
Supported | 2.11 - |
Format1 | SWITCH |
Format2 | SWITCH [R0 [parameter]] [PR [parameter]] [MY [parameter]] [CR [parameter]] [N1 [parameter]] [BT [parameter]] [N2 [parameter]] |
R0 | 9600, 4800, 2400, 1200, 600, 300, 150, 75, B8, B7, PN, PE, PO, S1, S2, XON, NONE |
PR | CEN24, CEN16, DN, DF |
MY | 128K, 256K, 384K, 512K, 640K, 768K |
CR | WE, GN |
N1 | YES, NO, 10, 8, 5 |
BT | STD, 1MFD, 640KBFD, H1, H2, SHD, OD |
N2 | YES, NO |
Menu | |
USKCGM | |
Function | Edit gaijis (user-defined characters) |
Supported | 2.11 - |
Format | USKCGM [file path] [/P] [/PS] |
Menu | |
VFDDRV | |
Function | Virtual FD Drive Driver |
Supported | 5.0A-H |
Format | VFDDRV [/R] |
Note | Traditionally, many PC98 softwares required two floppy drives. The PC-9821 series equipped with one floppy drive, but instead the Virtual FD Drive could create another floppy drive in the hard disk. The utility is only included in MS-DOS 5.0 A-H which is installed on some models. |
VRAMD | |
Function | Maket the Virtual FD Drive Boot Disk |
Supported | 5.0A-H |
Format | VRAMD |
Menu | |
Note | The Virtual FD Drive is supported only on following models. (PC-9821An, Ap2, As2, Bf, Bp, Bs, Be, Cs2, Ce2, Xn, Xp, Xs, Xe, Cb, Cx, Cf, Ap3, As3) |