[iaavagent]

Since we are on the subject, could ya'll look at this site and explain what this guy is talking about. What prompt? the one in programs or F8 and is it true defrag can be run on C from a command prompt in XP?

http://www.networkclue.com/os/Window...ands/index.php

Thanks

[JohnWill]

No mystery here, there's a command line defrag interface. I opened a command prompt and typed:

C:\>defrag /?
Usage:
defrag <volume> [-a] [-f] [-v] [-?]
volume drive letter or mount point (d: or d:\vol\mountpoint)
-a Analyze only
-f Force defragmentation even if free space is low
-v Verbose output
-? Display this help text

So I figured I'd let it defrag my scratch drive.

C:\>defrag e:
Windows Disk Defragmenter
Copyright (c) 2001 Microsoft Corp. and Executive Software International, Inc.

Analysis Report
64.45 GB Total, 61.43 GB (95%) Free, 0% Fragmented (1% file fragmentation)


Defragmentation Report
64.45 GB Total, 61.43 GB (95%) Free, 0% Fragmented (0% file fragmentation)


C:\>

[Frecon]

To ChuckE. Thanks again for sticking with me for more info. I have now progressed to using /? and DIR and Help and have been able to move the info to the clipboard and print it. I will get the book "DOS for Dummies" and also zero in on specific explanations on Google. I,m 73 and have only had a computer for fourteen months. I,ve bot two manuals but have found out along the way that if i search hard enough on Google I can get the specific instructions i,m looking for and useful to the point tutorials. Plus of course the help sites such as this one. Thanks again.

[ChuckE]

Some web places for DOS help (this is not an exhaustive list, just some that I keep around):
http://home7.inet.tele.dk/batfiles/msdos7/
http://www.computerhope.com/msdos.htm

I find these are a couple nice reference sites, for detailing the syntax and usage of most DOS commands. Many more can easily be found, as you have learned, by Googling.

Good luck, and have fun. I hope that I am as inquisitive of computers (or whatever is the "thing" to have) and have a desire to learn when I get to be your age. (I'm 58.)

[iaavagent]

Can you d/L a DOS Shell and use it like in the old days. Can you add to it, if so?

Sorta shortcuts the need for knowing how to type in all those commands, right?
Just asking as I really don't know what I'm talking about and that's the truth!
I guess you already figured that out!

[ChuckE]

Depending upon what you are currently using, what OS if any (i.e. Mac? Windows? what version?) you may not need to get anything.

Tell us what you currently are using. And we can go from there.

Actually, this might get involved, and it will clutter up the thread that someone else started. So this is off (original) topic. It would be better if you go to the DOS forum and repost.

[iaavagent]

Thanks Chuck, will do. {Have W95 on one and Wxp home on another}

[ChuckE]

Both Win95 and WinXP have a DOS command window that you can open from the Start>Programs button. Look under Accessories, for something like "Command Prompt" or "MS-DOS Prompt"

After that opens, just see if whatever command you want to try works.
For help, just try entering help. Reread the messages already posted in this thread, perhaps now they'll mean something to you.

And be sure to get those books.