DOS for Dummies [Paperback]

Dan Gookin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0764503618 | ISBN-13: 978-0764503610 | Edition: 3

Windows may rule the world of popular computing on PCs around the globe, but DOS still has a place in the hearts and minds of computer users who vaguely remember what a C prompt looks like. Even if DOS (with all its arcane commands and its drab, boring look) isn't your idea of the best way to get things done on a PC, you'll find plenty of fast and friendly help on hand with the third edition of DOS For Dummies.

Here's a plain-speaking reference guide to all the command-line stuff and nonsense that makes DOS work, whether you're a native DOS user or are an occasional dabbler who needs the operating system to run all those cool games under Windows.

DOS For Dummies, 3rd Edition, avoids all the technical jargon to cut to the heart of things with clear, easy-to-understand explanations and step-by-step help for

• Changing disks and drives
• Dealing with the DOS prompt
• Managing files
• Running DOS inside Windows
• Installing and running DOS-based software programs
• Working with the printer and serial ports
• Using the mouse and keyboard
• Troubleshooting problems
• Understanding DOS error messages

All the basic DOS commands, from APPEND to XCOPY, are demystified to make life in DOS much more bearable. This handy guide has plenty of helpful tips and tricks for bending DOS to your will, without having to dedicate your life (and all your free time) to mastering this little corner of the PC.

Author Dan Gookin's first edition of DOS For Dummies became an international best-seller. He considers himself a computer "guru" whose job it is to remind everyone that computers are not to be taken too seriously. His approach to computers is light and humorous, yet very informative. Gookin mixes his knowledge of computers with a unique, dry sense of humor that keeps you informed – and awake.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The book that changed the way computer books are written and marketed has come out in a third edition. By and large, it's the same as the previous edition (advances in MS-DOS have not been numerous), but there is some new information here. Further, DOS for Dummies remains an entertaining book and if you use DOS, it's the book you want to assist you.

The basic idea of this book is that you can identify a problem you're having with your computer, ranging from how to turn the thing on to how to back up only the files that have changed since the last backup. You can then turn to the relevant section--the table of contents is very detailed--read a few pages, carry out some procedure, and move on to the next problem. You'll find sections on hardware, file management, text editing, and software installation. Later chapters deal with troubleshooting.

The newest material in this release of DOS for Dummies deals with DOS 6.22 and the DOS-like shell that you can use under Windows 95 and Windows 98. For users of the latest versions of Windows, Gookin demonstrates some relevant procedures. But most of the coverage deals with DOS itself and programs that are designed to run under DOS. There's even stuff about WordStar here (it's a little-known fact of history that the Rosetta stone was written with WordStar).

DOS for Dummies is funny, too, in a wry sort of way. What kind of joke is appropriate to a section about parallel ports, anyway? The author manages to infuse practically every passage with humor. Other computer books should make an effort to take themselves less seriously. The verdict: if you're using DOS--and more of you are than the Windows people would have us believe--this book will provide you with valuable help. --David Wall

Review

“…excellent and fun to read…”(Mourne Observer & County Down News, 23 July 2003)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 3 edition (June 2, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764503618
• ISBN-13: 978-0764503610
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #370,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dan Gookin has been writing about technology for over 20 years. He combines his love of writing with his gizmo fascination to create books that are informative, entertaining, and not boring. Having written more over 120 titles with 12 million copies in print translated into over 30 languages, Dan can attest that his method of crafting computer tomes seems to work.

Perhaps his most famous title is the original DOS For Dummies, published in 1991. It became the world's fastest-selling computer book, at one time moving more copies per week than the New York Times #1 bestseller (though as a reference, it could not be listed on the NYT Bestseller list). From that book spawned the entire line of For Dummies books, which remains a publishing phenomena to this day.

Dan's most popular titles include PCs For Dummies Word For Dummies, Laptops For Dummies, and Droid X For Dummies. He also maintains the vast and helpful Web site, www.wambooli.com.

Dan holds a degree in Communications/Visual Arts from the University of California, San Diego. Presently, he lives in the Pacific Northwest, where he enjoys spending time with his sons playing video games inside while they watch the gentle woods of Idaho.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for beginners, bad for everyone else, November 4, 2000

By 

Jacob D (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DOS for Dummies (Paperback)

This book is a good book for becoming familiar with the DOS operating system and all the commands, but it lacked any information that would be helpful to people who want to become intermidiate-advanced users. For example, the author refuses to tell you anything about BATCH files, which really annoyed me. There are over 10 commands that had to do with BATCH files that there was only the most basic information about, and the book said that if you wanted to write a BATCH file executing a program with another name (doom.exe instead of doom2.exe, for example) then ask a friend to do it. What kind of advice is that for a book about DOS?

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The dummy books are the "cliff notes" of computing., June 11, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: DOS for Dummies (Paperback)

-----DOS for dummies is the most helpful computer guide I have ever laid my brown eyes apon. It has everything from turning on the computer to editing you configuration files. It has several jokes about PC's and even some cartoons! Whether you just got your computer yesterday or you MAKE computers this book is helpful. In the front it has some cheat sheets and quick refrence guides that are really helpful. I have had this book for 2 years now and still find myself reading it. -----So even if you don't plan on spending time in DOS (which you always end up doing anyways) GET THIS BOOK!!!!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Book, but pertains more toward the Prehistoric Age, December 18, 2001

By 

Bunny Bear (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: DOS for Dummies (Paperback)

like I said, good book, but a bit outdated. The author talks about 50 MByte disk drives as being huge and about 5 inch floppy disks. This is like reading Aristotle's physics instead of Newton's. If you use DOS it will help you of course, but ignore most of the talk about hardware. Covers DOS commands very well. Contains interesting trivia about computers too (the life span of a hard drive is about 4 years, unless this is outdated too). To conclude, if you use DOS, it will suite you. Even better seem to be the DOS reference book for Dummies.