List of DOS system files

MS-DOS / PC DOS and some related disk operating systems use the files mentioned here.

System Files:
 * IO.SYS (or IBMBIO.COM): This contains the system initialization code and builtin device drivers;
 * MSDOS.SYS (or IBMDOS.COM): This contains the DOS kernel.

Command-line interpreter (Shell):
 * COMMAND.COM: This is the command interpreter.

User configuration files:
 * AUTOEXEC.BAT: This is run by the default shell (usually COMMAND.COM) to execute commands at startup.
 * CONFIG.SYS: This contains statements to configure DOS and load device drivers.

Standard DOS utility programs:


 * APPEND: Set a search path for data files.
 * ASSIGN: Redirect requests for disk operations on one drive to a different drive.
 * ATTRIB: Set or display file attributes.
 * BACKUP / RESTORE: simple backup and restore utilities.
 * CHKDSK: Check disk for file system integrity.
 * COMP: File compare utility.
 * DEBUG: Simple command line debugger.
 * DELTREE: Delete a directory tree.
 * DISKCOMP: Compare floppy disks.
 * DISKCOPY: Copy floppy disks.
 * DOSKEY: Command line editor.
 * EDIT / EDLIN: Very basic text editor(s); EDLIN is in earlier versions.
 * FC: File compare utility.
 * FDISK: Partitions fixed disks.
 * FIND: Find text in files.
 * FORMAT: Formats disks.
 * JOIN: Joins a drive letter to a subdirectory.
 * LABEL: Set or remove a disk volume label.
 * MEM: Display memory usage.
 * MODE: Set modes for system devices.
 * MORE: Display output one screen at a time.
 * MOVE: Move files from one directory to another.
 * PRINT: Print spooler.
 * REPLACE: Replace files.
 * SHARE: File sharing and locking support.
 * SORT: Sorts input.
 * SUBST: Substitutes a drive letter for a subdirectory.
 * SYS: Transfers the system files to another drive to make it bootable.
 * TREE: Display a directory tree.
 * XCOPY: Extended file copy.

Standard DOS device drivers:


 * ANSI.SYS: ANSI console driver.
 * EMM386.EXE: Expanded memory manager.
 * HIMEM.SYS: Extended memory manager.
 * RAMDRIVE.SYS / VDISK.SYS: RAM disk; VDISK.SYS is in older versions of PC DOS.