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I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone who wants to learn the basics of computer management and script writing. Even if you never use any of the information about the various DOS commands and functions (although many of them apply to Windows 2000) the book is worth the purchase price for the chapters on writing batch files. Don't be fooled by the chapter titles -- while ostensibly teaching you how to write batch files this book is really providing the best overview of computer scripting I have ever found.

I have owned this book for around 5 years and have never found a better source for the fundamental priciples of script writing. I rarely use batch files now, but the techniques Norton describes here are completely applicable to Windows and UNIX scripting languages like Autoit, WSH, and Bash. I have recommended this book, and others by Norton, to people trying to make the transition from causual user to computer expert.

Well written, but too long. Still, Peter Norton covers all of the bases. And I mean *all* of the bases. The book is very well organized and cross-referenced. Hands-on applications in each chapter score big in my world. This book has that, too.

I use Windows 98 with version 7 DOS and have found the book to be helpful even here. The basics as well as advanced topics are inside and even a beginning DOS acolyte can dig in and learn something.

Maybe it deserves four stars, but I only reserve that for the *really* good books.

Anyway, congrats for P.N. A fine job.

I was looking for a book that provided in depth information about batch files and I found exactly what I was looking for. Peter Norton does an excellent job of explaining DOS in a simple to follow format. This is a must read for anyone involved in supporting end users, specially those who have used Windows exclusively and have very limited knowledge of DOS. Many of the concepts explained in this book are used today in different versions of Windows. It will help fill in the gaps when it comes to understanding and utilizing the command line, which is a must for any IT professional.

This is an excellent book for users of all levels. The book starts out very very basic describing hardware and software and there inter relation, and moves gradually to more advanced topics. As stated before the book is not full of poor and forced jokes, but the wording makes for very easy reading. The only jargon in the book is well defined and reinforced in the text.
Keep in mind that this book was written when the 486 and Pentium 90 were top end processors of the day, and windows had just emerged from the daunted and mercy depths of which it came, but hey its DOS, and it has not changed, but some of the driver and hardware information is antiquated and of no use.

If you buy and read this book you will be very proficient at DOS and a much better Microsoft based systems user, and very efficient at scripting.

A tip to those of you trying to print through USB or as was my case IP printers. DOS prints to LPT1 port automatically, and will simply drop the command even if it does not work. The trick is to to go to your printer properties and select "pool printing" it is a check box in XP... once you have that checked, put checks next to the LPT1 port and the port that should already be checked that your printer uses. It took me a long time to figure out how to do this... DOS can not be redirected to those ports for operations, so dont waste your time.

Peter Norton has done a great job explaining DOS 6.22. This book is not filled with jokes or stories and does a great job explaining everything in detail. It guides you along allowing you to practice all of the commands and techniques you will learn. It is written so any beginner can understand. For anyone who wants to learn DOS or basic computer management this is a great book.

great book, this guy knows his stuff, i wish more people would write books you can read. have been looking for a simple way to use the com dos was the solution. too bad microsoft doesnt include full version in windows anymore. wouuld like to see more on the dos command library and more detailed examples for serial communication

good reference guide for those who have forgotten dos commands in windows. there are still apps that use dos so the need is still there for dos batch file commands.

Bottom-Line: Comprehensive and complete "Peter Norton's Complete Guide to DOS 6.22" has earned its place on my book shelve of must have computer reference material.

I know what you're thinking: what is he doing writing a review about and outdated Operating System (OS) that has long since disappeared from the computing scene? But, you see, MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) may be a quaint notion in today's world filled with millions of Windows 98/2000/XP desktops, but the workhorse OS is far from dead, far from irrelevant. If fact, portions of it are still very necessary from a Systems Administration standpoint even under Windows 2000/XP where the MS-DOS kernel has been vanquished; well almost.

Under Windows 2000/XP, a DOS virtual window can be opened and some pretty powerful and necessary DOS commands can be executed. For example, there is probably no more powerful (free) tool for coping large numbers of files than XCOPY, which can be initiated from a Windows 2000/XP comment window, or DOS virtual machine. Add to that FDISK, EDIT, MEM, and FORMAT, all DOS commands that can be carried out under Windows 2000/XP.

And I still heavily utilize my Windows 98 boot disk; it is an essential part of my trouble-shooting arsenal, I wouldn't work on a PC without one. It may be labeled Windows 98 Boot Disk, but its underpinnings are all MS-DOS 6.22. If I run across a PC that is running Windows 95, or 98 and I want to either rebuild the machine, I have to have a DOS (Windows 98) boot disk in order to reload Windows.

And one last nugget: TCP/IP is now the default networking protocol, and almost all of its commands such as IPCONFIG, PING, GOPHER, and TELNET, must be executed in a DOS, or command environment.

So you see MS-DOS 6.22, that last full blown incarnation of DOS is still very relevant in today's graphical environment. And it helps to remain knowledgeable on the OS and it commands; there is where "Peter Norton's Complete Guide to DOS 6.22" comes into the picture. Checking in at a mammoth 1,150 pages "Peter Norton's Complete Guide to DOS 6.22 6th Edition"--published in 1994, is one of the most, if not the most comprehensive guide to MS-DOS 6.22 available today. The book is divided into the following sections:

* Part 1 Getting Acquainted
* Part 2 DOS Shell
* Part 3 DOS Commands
* Part 4 Managing Your System
* Part 5 Advanced DOS
* Part 6 Command Reference

In the front of "Peter Norton's Complete Guide to DOS 6.22" is a very useful Procedure Quick Reference Guide, a how to guide for carrying out the most common DOS commands and functions. The Guide asks a question and then point the reader to the page where the answer can be found; e.g. How to Rename a Directory Tree in DOS Shell; Page 83, or How to Rename Files in DOS Shell; Page 125.

"Peter Norton's Complete Guide to DOS 6.22" is filled with great examples such as the one above for carrying out real live DOS commands. This alone makes the book an invaluable resource. Microsoft never did go into great depth about what DOS command do, and what you the end-user can expect as an outcome. There is help function is DOS, which you can get to by typing any DOS command at the command prompt followed by a (?) mark; e.g. DISKCOPY /?, but you had to know how the command worked in order to manipulate it effectively. The DOS help really only helps with syntax, whereas "Peter Norton's Complete Guide to DOS 6.22" goes deeper into the command or functions taking great pains to explain what exactly happens and what to expect.

The end of the book (over 200 pages) contains a through Command Reference Section wherein every DOS command is covered starting with the chapter the command can be found under, an explanation of what the command does, followed by the correct syntax(s), parameters and or switches, examples of that syntax(s), and notes if needed.

"Peter Norton's Complete Guide to DOS 6.22" covers all of the bases very nicely; after reading the all four pages on XCOPY the average system administrator should come away with a better then average understanding of the command and it functionality. And as I stated above XCOPY can and is--at least by me--used under Windows 98/2000/XP environments.

Conclusion

For me "Peter Norton's Complete Guide to DOS 6.22" is an indispensable guide to all things DOS, and in my (humble) opinion is a must have for any system administrator, or anyone who just want to know more about DOS. Comprehensive and complete Peter Norton's Complete Guide to DOS 6.22 has earned its place on my book shelve of must have computer reference material.

Very through coverage of DOS 6.22. I would recommend it to any one who wants a good understanding of everything DOS.

If you like seeing what makes things tick, Norton is the Author for you.
If you have interest in programming but don't want to jump in with both feet, Try this first. Get this book, open Notepad (as editor), make some batch command files then decide.
GREAT BOOK !! FOR ALL INTERESTED IN HIGH SPEED EXECUTION, & MORE.
I FEEL THIS IS INVALUABLE TO PRO AND NOVICE ALIKE, ALSO A GREAT REFERENCE FOR FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING. (a CLASSIC)