Introduction to Windows and DOS Environment

Lab # 1

LAB # 1
INTRODUCTION TO WINDOWS AND DOS
ENVIRONMENT

OBJECTIVE
To become familiar with the Windows XP Logon/Logoff process onto the network and
to gain an understanding of the Windows XP desktop environment.
To become familiar with DOS environment and utilization of DOS Commands.

THEORY
Part I: Windows XP Logon/Logoff Process
The main purpose of the Windows XP Logon/Logoff process is to provide security to
network resources by associating a user with a password, group and domain.
The different terms associated with Network logon process are defined as below:
Network: An interconnection of different computers designed to share and optimize
resources like hard disk space and printers in an efficient manner
User: Any person who is able to use network resources through Windows NT logon
process is called a user
Username: Any combination of uppercase or lowercase alphabets used to identify a
user, e.g. asaleem or frasheed
Password: A unique set of alphanumeric characters for each user to connect to a
network e.g. city66 or ssuet55
Domain: A logical grouping of users and machines to which a user logs on, e.g.
Sales, Finance, SSUET or MIS
Logoff: When a user finishes the work he/she may quit the Windows desktop
environment by clicking the logoff option in the start menu or pressing
<Ctrl+Alt+Del> and then clicking logoff option.
FCEPL Fundamentals of Computer Engineering and Programming Languages

Introduction to Windows and DOS Environment

Lab # 1

Part II: Introduction to WINDOWS XP Interface & DESKTOP Items

The Windows XP Interface is slightly different than previous versions of Windows. The first
thing you'll notice is the lack of desktop icons. In addition, the Start Menu is different; the System
Tray hides unused icons. If 20 Internet Explorer windows are open at once and only have one tab
on the Taskbar for Internet Explorer.

The Start Menu Overview

Your simple one-columned look of the old Start Menu is gone - replaced by the two-columned
Start Menu & Desktop replaces all-in-one.
Everything on the Start Menu is customizable. On the left hand side, you see icons for the
Internet and E-mail and a list of the most recently used applications, then the "All Programs"
menu, which used to be your Programs menu.
On the right hand side, you see the icons which you previously accessed through desktop icons,
some settings, and other commands from the former Start Menu.
Here is an overview of the different options:
Log off - Log off the current user.
Turn Off Computer - shutdown, restart and standby.
All Programs - Access to installed programs.
Run - Used to manually start executable files (programs).
Search - Search your PC for pictures, music, documents, files and folders.
Help and Support - Opens the built-in Windows help including various help topics, windows
updates and also allows you to request remote assistance from a friend/colleague via the internet
or network.
Printers and Faxes - Access to your printers and faxes folder, allows you to add and configure
printers/faxes.
Control Panel - The control panel is used to configure various Windows XP settings, we will be
looking at the Win XP control panel in detail later in the tutorial.
My Computer - Gives you access to your computer's disk drives and files, we will be looking
more closely at the My Computer function later in the tutorial.
My Recent Documents - This folder contains any recently viewed documents.
My Documents - Gives access to a folder created by Windows XP which is used (by default) to
store any documents on your hard drive.
Tour Windows XP - Starts the built-in tour of Windows XP's features.

FCEPL Fundamentals of Computer Engineering and Programming Languages

Introduction to Windows and DOS Environment

Lab # 1

Turn off computer

If you click on the Turn Off Computer option on the start menu you will see a dialogue box like that
shown in fig 1.3, below is a summary of the options available:
Standby - This will put your computer into standby mode, basically it will power down components like
the monitor and hard drive to preserve energy.
Turn Off - Shuts down the PC, always use this option to turn off your PC.
Restart - this will restart the computer.

The All Programs Menu

When you hover the mouse over All Programs you will see a menu appear similar to that shown
in fig 1.4, from this menu you can access the programs currently installed on your PC.
To open a program simply left click on it, some options have a small black arrow to the right
hand side, this indicates that it contains another sub-menu. For example, the accessories folder
has a sub-menu, if you wanted to open a program from within the sub-menu, then you would
hover the mouse pointer over accessories (for example) and then click on the program you want
from the sub-menu.
You can rename any program on the menu by right clicking on it and selecting rename from the
menu that appears.

Fig 1.1: Windows XP Desktop

FCEPL Fundamentals of Computer Engineering and Programming Languages

Introduction to Windows and DOS Environment

Lab # 1

Fig 1.2: Start button options

Fig 1.3: Turn-off computer options

Fig 1.4: All program menu options

FCEPL Fundamentals of Computer Engineering and Programming Languages

Introduction to Windows and DOS Environment

Lab # 1

PART III : UNDERSTANDING DOS

An operating system is a collection of computer programs that provide recurring
services to other services or to the users of a computer. DOS is an acronym for Disk
Operating System. Disk Management is perhaps the most important service of DOS.
DOS can be viewed as having four functional units, which are described below:

The Command Interpreter

The command interpreter (command.com) is an interactive interface used to execute
DOS commands.
System Files
The system files define the hardware to the software. When the computer is booted
these system files provide a unified set of routines for controlling the computer
operation.
Basic Input Output System (BIOS)
The system files or hidden files interact with special read-only memory on the
motherboard. The special ROM is called Basic Input Output System.
DOS utilities
The DOS utilities carry out useful tasks such as preparing disks, comparing files,
finding free space on a disk and printing.

FCEPL Fundamentals of Computer Engineering and Programming Languages

Introduction to Windows and DOS Environment

Lab # 1

Part IV : A Brief Overview of DOS Commands

DOS commands are of two types namely internal commands and external commands.

A DOS command that is built into command.com is called internal command.

A DOS command that must be located from a file loaded by command.com

before it can be executed is called an external command.

A brief resume of important DOS commands is given below:

Ver
Since there are many versions of DOS, the ver command is used to find the exact
versions of DOS.
Syntax: drive :>ver
Exp: A:>ver
Cls
This command is used to clear the screen.
Syntax: drive:> cls
Exp: C:> cls
Label
This command adds, modifies or changes the volume label of a disk.
Syntax: drive:> label [drive:]
Exp: C:> label A:\My-Dos

Vol
This command is used to view a disks volume label.
Syntax: drive:> vol [drive:]
Exp: C:> vol A:

FCEPL Fundamentals of Computer Engineering and Programming Languages

Introduction to Windows and DOS Environment

Lab # 1

Dir
This command will produce a directory listing from the default drive.
Syntax: drive:> dir [drive: path \filename /p/w]
Exp: C:>dir /w
Md
This command is used to create a new subdirectory.
Syntax: drive:> md drive:path\dirname
Exp: C:>md a:\sales
Cd
This command is used to change the current directory to a new current directory.
Syntax: drive:>cd drive:path
Exp: C:>cd a:\sales
Rd
This command is used to remove a directory.
Syntax: drive:>rd drive:path
Exp: C:>rd a:\sales
Tree
This command is used to view directory listing in a hierarichal structure.
Syntax: drive:>tree drive:path /f/a
Exp: C:>tree d:
Ren
This command is used to rename a file.
Syntax: drive:>ren drive:path\oldfilename newfilename
Exp: C:>ren C:\Mydocuments\letter1.doc letter2.doc

FCEPL Fundamentals of Computer Engineering and Programming Languages

Introduction to Windows and DOS Environment

Lab # 1

Del
This command is used to delete files from the disk.
Syntax: drive:> del drive:path\filename
Exp: D:>del C:\sales\memo1.xls
Type
This command is used to view the contents of a text file.
Syntax: drive:>type drive:path\filename
Exp: C:\market\quotes1.txt
Copy
This command is used to copy files from directories as well as to and from logical
devices.
Syntax: drive:>copy drive1:path\filename1 drive2:path\filename2
Exp: C:>copy c:\homes\remote.doc d:\simulation\local.doc
Xcopy
This command is also used to copy files but it can also create destination subdirectories.
Syntax: drive:>xcopy drive1:path\filename1 drive2:path\filename2
Exp: C:>xcopy c:\words a:

FCEPL Fundamentals of Computer Engineering and Programming Languages

Introduction to Windows and DOS Environment

Lab # 1

Fig 1.5: The Command Prompt Shortcut on Programs Menu

Fig 1.6: The Command Prompt Dialogue Box

FCEPL Fundamentals of Computer Engineering and Programming Languages