DOS Sys

DOS Sys

An external command that transfers hidden DOS system files to make a bootable diskette. It can be used in Windows up to Windows 98, but not in Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista.

To make a bootable diskette, copy DOS from the hard disk to a floppy with the Sys command. The COMMAND.COM file must also be copied, which, previous to DOS 5, must be done manually. Starting with DOS 5, COMMAND.COM is copied automatically by the Sys command.

 Previous to DOS 5
  C:\>sys a:               copy system

 Starting with DOS 5
  C:\>sys a:               copy system
  C:\>copy command.com a:  copy COMMAND.COM

DOS is made up of IBMBIO.COM and IBMDOS.COM or IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS hidden system files along with COMMAND.COM. Hidden files can be listed with the Attrib command starting with DOS 5 or a utility such as Norton's File Attribute program.