I have noticed many problems aired in the various forums having to do with tweaking Windows. Many of these problems could be solved with some knowledge of the command-line. Whether using DOS, Windows 3.1, 95, or even NT/2000, the command prompt exists in one form or another and while how to load TSRs, device drivers, etc. is system-specific, the ideas have remained pretty much unchanged from version to version. In fact, Windws 3.0, 95, 98, ME all rely on MS-DOS to a great extent. They can't boot without it. I am posting this in hopes that many of you with an interest in these operating systems will pick up a book on DOS and read up on what you feel is relevant. This will make you much more adept as Windows users and endow you with a greater concept of what the GUI is actually doing. Maybe I am biased, but DOS is not dead. Only Microsoft would have you believe so. There are many different flavours out there and I'm sure one will suit your needs. Try doing some things in a DOS-window that you'd normally get done with a mouse. Give it a try - what's the worst that can happen?

format c: fdisk rawrite deltree c: etc. etc. With Windows, it's "ARE YOU REALLY REALLY SURE YOU WANT TO DELETE THIS FILE? [Yes YesToAll No]" and "Well, JUST IN CASE, the file is going to the Recycle Bin instead of being deleted!"

Is this what computing has been reduced to? If so, I'll glady be happy in the "dangeous-time" with DOS and GNU BASH.

No matter how hard you try to put a tarp over those files, they still exist and are essential. Learning how to use them is the only way to get you out of some tight spots, not to mention being able to customize your system or add other OSes. You cannot administer a system, no matter how small, without knowing what to do in case of a system failure. Besides, if anything is worth keeping on your disk it should have been backed up to a floppy, anyway. Is this to be taken further as an excuse not to learn languages that give direct hardware access like assembly and C? I think not. But I suppose ignorance can be a type of bliss for some. I use the command-prompt all the time and have yet to report any problems, which is something I can't say for Windows 98. In fact, I can say unequivocally that leaning some basic shell commads has made my graphical sessions run a lot smoother.

Trying to understand Windows without understanding DOS is a bit like trying to fly if you can't walk

DOS is needed to fix Windows if it breaks...no DOS, no fix. YOu can do anything to Windows through DOS, including editing of the registry!! You can add entries, and delete them...you can shut windows down from the command line...go to a web site from the command line...almost anything is possible...I am running an Athlon 700 and I will run realmode DOS on it just because of the stability and power I get from it! If you are interested in the methods of the commands above post to the KMCS help forum at www.kmcsonline.com as I check that multiple times per day...