Epson Equity Ie Q50188015-1 - Manual (Page 48)

Chapter 4
Using MSDOS with Your Equity Ie
Your Equity Ie comes with MS-DOS, version 3.3. MS-DOS manages your
computer system by doing such things as keeping the computer’s memory
organized, controlling the monitor display, accepting keyboard input, and
directing external communications.
To communicate with the operating system, you use MS-DOS commands.
How much you need to know about MS-DOS depends on how you plan to
use your computer. If you plan to use it for running application programs
only, the few MS-DOS commands you’ll use are introduced in this chapter.
If you plan to use advanced features or create your own programs, see your
MS-DOS manual for a complete description of MS-DOS.
Starting and Exiting MS-DOS
Before you can run an MS-DOS application program, MS-DOS must be
running in memory. If you have a hard disk that you prepared according to
the procedures in Chapter 2, MS-DOS loads automatically when you turn
on the computer. If you do not have a hard disk, insert your working copy
of the Startup/Operating 1 diskette in drive A and turn on or reset the
computer. MS-DOS then loads automatically from drive A.
When the date and time prompts appear, press Enter to accept the date and
time shown. The screen then displays the MS-DOS command prompt, A >
or C > . This tells you that MS-DOS is loaded and identifies the current
drive.
Before you turn off the computer, make sure the A > or C > prompt is
displayed. Then remove your diskettes, turn off any peripherals, and then
turn off the computer.
Using MS-DOS with Your Equity Ie 4-1