Newbie about to install linux.

[Milan]

I just got my mandrake 8.1 cds. I have a question. Out of the blue, when i start Msdos, ie Command,

Bad command or file name
C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP>
I cant use any dos commands, even simple ones like scanreg. I must have overwritten something. I checked my command folder in windows and all the commands are there.
what did i do wrong, and most important, will this mess up my linux install

Thanx for all the help, forgive my dumb questions

[sixfeetsix]

What do you mean about starting MSDOS?

Does your Windows start normally still?

You already installed your Linux right?as I understand no.

Do you mean when you choose to boot in the command prompt mode, or when you run "cmd" or when you start normal Windows boot?

Anyway what's your windows version? 95,98 or me? And do you have an ATAPI cdrom?

[ 09 November 2001: Message edited by: sixfeetsix ]

[Big_daddy]

DOS has nothing to do with Linux so you should be OK.

[paulb]

I have no idea what this is, but are the commands stored in 'commands.com'? What is that file for, anyway?

[DMR]

Originally posted by paulb:
<STRONG>I have no idea what this is, but are the commands stored in 'commands.com'? What is that file for, anyway?</STRONG>command.com (no "s") is the DOS command interpreter. Its functionality is roughly equivalent to a linux shell. Some commands (called internal commands) are compiled into it; those that aren't exist as .exe or .com files, and are called external commands.