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Win/DOS to Linux Quick Reference

Below is a quick table roughly mapping Windows or DOS commands to their Linux equivalents. A more comprehensive reference may be added later. Remember that Linux is case sensitive!

DOS/Windows
Command

Linux Equivalent

What it does

attrib

chmod

Change file or directory attributes or permissions. Note that file attributes on DOS are completely different from permissions on Linux.

cd

cd

Change the current directory. Similar syntax.

cls

clear

Clear the terminal screen

copy

cp -i

Copy files. Similar syntax. Without the -i, cp will not prompt for destructive actions like file replacement. If the target exists, it is overwritten

del
erase

rm -i

Delete files. Without the -i, rm will not ask for confirmation.

deltree

rm -R

Delete a directory and all its contents, including subdirectories.

dir

ls

List the files in the current directory, or a named directory.

md

mkdir

Create a new subdirectory. Similar syntax.

mem

free -t

Display a summary of current memory usage and availability.

more

more
less

Display the contents of a file one page/screen at a time. The less utility allows scrolling back and forth.

move

mv

Move a file.

rd

rmdir

Delete an empty subdirectory. Similar syntax.

ren

mv

Rename a file or folder.

type

cat

Display the contents of a file.

ver

uname -sr

Display the name and version of the OS kernel.




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