Deleting files in DOS is a straightforward process using the DEL command. Here's how:
1. Open the DOS Prompt
- Navigate to the directory containing the file you want to delete.
- Type CMD in the Windows search bar and press Enter.
- This will open the Command Prompt window.
2. Use the DEL Command
- Type DEL followed by the filename and press Enter.
- Example: DEL myfile.txt will delete the file named "myfile.txt".
3. Delete Multiple Files
- To delete multiple files, use wildcards:
- *DEL .txt** will delete all files with the .txt extension in the current directory.
- *DEL file.doc** will delete all files starting with "file" and ending with ".doc".
4. Confirm Deletion
- By default, DOS does not prompt for confirmation before deleting files.
- To prompt for confirmation, use the /P switch: DEL /P myfile.txt
- This will ask you to confirm the deletion before proceeding.
5. Delete Files in a Specific Directory
- Use the CD command to navigate to the desired directory before using DEL.
- Example:
- CD C:\Documents\MyFiles (Change to the specified directory)
- DEL myfile.txt (Delete the file in the current directory)
6. Delete Read-Only Files
- To delete read-only files, use the /F switch: DEL /F myfile.txt
7. Delete Files with Hidden Attributes
- To delete files with hidden attributes, use the /A switch: DEL /A myfile.txt
8. Delete Files in a Different Drive
- Use the drive letter followed by a colon before the filename: DEL D:\myfile.txt
9. Undelete Files
- Unfortunately, the DEL command permanently deletes files.
- However, you can use third-party data recovery software to try and recover deleted files.
10. Important Note:
- Be cautious while using the DEL command. Deleting files permanently removes them from your system. Always ensure you have backups before deleting important files.
