diskcomp
Developer(s)Microsoft, IBM, DR, Datalight, Novell, Toshiba, Michal Meller
Initial release1981, 42–43 years ago
Operating systemMS-DOS, PC DOS, FlexOS, DR DOS, ROM-DOS, 4690 OS, SISNE plus, OS/2, eComStation, ArcaOS, Windows, FreeDOS
PlatformCross-platform
TypeCommand
Websitedocs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/diskcomp

In computing, diskcomp is a command used for comparing the complete contents of a floppy disk to another one.

Overview

DISKCOMP.COM (among other commands) in IBM PC DOS 1.0.

The command is used on DOS, Digital Research FlexOS,[1] IBM/Toshiba 4690 OS,[2] SISNE plus,[3] IBM OS/2[4] and Microsoft Windows.[5] It is available in MS-DOS versions 3.2 and later and IBM PC DOS releases 1 and later.[6] Digital Research DR DOS 6.0[7] and Datalight ROM-DOS[8] also include an implementation of the diskcomp command. The FreeDOS version was developed by Michal Meller.[9]

The diskcomp command does not work with hard disk drives, CDs, network drives, Zip drives, or USB flash drives, etc. It also does not allow comparison from 3.5 inch drive to 5.25 inch drives, and vice versa. The source and target drive must be the same size.[10]

Examples

Compare floppy disks in drive A: and drive B: 

diskcomp a: b:

If the computer has only one floppy disk drive (in this case drive A:), it is still possible to compare two disks: 

diskcomp a: a:

The diskcomp command will prompt to insert each disk, as needed.

The software outputs "Compare OK" if no differences are found, and "Compare error on side [number], track [number]" upon detecting a difference.

References

  1. ^ "FlexOS User's Guide" (PDF). www.bitsavers.org. 1986. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  2. ^ [1][dead link]
  3. ^ "SISNE plus - Referência Sumária". Datassette. May 14, 2015.
  4. ^ "JRT Help - OS/2 Commands". jrttest.com.
  5. ^ "Microsoft Windows XP - Diskcomp". Microsoft. Archived from the original on 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  6. ^ Wolverton, Van (2003). Running MS-DOS Version 6.22 (20th Anniversary Edition), 6th Revised edition. Microsoft Press. ISBN 0-7356-1812-7.
  7. ^ DR DOS 6.0 User Guide Optimisation and Configuration Tips
  8. ^ "Datalight ROM-DOS User's Guide" (PDF). www.datalight.com.
  9. ^ "ibiblio.org FreeDOS Package -- diskcomp (FreeDOS Base)". www.ibiblio.org.
  10. ^ "MS-DOS diskcomp command help". www.computerhope.com. Computer Hope. Retrieved 2016-01-18.

Further reading

External links

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Guide to Windows Commands
Windows command-line programs and shell builtins
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