Microsoft Windows operating system is graphical user interface (GUI) operating system – commands are usually given by using mouse to interact with graphical elements on screen and results are visible through changes on graphics drawn on computer screen. Microsoft DOS is command line interface operating system – commands are typed on keyboard, executed when ‘Enter’ key on keyboard is pressed and results are visible in text mode on screen.

While GUI is generally better way of using computers, there are few cases where command line is much better solution for particular need – like when we want to repeat same command over and over again.

In order to get command line interface window in any version of Windows, click on ‘Start’ (usually at lower left side of screen), point to ‘All Programs’, then point to ‘Accessories’ and click on ‘Command Prompt’ (or ‘MS DOS Prompt’ in older versions of Windows).