SYS (System)


Type: External (1.0 and later)

Syntax:

SYS [source] d:

Purpose: Transfers the operating system files to another disk.

Discussion

You can use the SYS command to transfer system files to a disk only if:

- The disk has been formatted but DOES NOT contain files or a volume label.

- The disk has been formatted using either a /S or a /B format option.

- You cannot reliably transfer system files to a disk that already has a different version of DOS on it.

The system files are hidden files that do not appear when you use the DIR command to display a directory of a system disk.
When you use the SYS command to transfer the system files to a disk, the file COMMAND.COM (which contains the command processor) is not transferred. You must use the COPY command to transfer COMMAND.COM.

A system disk can also be transferred (along with all the files stored on it) using the DISKCOPY command.

If an error is encountered, SYS will not transfer the system files. DOS will report one of the following error messages:

Message: No room for system on target disk

Meaning: This message means that there is not enough room on the target disk for the system files. It does not necessarily mean that the disk is already filled with stored files; it may mean that the disk was not formatted using the /S or the /B format options (both format the disk and reserve space for the system files).

Message: Incompatible system size

Meaning: The system files do not take up the same amount of space on the target disk as the new system will need. This can happen if you try to transfer system files to a disk that already has a different version of DOS on it.


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