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DOS INT 21h - DOS Function Codes
The follow abridged list of DOS interrupts has been extracted from a large list compiled by Ralf Brown. These
are available on any Simtel mirror (e.g. sunsite.anu.edu.au) under the directory ms-dos/info/interNNp.zip
AH Description AH Description
01 Read character from STDIN 02 Write character to STDOUT
05 Write character to printer 06 Console Input/Output
07 Direct char read (STDIN), no echo 08 Char read from STDIN, no echo
09 Write string to STDOUT 0A Buffered input
0B Get STDIN status 0C Flush buffer for STDIN
0D Disk reset 0E Select default drive
19 Get current default drive 25 Set interrupt vector
2A Get system date 2B Set system date
2C Get system time 2D Set system time
2E Set verify flag 30 Get DOS version
35 Get Interrupt vector
36 Get free disk space 39 Create subdirectory
3A Remove subdirectory 3B Set working directory
3C Create file 3D Open file
3E Close file 3F Read file
40 Write file 41 Delete file
42 Seek file 43 Get/Set file attributes
47 Get current directory 4C Exit program
4D Get return code 54 Get verify flag
56 Rename file 57 Get/Set file date
AH = 01h - READ CHARACTER FROM STANDARD INPUT, WITH ECHO
Return: AL = character read
Notes:
^C/^Break are checked
^P toggles the DOS-internal echo-to-printer flag
^Z is not interpreted, thus not causing an EOF if input is redirected character is echoed to standard output
SeeAlso: AH=06h,AH=07h,AH=08h,AH=0Ah
AH = 02h -WRITE CHARACTER TO STANDARD OUTPUT
Entry: DL = character to write
Return: AL = last character output
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Notes:
^C/^Break are checked
the last character output will be the character in DL unless DL=09h on entry, in which case AL=20h as
tabs are expanded to blanks
if standard output is redirected to a file, no error checks (write- protected, full media, etc.) are performed
SeeAlso: AH=06h,AH=09h
AH = 05h - WRITE CHARACTER TO PRINTER
Entry: DL = character to print
Notes:
keyboard checked for ^C/^Break
STDPRN is usually the first parallel port, but may be redirected under DOS 2+
if the printer is busy, this function will wait
SeeAlso: INT 17/AH=00h
AH = 06h - DIRECT CONSOLE OUTPUT
Entry: DL = character (except FFh)
Return: AL = character output
Notes: does not check ^C/^Break
SeeAlso: AH=02h,AH=09h
AH = 06h - DIRECT CONSOLE INPUT
Entry: AH = 06h DL = FFh
Return:
ZF set if no character available and AL = 00h
ZF clear if character available AL = character read
Notes:
^C/^Break are NOT checked
if the returned character is 00h, the user pressed a key with an extended keycode, which will be returned
by the next call of this function
although the return of AL=00h when no characters are available is not documented, some programs rely
on this behavior
SeeAlso: AH=0Bh
AH=07h - DIRECT CHARACTER INPUT, WITHOUT ECHO
Return: AL = character read from standard input
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Notes: does not check ^C/^Break
SeeAlso: AH=01h,AH=06h,AH=08h,AH=0Ah
AH = 08h - CHARACTER INPUT WITHOUT ECHO
Return: AL = character read from standard input
Notes: ^C/^Break are checked
SeeAlso: AH=01h,AH=06h,AH=07h,AH=0Ah,AH=64h
AH = 09h - WRITE STRING TO STANDARD OUTPUT
Entry: DS:DX -> '$'-terminated string
Return: AL = 24h
Notes: ^C/^Break are checked
SeeAlso: AH=02h,AH=06h"OUTPUT"
AH = 0Ah - BUFFERED INPUT
Entry: DS:DX -> buffer (see below)
Return: buffer filled with user input
Notes:
^C/^Break are checked
reads from standard input
SeeAlso: AH=0Ch
Format of DOS input buffer:
Offset Size Description
00 1 maximum characters buffer can hold
number of chars from last input which may be recalled OR number of characters actually read,
01 1
excluding CR
02 n actual characters read, including the final carriage return
AH=0Bh - GET STDIN STATUS
Return:
AL = 00h if no character available
AL = FFh if character is available
Notes: ^C/^Break are checked
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SeeAlso: AH=06h"INPUT"
AH = 0Ch - FLUSH BUFFER AND READ STANDARD INPUT
Entry:
AL = STDIN input function to execute after flushing buffer
other registers as appropriate for the input function
Return: as appropriate for the specified input function
Note: if AL is not one of 01h,06h,07h,08h, or 0Ah, the buffer is flushed but no input is attempted
SeeAlso: AH=01h,AH=06h"INPUT",AH=07h,AH=08h,AH=0Ah
AH = 0Dh - DISK RESET
Notes: This function writes all modified disk buffers to disk, but does not update the directory information
SeeAlso: AX=5D01h
AH = 0Eh - SELECT DEFAULT DRIVE
Entry: DL = new default drive (0=A:, 1=B:, etc)
Return: AL = number of potentially valid drive letters
Notes: the return value is the highest drive present
SeeAlso: AH=19h,AH=3Bh,AH=DBh
AH = 19h - GET CURRENT DEFAULT DRIVE
Return: AL = drive (0=A:, 1=B:, etc)
SeeAlso: AH=0Eh,AH=47h,AH=BBh
AH = 25h - SET INTERRUPT VECTOR
Entry:
AL = interrupt number
DS:DX -> new interrupt handler
Notes: this function is preferred over direct modification of the interrupt vector table
SeeAlso: AX=2501h,AH=35h
AH = 2Ah - GET SYSTEM DATE
Return: CX = year (1980-2099) DH = month DL = day AL = day of week (00h=Sunday)
SeeAlso: AH=2Bh"DOS",AH=2Ch,AH=E7h
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AH = 2Bh - SET SYSTEM DATE
Entry: CX = year (1980-2099) DH = month DL = day
Return:
AL = 00 successful
FFh invalid date, system date unchanged
Note: DOS 3.3+ also sets CMOS clock
SeeAlso: AH=2Ah,AH=2Dh
AH = 2Ch - GET SYSTEM TIME
Return: CH = hour CL = minute DH = second DL = 1/100 seconds
Note: on most systems, the resolution of the system clock is about 5/100sec, so returned times generally do not
increment by 1 on some systems, DL may always return 00h
SeeAlso: AH=2Ah,AH=2Dh,AH=E7h
AH = 2Dh - SET SYSTEM TIME
Entry: CH = hour CL = minute DH = second DL = 1/100 seconds
Return:
AL = 00h successful
FFh if invalid time, system time unchanged
Note: DOS 3.3+ also sets CMOS clock
SeeAlso: AH=2Bh"DOS",AH=2Ch
AH = 2Eh - SET VERIFY FLAG
Entry: AL = new state of verify flag (00 off, 01h o)
Notes:
default state at system boot is OFF
when ON, all disk writes are verified provided the device driver supports read-after-write verification
SeeAlso: AH=54h
AH=30h - GET DOS VERSION
Entry: AL = what to return in BH (00h OEM number, 01h version flag)
Return:
AL = major version number (00h if DOS 1.x)
AH = minor version number
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BL:CX = 24-bit user serial number (most versions do not use this) if DOS <5 or AL=00h
BH = MS-DOS OEM number if DOS 5+ and AL=01h
BH = version flag bit 3: DOS is in ROM other: reserved (0)
Notes:
DOS 4.01 and 4.02 identify themselves as version 4.00
MS-DOS 6.21 reports its version as 6.20; version 6.22 returns the correct value
Windows95 returns version 7.00 (the underlying MS-DOS)
SeeAlso: AX=3000h/BX=3000h,AX=3306h,AX=4452h
AH=35h - GET INTERRUPT VECTOR
Entry: AL = interrupt number
Return: ES:BX -> current interrupt handler
SeeAlso: AH=25h,AX=2503h
AH = 36h - GET FREE DISK SPACE
Entry: DL = drive number (0=default, 1=A:, etc)
Return:
AX = FFFFh if invalid drive
AX = sectors per cluster BX = number of free clusters CX = bytes per sector DX = total clusters on drive
Notes:
free space on drive in bytes is AX * BX * CX
total space on drive in bytes is AX * CX * DX
"lost clusters" are considered to be in use
this function does not return proper results on CD-ROMs; use AX=4402h"CD-ROM" instead
SeeAlso: AH=1Bh,AH=1Ch,AX=4402h"CD-ROM"
AH = 39h - "MKDIR" - CREATE SUBDIRECTORY
Entry: DS:DX -> ASCIZ pathname
Return:
CF clear if successful AX destroyed
CF set on error AX = error code (03h,05h)
Notes:
all directories in the given path except the last must exist
fails if the parent directory is the root and is full
DOS 2.x-3.3 allow the creation of a directory sufficiently deep that it is not possible to make that directory
the current directory because the path would exceed 64 characters
SeeAlso: AH=3Ah,AH=3Bh,AH=6Dh
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AH = 3Ah - "RMDIR" - REMOVE SUBDIRECTORY
Entry: DS:DX -> ASCIZ pathname of directory to be removed
Return:
CF clear if successful, AX destroyed
CF set on error AX = error code (03h,05h,06h,10h)
Notes: directory must be empty (contain only '.' and '..' entries)
SeeAlso: AH=39h,AH=3Bh
AH = 3Bh - "CHDIR" - SET CURRENT DIRECTORY
Entry: DS:DX -> ASCIZ pathname to become current directory (max 64 bytes)
Return:
CF clear if successful, AX destroyed
CF set on error AX = error code (03h)
Notes: if new directory name includes a drive letter, the default drive is not changed, only the current directory
on that drive
SeeAlso: AH=47h,AH=71h,INT 2F/AX=1105h
AH = 3Ch - "CREAT" - CREATE OR TRUNCATE FILE
Entry:
CX = file attributes
DS:DX -> ASCIZ filename
Return:
CF clear if successful, AX = file handle
CF set on error AX = error code (03h,04h,05h)
Notes: if a file with the given name exists, it is truncated to zero length
SeeAlso: AH=16h,AH=3Dh,AH=5Ah,AH=5Bh
AH = 3Dh - "OPEN" - OPEN EXISTING FILE
Entry:
AL = access and sharing modes
DS:DX -> ASCIZ filename
Return:
CF clear if successful, AX = file handle
CF set on error AX = error code (01h,02h,03h,04h,05h,0Ch,56h)
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Notes:
file pointer is set to start of file
file handles which are inherited from a parent also inherit sharing and access restrictions
files may be opened even if given the hidden or system attributes
SeeAlso: AH=0Fh,AH=3Ch,AX=4301h,AX=5D00h
AH = 3Eh - "CLOSE" - CLOSE FILE
Entry: BX = file handle
Return:
CF clear if successful, AX destroyed
CF set on error, AX = error code (06h)
Note: if the file was written to, any pending disk writes are performed, the time and date stamps are set to the
current time, and the directory entry is updated
SeeAlso: AH=10h,AH=3Ch,AH=3Dh
AH = 3Fh - "READ" - READ FROM FILE OR DEVICE
Entry:
BX = file handle
CX = number of bytes to read
DS:DX -> buffer for data
Return:
CF clear if successful - AX = number of bytes actually read (0 if at EOF before call)
CF set on error AX = error code (05h,06h)
Notes:
data is read beginning at current file position, and the file position is updated after a successful read
the returned AX may be smaller than the request in CX if a partial read occurred
if reading from CON, read stops at first CR
SeeAlso: AH=27h,AH=40h,AH=93h
AH=40h - "WRITE" - WRITE TO FILE OR DEVICE
Entry:
BX = file handle
CX = number of bytes to write
DS:DX -> data to write
Return:
CF clear if successful -AX = number of bytes actually written
CF set on error - AX = error code (05h,06h)
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Notes:
if CX is zero, no data is written, and the file is truncated or extended to the current position
data is written beginning at the current file position, and the file position is updated after a successful write
the usual cause for AX < CX on return is a full disk
SeeAlso: AH=28h,AH=3Fh
AH = 41H - "UNLINK" - DELETE FILE
Entry:
DS:DX -> ASCIZ filename (no wildcards, but see notes)
CL = attribute mask for deletion (server call only, see notes)
Return:
CF clear if successful, AX destroyed (DOS 3.3) AL seems to be drive of deleted file
CF set on error AX = error code (02h,03h,05h)
Notes:
(DOS 3.1+) wildcards are allowed if invoked via AX=5D00h, in which case the filespec must be
canonical (as returned by AH=60h), and only files matching the attribute mask in CL are deleted
DOS does not erase the file's data; it merely becomes inaccessible because the FAT chain for the file is
cleared
deleting a file which is currently open may lead to filesystem corruption.
SeeAlso: AH=13h,AX=4301h,AX=4380h,AX=5D00h,AH=60h,AH=71h
AH=42h - "LSEEK" - SET CURRENT FILE POSITION
Entry:
AL = origin of move 00h start of file 01h current file position 02h end of file
BX = file handle
CX:DX = offset from origin of new file position
Return:
CF clear if successful, DX:AX = new file position in bytes from start of file
CF set on error, AX = error code (01h,06h)
Notes:
for origins 01h and 02h, the pointer may be positioned before the start of the file; no error is returned in
that case, but subsequent attempts at I/O will produce errors
if the new position is beyond the current end of file, the file will be extended by the next write (see
AH=40h)
SeeAlso: AH=24h
AH=43 - GET FILE ATTRIBUTES
Entry:
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AL = 00h
DS:DX -> ASCIZ filename
Return:
CF clear if successful CX = file attributes
CF set on error, AX = error code (01h,02h,03h,05h)
BUG: Windows for Workgroups returns error code 05h (access denied) instead of error code 02h (file not found)
when attempting to get the attributes of a nonexistent file.
SeeAlso: AX=4301h,AX=4310h,AX=7143h,AH=B6h
AH=43 - "CHMOD" - SET FILE ATTRIBUTES
Entry:
AL = 01h
CX = new file attributes
DS:DX -> ASCIZ filename
Return:
CF clear if successful, AX destroyed
CF set on error, AX = error code (01h,02h,03h,05h)
Notes:
will not change volume label or directory attribute bits, but will change the other attribute bits of a
directory
MS-DOS 4.01 reportedly closes the file if it is currently open
SeeAlso: AX=4300h,AX=4311h,AX=7143h,INT 2F/AX=110Eh
Bitfields for file attributes:
Bits 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Description shareable - archive directory vol. label system hidden read-only
AH = 47h - "CWD" - GET CURRENT DIRECTORY
Entry:
DL = drive number (00h = default, 01h = A:, etc)
DS:SI -> 64-byte buffer for ASCIZ pathname
Return:
CF clear if successful
CF set on error, AX = error code (0Fh)
Notes:
the returned path does not include a drive or the initial backslash
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many Microsoft products for Windows rely on AX being 0100h on success
SeeAlso: AH=19h,AH=3Bh,AH=71h
AH = 4Ch - "EXIT" - TERMINATE WITH RETURN CODE
Entry: AL = return code
Return: never returns
Notes: unless the process is its own parent, all open files are closed and all memory belonging to the process is
freed
SeeAlso: AH=00h,AH=26h,AH=4Bh,AH=4Dh
AH = 4Dh - GET RETURN CODE (ERRORLEVEL)
Return:
AH = termination type (00=normal, 01h control-C abort, 02h=critical error abort, 03h terminate and stay
resident)
AL = return code
Notes:
the word in which DOS stores the return code is cleared after being read by this function, so the return
code can only be retrieved once
COMMAND.COM stores the return code of the last external command it executed as ERRORLEVEL
SeeAlso: AH=4Bh,AH=4Ch,AH=8Ah
AH = 54h - GET VERIFY FLAG
Return: AL = verify flag (00h=off, 01h=on, i.e. all disk writes verified after writing)
SeeAlso: AH=2Eh
AH = 56h - "RENAME" - RENAME FILE
Entry:
DS:DX -> ASCIZ filename of existing file (no wildcards, but see below)
ES:DI -> ASCIZ new filename (no wildcards)
CL = attribute mask (server call only, see below)
Return:
CF clear if successful
CF set on error, AX= error code (02h,03h,05h,11h)
Notes:
allows move between directories on same logical volume
this function does not set the archive attribute
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open files should not be renamed
(DOS 3.0+) allows renaming of directories
AH = 57h - GET FILE'S LAST-WRITTEN DATE AND TIME
Entry:
AL = 00h (Get attribute)
BX = file handle
Return:
CF clear if successful, CX = file's time DX = file's date
CF set on error, AX = error code (01h,06h)
SeeAlso: AX=5701h
Bitfields for file time:
Bits 15-11 10-5 4-0
Description hours minutes seconds
Bitfields for file date:
Bits 15-9 8-5 4-0
Description year (1980-) month day
AH = 57h - SET FILE'S LAST-WRITTEN DATE AND TIME
Entry:
AL =01h (Set attributes)
BX = file handle
CX = new time
DX = new date
Return:
CF clear if successful
CF set on error AX = error code (01h,06h)
SeeAlso: AX=5700h
This page is maintained by Barry Wilks.
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