Dos-5-Slim

                           Robert J. Grosek
                             18 May 1993


DOS 5 is replete with files to cover the needs of many computer users, 
but is unlikely that any given user will require every file that comes 
with DOS 5.  Dos-5-Slim was developed to address this problem.  
Dos-5-Slim is a simple batch file that erases unneeded, but space       
consuming, files that DOS 5 installs on the hard drive.  This program 
will recover over 1 megabyte of hard disk space.

**  Assumptions  **

1. DOS 5 is located in the DOS subdirectory on Drive C: the default 
sub-directory that DOS 5 automatically creates.

2. PKZIP (tm) is located somewhere in your path statement.

**  Files Selection  **

The files that I selected for deletion are ones that often see little, 
if any, use.  It is your choice to decide which files you want to keep 
and which ones you want to delete.  For example, DOS Edit and QBASIC, 
are good programs in their own right, but there are better 
alternatives available for those who might otherwise use such 
programs.

It is recommended that you view DOS5SLIM.BAT using your favorite 
editor.  The last part of the program lists all of the DOS files that 
will be deleted.  Simply delete the lines which contain files that you 
wish to retain.

**  Running the Program  **

After you have reviewed the files to be deleted, run the batch file by 
typing in

     DOS5SLIM

The program will

1. Create a temporary sub-directory named SLIM,
2. Copy all of the targeted files to that sub-directory,
3. Compress the files into a zipped file, named TRASHED.ZIP
4. Copy TRASHED.ZIP to the root directory of drive C:
5. Erase the SLIM sub-directory

At this point, the program will prompt you to press any key to 
continue, or press Ctrl-Break to abort the file deletion process.  If 
you continue, the program will

6. Delete the unwanted files from DOS.

It is recommended that you move TRASHED.ZIP to a floppy drive and save 
this file for future reference.  You can decompress TRASHED.ZIP at any 
time to recover any or all of the DOS files that were deleted above.