If you are statisfied with just GUI applications, start up Gnome or KDE. They have graphical interfaces for all the common functions just like Windows. But if you use DOS commands because they are faster and easier this is a table of the equivalent commands.

windows	linux	function
cd	cd	change directory
dir	ls	directory listing
ren	mv	change file or directory name
move	mv	move file or directory to another place
copy	cp	duplicates file
n/a	pwd	shows where you are in the directory tree structure
n/a	man	describes the command
n/a	alias	changes the name or definition of command

• n/a, not available
• not all linux functions are available in windows

If you want to know all about the command cp simply type man cp to get a description of what it does, how it is used and the available options. These pages are a bit tricky to read at first. Linux programs are written to have a simple, obvious usage as is with options on the command line to do more. Typing cp -R * will copy all files in a directory and Recurse into all subjectories copying those files also.

In linux a DOS Window is called a terminal.

In linux a program that is not being actively used have virtually not overhead on the processor. You can have many programs ready to use and many terminals open and when any one is used it will not be noticably slower. Meaning you likely have habits that are unnecessary in linux.