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'''MS-DOS''' ('''M'''icro'''s'''oft '''D'''isk '''O'''perating '''S'''ystem) is an operating system for x86 based personal computers. It was based on [[86-DOS]] ('''Q'''uick and '''D'''irty '''O'''perating '''S'''ystem), also known as [[86-DOS]], which was made by Tim Paterson and purchased by [[Microsoft]]. It was the most commonly used member of the [[Disk Operating Systems|DOS family]] of operating systems, and was the main operating system for personal computers during the 1980s and 1990s. It was preceded by [[M-DOS]] (also called MIDAS), designed and copyrighted by [[Microsoft]] in 1979. MS-DOS was written for the Intel 8086 family of microprocessors, particularly the IBM PC and compatibles. An MSX port was also made, called MSX-DOS.
'''MS-DOS''' ('''M'''icro'''s'''oft '''D'''isk '''O'''perating '''S'''ystem) is an operating system for x86 based personal computers. It was based on [[86-DOS]] ('''Q'''uick and '''D'''irty '''O'''perating '''S'''ystem), also known as [[86-DOS]], which was made by Tim Paterson and purchased by [[Microsoft]]. It was the most commonly used member of the [[Disk Operating Systems|DOS family]] of operating systems, and was the main operating system for personal computers during the 1980s and 1990s. It was preceded by [[M-DOS]] (also called MIDAS), designed and copyrighted by [[Microsoft]] in 1979. MS-DOS was written for the Intel 8086 family of microprocessors, particularly the IBM PC and compatibles. An MSX port was also made, called MSX-DOS.


It was gradually replaced on consumer desktop computers by operating systems offering a graphical user interface (GUI), in particular by various generations of the [[Microsoft Windows]] operating system. It is still used by a tiny market niche where legacy DOS applications are still required, but no modern version is available.
It was gradually replaced on consumer desktop computers by operating systems offering a graphical user interface (GUI), in particular by various generations of the [[Windows|Microsoft Windows]] operating system. It is still used by a tiny market niche where legacy DOS applications are still required, but no modern version is available.


Microsoft and IBM both had their own versions of MS-DOS. There are not many differences between the two versions before the split up, when IBM started developing PC-DOS independently of Microsoft. IBM distributed their version of MS-DOS first as IBM DOS (prior to version 5.0), and later on as IBM PC-DOS.
Microsoft and IBM both had their own versions of MS-DOS. There are not many differences between the two versions before the split up, when IBM started developing PC-DOS independently of Microsoft. IBM distributed their version of MS-DOS first as IBM DOS (prior to version 5.0), and later on as IBM PC-DOS.


==Known versions==
==Versions==
===MS-DOS 1.x===
===MS-DOS 1.x===
* [[MS-DOS:1.10]] - Compaq OEM
* [[MS-DOS 1.11]] - Internal version from 1981
* [[MS-DOS:1.11]] - Compaq OEM (Rev. E)
* [[MS-DOS 1.12]] - Internal version from 1981
* [[MS-DOS:1.12]] - Compaq OEM (Rev. G)
* [[MS-DOS 1.13]] - Internal version from 1981
* [[MS-DOS:1.13]] - Texas Instruments OEM
* [[MS-DOS 1.20]] - Internal version from 1981
* [[MS-DOS:1.14]] - Unknown OEM
* [[MS-DOS 1.21]] - Internal version from 1982
* [[MS-DOS:1.24]] - Unknown OEM
* [[MS-DOS 1.22]] - Internal version from 1982
* [[MS-DOS:1.25]] - Corona (BIOS 1.03 and 1.07), Zenith (command.com 1.19 for the Zenith Z-100 PC Compatible series from 1984 and 1.20 for the Zenith Z-100 from 1982) and Sanyo OEM, Seattle Computers OEM (command.com 1.17 as part of the released MS-DOS 1.1 source package), and Columbia OEM (Rel. 2.11)
* [[MS-DOS 1.23]] - Seattle Computers OEM
* [[MS-DOS 1.24]]
* [[MS-DOS 1.25]] - Corona (BIOS 1.03 and 1.07), Zenith (command.com 1.19 for the Zenith Z-100 PC Compatible series from 1984 and 1.20 for the Zenith Z-100 from 1982) and Sanyo OEM, Seattle Computers OEM (command.com 1.17 as part of the released MS-DOS 1.1 source package), and Columbia OEM (Rel. 2.11)


===MS-DOS 2.x===
===MS-DOS 2.x===
* [[MS-DOS:2.00]] - Olivetti (M20 with 8086 add-on) and NCR OEM, Seequa OEM, Eagle OEM
* [[MS-DOS 2.00]] - Olivetti (M20 with 8086 add-on), NCR, Apricot, Tandy, Seequa and Eagle OEM
* [[MS-DOS:2.01]] - Wang OEM (Wang PC)
* [[MS-DOS 2.01]] - DEC, Wang and Toshiba OEM
* [[MS-DOS:2.02]] - Compaq OEM
* [[MS-DOS 2.02]] - Compaq OEM
* [[MS-DOS:2.05]] - DEC OEM
* [[MS-DOS 2.05]] - DEC OEM
* [[MS-DOS:2.11]] - AT&T, BULL, TeleVideo, Olivetti, Toshiba, Apricot, NEC for PC-98xx, NCR, Tandy and ITT OEM
* [[MS-DOS 2.11]] - AT&T, BULL, TeleVideo, Olivetti, Toshiba, Apricot, NEC for PC-98xx, NCR, Tandy and ITT OEM
* [[MS-DOS:2.11D]] - Ericsson OEM
* [[MS-DOS 2.11D]] - Ericsson OEM
* [[MS-DOS:2.12B]] - Compaq OEM
* [[MS-DOS 2.12]] - Compaq OEM
* [[MS-DOS:2.13]] - Zenith OEM (Z-100)
* [[MS-DOS 2.13]] - Zenith OEM (Z-100)
* [[MS-DOS:2.18]] - Zenith OEM (Z-100)
* [[MS-DOS 2.18]] - Zenith OEM (Z-100)
* [[MS-DOS:2.21]] - Zenith OEM (Z-100)
* [[MS-DOS 2.21]] - Zenith OEM (Z-100)
* [[MS-DOS:2.25]] - Same as 2.11, but has better support for Japanese and Korean character sets. Released in October 1985, as stated in a Croatian computer magazine "Moj Mikro".
* [[MS-DOS 2.25]] - Same as 2.11, but has better support for Japanese and Korean character sets. Released in October 1985, as stated in a Croatian computer magazine "Moj Mikro".


===MS-DOS 3.x===
===MS-DOS 3.x===
* [[MS-DOS:3.00]] - Apricot and Compaq OEM
* [[MS-DOS 3.00]] - Apricot and Compaq OEM
* [[MS-DOS:3.06]] - Apricot OEM
* [[MS-DOS 3.06]] - Apricot OEM
* [[MS-DOS:3.10]] - Seiko Epson, Phoenix, Tandon, Apricot, Sperry, Fujitsu, Olivetti, Compaq and Multitech OEM, NEC for NEC PC-98
* [[MS-DOS 3.10]] - Seiko Epson, Phoenix, Tandon, Apricot, Sperry, Fujitsu, Olivetti, Compaq and Multitech OEM, NEC for NEC PC-98
* [[MS-DOS:3.10C]] - RM Nimbus and Ericsson OEM
* [[MS-DOS 3.10b]] - DEC OEM
* [[MS-DOS:3.10L24]] - Japanese, for Fujitsu FM-Towns
* [[MS-DOS 3.10C]] - RM Nimbus and Ericsson OEM
* [[MS-DOS:3.20]] - HP, Amstrad, Apricot, AT&T, Tandy and Seiko Epson OEM
* [[MS-DOS 3.10L24]] - Japanese, for Fujitsu FM-Towns
* [[MS-DOS:3.20E]] - BULL OEM
* [[MS-DOS 3.20]] - HP, Amstrad, Apricot, AT&T, Tandy and Seiko Epson OEM
* [[MS-DOS:3.21]] - Hyosung, KayPro, Zenith, Goupil, and Compaq OEM
* [[MS-DOS 3.20E]] - BULL OEM
* [[MS-DOS:3.22]] - Twinhead OEM
* [[MS-DOS 3.21]] - Hyosung, KayPro, Zenith, Goupil, and Compaq OEM
* [[MS-DOS:3.30]] - Amstrad, HP, Dell, NEC, Tulip, AT&T, Tandy, Olivetti, Tandon, Seiko Epson for PC-98xx and Toshiba OEM
* [[MS-DOS 3.22]] - Twinhead OEM
* [[MS-DOS:3.30+]] - Zenith OEM
* [[MS-DOS 3.25]]
* [[MS-DOS:3.30A]] - DTK OEM, also retail (?)
* [[MS-DOS 3.30]] - Amstrad, HP, Dell, NEC, Tulip, AT&T, Tandy, Olivetti, Tandon, Seiko Epson for PC-98xx and Toshiba OEM
* [[MS-DOS:3.30B]] - Schineider OEM and for NEC PC-98
* [[MS-DOS 3.30+]] - Zenith OEM
* [[MS-DOS:3.30C]] - for NEC PC-98
* [[MS-DOS 3.30A]] - DTK OEM, also retail
* [[MS-DOS:3.30D]] - for NEC PC-98
* [[MS-DOS 3.30B]] - Schineider OEM and for NEC PC-98
* [[MS-DOS:3.30T]] - Tandy OEM
* [[MS-DOS 3.30C]] - for NEC PC-98
* [[MS-DOS:3.31]] - Compaq and Olivetti OEM
* [[MS-DOS 3.30D]] - for NEC PC-98
* [[MS-DOS:3.31D]] - Compaq OEM
* [[MS-DOS 3.30T]] - Tandy OEM
* [[MS-DOS:3.4]] - Mentioned in the [http://retrospec.sgn.net/users/tomcat/yu/magshow.php?auto=8421&page=4 September 1988] issue of Serbian computer magazine "Svet Kompjutera" as well as [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/0000/PX00006.pdf PX00006]
* [[MS-DOS 3.31]] - Compaq and Olivetti OEM
* [[MS-DOS 3.31D]] - Compaq OEM


===Multi-tasking MS-DOS 4.0===
===Multi-tasking MS-DOS 4.0===
* [[MS-DOS:4.00]] - A rare OEM version, capable of multi-tasking. Only released by some European OEMs, a working copy can be found online. (Unnamed OEM and Goupil OEM)
* [[MS-DOS 4.00]] - A rare OEM version, capable of multi-tasking. Only released by some European OEMs, a working copy can be found online. (Unnamed OEM and Goupil OEM)


===MS-DOS 4.x===
===MS-DOS 4.x===
* [[MS-DOS:4.00]] - An extremely rare version which was quickly replaced by 4.01 due to bugs. Dated 1988-10-06, a Sampo OEM without disk 6 can be found online.
* [[MS-DOS 4.00]] - A rare version which was quickly replaced by 4.01 due to bugs. Dated 06/10/1988, a Sampo OEM without disk 6 can be found online.
* [[MS-DOS:4.01]] - Olivetti, Amstrad, Nokia, Tulip, HP, Toshiba, Zenith and VEGAS OEM
* [[MS-DOS 4.01]] - Olivetti, Amstrad, Nokia, Tulip, HP, Toshiba, Zenith and VEGAS OEM
* [[MS-DOS:4.01A]] - Nokia OEM
* [[MS-DOS 4.01A]] - Nokia OEM
* [[MS-DOS:4.02]] - Unknown stage, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05132.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS 4.02]] - Unknown stage, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05132.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS:4.10.20]] - International Computer Ltd. OEM version
* [[MS-DOS 4.10.20]] - International Computer Ltd. OEM version


===MS-DOS 5.x===
===MS-DOS 5.x===
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.070]] - Beta, existance suggested by ROM-DOS 5.00.070 mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/9000/PX09434.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.070]] - Beta, existance suggested by ROM-DOS 5.00.070 mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/9000/PX09434.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.112]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05132.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.112]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05132.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.217]] - Beta, [http://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=21700 German claims to have it] but existence unconfirmed
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.217]] - Beta, [http://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=21700 German claims to have it] but existence unconfirmed
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.224]] - Beta, leaked and also mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05132.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.224]] - Beta, leaked and also mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05132.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.225]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05132.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.225]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05132.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.226]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05132.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.226]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05132.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.227]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05132.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.227]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05132.pdf PX05132]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.333]] - Beta, leaked and also mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/6000/PX06476.pdf PX06476]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.333]] - Beta, leaked and also mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/6000/PX06476.pdf PX06476]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.409c]] - Beta, leaked
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.409c]] - Beta, leaked - includes INFER (MSD prorotype), and where.exe, neither made it to the release.
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.432]] - Beta, leaked and also mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05243.pdf PX05243]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.432]] - Beta, leaked and also mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05243.pdf PX05243]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.460]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/8000/PX08857.pdf PX08857]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.460]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/8000/PX08857.pdf PX08857]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.480]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05243.pdf PX05243]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.480]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05243.pdf PX05243]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.481]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/3000/PX03447.pdf PX03447]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.481]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/3000/PX03447.pdf PX03447]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.490]] - Beta, leaked
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.490]] - Beta, leaked
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.500]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05243.pdf PX05243]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.500]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05243.pdf PX05243]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00.1180]] - Unknown stage, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/7000/PX07621.pdf PX07621]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00.1180]] - Unknown stage, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/7000/PX07621.pdf PX07621]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00 RC1]] - Release Candidate 1, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05243.pdf PX05243]
* [[MS-DOS 5.00 RC1]] - Release Candidate 1, mentioned in [http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/5000/PX05243.pdf PX05243]
* [[MS-DOS:5.00 RC3]] - Release Candidate 3, mentioned in PX09027 with a date of 5th March 1991, also mentioned in a BBS list but hasn't been found yet
* [[MS-DOS 5.00 RC3]] - Release Candidate 3, mentioned in PX09027 with a date of 5th March 1991, also mentioned in a BBS list but hasn't been found yet
* [[MS-DOS:5.00 RC3A]] - Release Candidate 3A, incomplete leak
* [[MS-DOS 5.00 RC3A]] - Release Candidate 3A, incomplete leak
* [[MS-DOS:5.00 RC10]] - Release Candidate 10, leaked
* [[MS-DOS 5.00 RC10]] - Release Candidate 10, leaked
* [[MS-DOS:5.00]] - HP, Dell, Compaq, Tandy and PC Kenitec OEM, Epson OEM (PC-98xx)
* [[MS-DOS 5.00]] - HP, Dell, Compaq, Tandy and PC Kenitec OEM, Epson OEM (PC-98xx) - last common version with IBM.
* [[MS-DOS:5.00a]] - Toshiba OEM
* [[MS-DOS 5.00a]] - The 11/11/1991 release including the fixes previously released separately.
* [[MS-DOS:5.00A]] - for NEC PC-98
* [[MS-DOS 5.00a]] - Toshiba OEM
* [[MS-DOS:5.00A-H]] - for NEC PC-98
* [[MS-DOS 5.00A]] - for NEC PC-98
* [[MS-DOS 5.00A-H]] - for NEC PC-98
* [[MS-DOS 5.50]] - The DOS in Windows NT is based on MS-DOS 5.00 code, some files directly copy this.


===MS-DOS 6.x===
===MS-DOS 6.x===
* [[MS-DOS:6.00.0015]] - Beta, leaked and also mentioned in [http://retrospec.sgn.net/users/tomcat/yu/magshow.php?auto=4793&page=7 February 1993] issue of Serbian computer magazine "Svet Kompjutera"
The base versions are listed as including 'Enhanced Tools', this means what the retail upgrade is, was sold to OEMs as two packages.  These are feature-reduced versions of various Norton utilities.  Help was provided through QHelp built into QBASIC. 
* [[MS-DOS:6.00.0018]] - Beta, mentioned in a BBS list but hasn't been found yet and thus can't be confirmed to exist
 
* [[MS-DOS:6.00.0108]] - Beta, mentioned in a BBS list but hasn't been found yet and thus can't be confirmed to exist
A separate disk is available of the supplemental files.  These are mainly DOS 5 files removed, and random add-ons, such as AcessDOS, Drovak keyboard drivers, and later, DOSSHELL.  All versions have them.
* [[MS-DOS:6.00.0204]] - Beta, references found in leaked MS-DOS 6.0 source code
 
* [[MS-DOS:6.00.0305]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://retrospec.sgn.net/users/tomcat/yu/magshow.php?auto=4793&page=7 February 1993] issue of Serbian computer magazine "Svet Kompjutera"
* [[MS-DOS 6.00.0015]] - Beta, leaked and also mentioned in [http://retrospec.sgn.net/users/tomcat/yu/magshow.php?auto=4793&page=7 February 1993] issue of Serbian computer magazine "Svet Kompjutera"
* [[MS-DOS:6.00.0405]] - Beta, mentioned in a BBS list but hasn't been found yet and thus can't be confirmed to exist
* [[MS-DOS 6.00.0018]] - Beta, mentioned in a BBS list but hasn't been found yet and thus can't be confirmed to exist
* [[MS-DOS:6.00]] - HP, Packard Bell, Fujitsu and NEC OEM, Compaq OEM
* [[MS-DOS 6.00.0108]] - Beta, mentioned in a BBS list but hasn't been found yet and thus can't be confirmed to exist
* [[MS-DOS:6.20.3002]] - Beta, Step-Up, leaked
* [[MS-DOS 6.00.0204]] - Beta, references found in leaked MS-DOS 6.0 source code.  Dos5 help renamed to doshelp, later renamed as fasthelp
* [[MS-DOS:6.20.RC1]] - Release Candidate 1, leaked
* [[MS-DOS 6.00.0305]] - Beta, mentioned in [http://retrospec.sgn.net/users/tomcat/yu/magshow.php?auto=4793&page=7 February 1993] issue of Serbian computer magazine "Svet Kompjutera"
* [[MS-DOS:6.20.RC2]] - Release Candidate 2, leaked
* [[MS-DOS 6.00.0405]] - Beta, mentioned in a BBS list but hasn't been found yet and thus can't be confirmed to exist
* [[MS-DOS:6.20.RC3]] - Release Candidate 3, leaked
* [[MS-DOS 6.00]] - HP, Packard Bell, Fujitsu and NEC OEM, Compaq OEM
* [[MS-DOS:6.20.RC5]] - Release Candidate 5, Upgrade, leaked
* [[MS-DOS 6.20.3002]] - Beta, Step-Up, leaked
* [[MS-DOS:6.20]] - Retail, NEC OEM (PC-98xx)
* [[MS-DOS 6.20.RC1]] - Release Candidate 1, leaked
* [[MS-DOS:6.20L10]] - Japanese, for Fujitsu FM-Towns
* [[MS-DOS 6.20.RC2]] - Release Candidate 2, leaked
* [[MS-DOS:6.20-V]] - Japanese MS-DOS 6.20
* [[MS-DOS 6.20.RC3]] - Release Candidate 3, leaked
* [[MS-DOS:6.21]] - Beta, Chinese Simplified leaked
* [[MS-DOS 6.20.RC5]] - Release Candidate 5, Upgrade, leaked
* [[MS-DOS:6.21]] - Retail
* [[MS-DOS 6.20]] - Retail, NEC OEM (PC-98xx)
* [[MS-DOS:6.22]] - Retail
* [[MS-DOS 6.20L10]] - Japanese, for Fujitsu FM-Towns
* [[MS-DOS 6.20-V]] - Japanese MS-DOS 6.20
* [[MS-DOS 6.21]] - Beta, Chinese Simplified leaked
* [[MS-DOS 6.21]] - OEM, Retail, DBLSPACE removed, crosses Stac's licencing.
* [[MS-DOS 6.22]] - Retail,  Step-Up, additional download to read DBLSPACE backups.


===MS-DOS 7.x===
===MS-DOS 7.x===
* [[MS-DOS:7.00]] - Only released as part of Windows 95 RTM and OSR1
 
* [[MS-DOS:7.10]] - Only released as part of Windows 95 OSR2, OSR2.5, Windows 98 and 98SE
* [[MS-DOS 7.00]] - Only released as part of Windows 95 RTM and OSR1
* [[MS-DOS 7.00]] - A DOS to be spun off the Windows release, with shell, https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=39495
* [[MS-DOS 7.10]] - Only released as part of Windows 95 OSR2, OSR2.5, Windows 98 and 98SE
 
===MS-DOS 8.x===
===MS-DOS 8.x===
* [[MS-DOS:8.00]] - Only released as part of Windows Me
* [[MS-DOS 8.00]] - Only released as part of Windows ME - XP to Windows 7 inclued a boot-disk in diskcopy.dll


[[Category:Operating Systems]]
[[Category:Operating Systems]]

Revision as of 15:43, 18 November 2020

Logo of MS-DOS

MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) is an operating system for x86 based personal computers. It was based on 86-DOS (Quick and Dirty Operating System), also known as 86-DOS, which was made by Tim Paterson and purchased by Microsoft. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for personal computers during the 1980s and 1990s. It was preceded by M-DOS (also called MIDAS), designed and copyrighted by Microsoft in 1979. MS-DOS was written for the Intel 8086 family of microprocessors, particularly the IBM PC and compatibles. An MSX port was also made, called MSX-DOS.

It was gradually replaced on consumer desktop computers by operating systems offering a graphical user interface (GUI), in particular by various generations of the Microsoft Windows operating system. It is still used by a tiny market niche where legacy DOS applications are still required, but no modern version is available.

Microsoft and IBM both had their own versions of MS-DOS. There are not many differences between the two versions before the split up, when IBM started developing PC-DOS independently of Microsoft. IBM distributed their version of MS-DOS first as IBM DOS (prior to version 5.0), and later on as IBM PC-DOS.

Versions

MS-DOS 1.x

  • MS-DOS 1.11 - Internal version from 1981
  • MS-DOS 1.12 - Internal version from 1981
  • MS-DOS 1.13 - Internal version from 1981
  • MS-DOS 1.20 - Internal version from 1981
  • MS-DOS 1.21 - Internal version from 1982
  • MS-DOS 1.22 - Internal version from 1982
  • MS-DOS 1.23 - Seattle Computers OEM
  • MS-DOS 1.24
  • MS-DOS 1.25 - Corona (BIOS 1.03 and 1.07), Zenith (command.com 1.19 for the Zenith Z-100 PC Compatible series from 1984 and 1.20 for the Zenith Z-100 from 1982) and Sanyo OEM, Seattle Computers OEM (command.com 1.17 as part of the released MS-DOS 1.1 source package), and Columbia OEM (Rel. 2.11)

MS-DOS 2.x

MS-DOS 3.x

Multi-tasking MS-DOS 4.0

  • MS-DOS 4.00 - A rare OEM version, capable of multi-tasking. Only released by some European OEMs, a working copy can be found online. (Unnamed OEM and Goupil OEM)

MS-DOS 4.x

  • MS-DOS 4.00 - A rare version which was quickly replaced by 4.01 due to bugs. Dated 06/10/1988, a Sampo OEM without disk 6 can be found online.
  • MS-DOS 4.01 - Olivetti, Amstrad, Nokia, Tulip, HP, Toshiba, Zenith and VEGAS OEM
  • MS-DOS 4.01A - Nokia OEM
  • MS-DOS 4.02 - Unknown stage, mentioned in PX05132
  • MS-DOS 4.10.20 - International Computer Ltd. OEM version

MS-DOS 5.x

MS-DOS 6.x

The base versions are listed as including 'Enhanced Tools', this means what the retail upgrade is, was sold to OEMs as two packages. These are feature-reduced versions of various Norton utilities. Help was provided through QHelp built into QBASIC.

A separate disk is available of the supplemental files. These are mainly DOS 5 files removed, and random add-ons, such as AcessDOS, Drovak keyboard drivers, and later, DOSSHELL. All versions have them.

MS-DOS 7.x

MS-DOS 8.x

  • MS-DOS 8.00 - Only released as part of Windows ME - XP to Windows 7 inclued a boot-disk in diskcopy.dll