Microsoft KB Archive/105831

Knowledge Base

Why Should I Install MS-DOS 6.22?

PSS ID Number: 105831

Article Last Modified on 2/28/2002

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The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22

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This article was previously published under Q105831

SUMMARY

This article provides a functional overview of the features included in MS-DOS 6.22 and describes why you should consider upgrading.

• If you currently have MS-DOS 6.0 installed, refer to the "Why Step Up to MS-DOS 6.22?" section of this article. This section describes only those features and enhancements added since MS-DOS 6.0.
• If you currently have a version of MS-DOS earlier than 6.0, or if you are using another operating system, refer to "Why Upgrade to MS-DOS 6.22?" later in this article. This section describes all features and enhancements added since MS-DOS 5.0.

WHY STEP UP TO MS-DOS 6.22?

MS-DOS 6.22 improves on the safety and ease of use provided by MS-DOS 6.0. This section describes features new to MS-DOS 6.22 and is designed for those already running MS-DOS 6.

Safety Features and Enhancements

• MS-DOS 6.22 includes ScanDisk, a new utility that detects, diagnoses, and repairs disk errors on uncompressed drives and DriveSpace-compressed drives. ScanDisk can repair file system errors (such as cross-linked files and lost clusters) and physical disk errors. ScanDisk keeps a log of its repairs and allows you to undo any changes it makes. DriveSpace runs ScanDisk to check the reliability of your disk before it begins compression. You can also run ScanDisk by typing scandisk at the MS-DOS command prompt.
• DriveSpace includes DoubleGuard safety checking, which protects your data by verifying data integrity before writing to disk. If DoubleGuard detects that the memory DriveSpace is using has been written to by another program, it notifies you and shuts down your computer immediately to minimize damage to your data.
• The MS-DOS extended-memory manager, HIMEM, automatically tests your system's memory when you start your computer. This test can identify memory chips that are no longer reliable.
• Setup installs SMARTDrive as a read-only cache by default. Even if write-caching is enabled, MS-DOS does not display the MS-DOS command prompt until SMARTDrive has written its cache to your disk.
• The MOVE, COPY, and XCOPY commands ask you for confirmation before copying a file over another file that has the same name. (To maintain compatibility with the large base of MS-DOS batch files, these commands do not prompt for confirmation if they are issued from a batch file.)

Ease-of-Use Features and Other Enhancements

• SMARTDrive caches CD-ROM drives.
• DriveSpace automatically mounts compressed floppy disks and other compressed removable media, even when Microsoft Windows is running.
• MS-DOS 6.22 allows you to easily uncompress a DriveSpace drive or completely uninstall DriveSpace from memory.
• Interactive Start (F8) allows you to bypass or carry out individual commands in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. (In MS-DOS 6.0, this capability was limited to your CONFIG.SYS file.) This feature makes it easier to troubleshoot your system configuration.
• The DISKCOPY command uses your hard disk as an interim storage area, which allows you to copy from one floppy disk to another without repeatedly swapping disks.
• Microsoft Defragmenter makes better use of your computer's extended memory, so it can defragment larger disks and disks containing more files and directories.
• The output of the DIR, MEM, CHKDSK, and FORMAT commands is easier to read because it includes thousands separators when displaying numbers greater than 999. For example, "1000000 bytes free" displays as "1,000,000 bytes free."

WHY SHOULD I UPGRADE TO MS-DOS 6.22?

This section describes features added to MS-DOS since version 5.0. If you already have MS-DOS 6.0, refer to "Why Should I Step Up to MS-DOS 6.22?" above.

The MS-DOS 6.22 Upgrade includes the following new or enhanced features:

• Microsoft DriveSpace, with DoubleGuard
• Microsoft MemMaker
• Microsoft Backup
• Microsoft Anti-Virus
• Microsoft Undelete
• ScanDisk
• MultiConfig
• Interactive Start
• Microsoft Defragmenter
• MS-DOS Help
• Enhanced SMARTDrive
• Microsoft Diagnostics (MSD)
• Interlnk
• Enhanced Commands

The following paragraphs briefly describe these enhancements and their benefits.

Microsoft DriveSpace with DoubleGuard

Microsoft DriveSpace increases your available disk space by integrating compression into the operating system. You can use DriveSpace to increase available space on both hard disks and floppy disks. DriveSpace includes DoubleGuard safety checking, which protects your data by verifying data integrity before writing to the disk.

Microsoft MemMaker

Microsoft MemMaker is a memory-optimization program that makes it easy to free conventional memory by moving device drivers and memory- resident programs from conventional memory into the upper memory area (UMA). If your computer has an 80386 or higher processor, you can use MemMaker to increase available conventional memory so that programs run faster and more efficiently.

Microsoft Backup

Microsoft Backup is a utility for backing up your hard disk drive. MS-DOS 6.22 includes both Backup for MS-DOS, a program you can start from the MS-DOS command prompt, and Backup for Windows, a program you can use with Microsoft Windows.

Microsoft Anti-Virus

Microsoft Anti-Virus can identify and remove more than 1000 different computer viruses. MS-DOS 6.22 includes both Anti-Virus for MS-DOS, a program you can start from the MS-DOS command prompt, and Anti-Virus for Windows, a program you can use with Microsoft Windows.

Microsoft Undelete

Microsoft Undelete enables you to choose one of three levels of protection in case you accidentally delete a file. MS-DOS 6.22 includes Undelete for MS-DOS, a program you can run from the MS-DOS command prompt, and Undelete for Windows, a program you can use with Microsoft Windows. For more information about Undelete, see the chapter "Managing Your System" in the Microsoft MS-DOS "User's Guide" for version 6.0.

ScanDisk

ScanDisk detects, diagnoses, and repairs disk errors on uncompressed drives and DriveSpace-compressed drives. ScanDisk can repair file system errors (such as cross-linked files and lost clusters) and physical disk errors. ScanDisk keeps a log of its repairs and allows you to undo any of the changes it makes. DriveSpace runs ScanDisk to check the reliability of your disk before it begins compression. You can also run ScanDisk yourself by typing scandisk at the MS-DOS command prompt.

MultiConfig

MultiConfig allows you to define more than one configuration in your CONFIG.SYS file. If your CONFIG.SYS file defines multiple configurations, MS-DOS displays a menu that enables you to choose the configuration you want to use each time you start your computer.

Interactive Start

Interactive Start gives you the ability to bypass startup commands when you turn on your computer. This allows you to choose which CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT commands MS-DOS should carry out. By controlling the commands your computer uses to start up, you can locate problems more easily.

Microsoft Defragmenter

Microsoft Defragmenter reorganizes files on your hard disk to minimize the time it takes your computer to access them.

MS-DOS Help

MS-DOS Help is a complete online reference to MS-DOS commands. The reference includes information about how to type commands and their parameters and switches, notes about commands, and examples of how to use commands.

Enhanced SMARTDrive

The SMARTDrive program included with MS-DOS 6.22 speeds up your computer by using a disk cache, which stores information being read from your hard disk or CD-ROM drive. SMARTDrive can also be set to cache information being written to your hard disk.

Microsoft Diagnostics

Microsoft Diagnostics (MSD) gathers and displays technical information about your computer.

Interlnk

Interlnk enables you to easily transfer files between computers. With Interlnk and a cable, you can access information on another computer without using floppy disks to copy data from one computer to another.

Enhanced Commands

The following commands have been added or enhanced for MS-DOS 6.22:

• The MOVE command moves one or more files from one directory or drive to another. You can also use the MOVE command to rename directories.
• The CHOICE command allows you to prompt a user for input when running a batch program. The CHOICE command allows you to display a specified prompt, pause for user input, and return an error-level parameter to the batch program.
• The DELTREE command deletes a directory and all of its files and subdirectories.
• The DISKCOPY command uses your hard disk as an interim storage area, allowing you to copy from one floppy disk to another without repeatedly disk swapping disks.
• The output of the DIR, MEM, CHKDSK, and FORMAT commands is easier to read, because it includes thousands separators when displaying numbers greater than 999. For example, "1000000 bytes free" displays as "1,000,000 bytes free."

Additional query words: defrag 6.20 setup install step-up upgrade dblguard stepup doublespace dblspace drvspace drivespace

Keywords: KB105831
Technology: kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOSSearch

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