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By Graeme Wearden
Posted on ZDNet News: Sep 7, 2006 2:44:00 PM

The FreeDOS project, an attempt to create an open-source alternative to Microsoft's MS-DOS operating system, has finally reached a major milestone.

After years of work, version 1.0 of FreeDOS is now available for download from the project team's Web site.

The operating system can be installed on a PC and used to run DOS programs. It can also be used in embedded devices such as cash registers.

The FreeDOS project began 12 years ago, after Microsoft released the last official standalone version of MS-DOS.

"FreeDOS 1.0 is a major milestone that has finally been released. By now, we have a stable and viable MS-DOS replacement," the project team said this week. Recent improvements to the package include long file name support in several applications, including a free CD-ROM driver, FAT32 file system support within the kernel and most other applications, and improved stability within the HIMEM device driver and EMM386 memory manager.

Earlier versions of FreeDOS have been available for some time and are sometimes shipped on PCs that don't come with a commercial operating system.

Microsoft recently urged system vendors not to sell so-called naked PCs, though such computers can appeal to people who want to run Linux on their new machine or IT managers who have a volume-licensing deal with Microsoft and don't want to pay for another copy of Windows.

Graeme Wearden of ZDNet UK reported from London.

  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 186 Talkback(s)
A better swap
My 1955 Ferrari will run circles around your "Bimmer". Older is often better. (Read the rest)
Posted by: cdgoldin Posted on: 11/07/06 You are currently: Logged In | Log out
M$ loses another cash cow Linux Geek   | 09/07/06
Ummm, they haven't sold DOS in years No_Ax_to_Grind   | 09/07/06
you are ignorant Linux Geek   | 09/07/06
Grey market doesn't count moron.... JoeMama_z   | 09/07/06
dude... Linux Geek   | 09/07/06
and those companies are wasting thier money... JoeMama_z   | 09/07/06
LG is not a COMPLETE Moron Bob G Beechey   | 09/07/06
Another way to look at it. slim-01   | 09/08/06
Hmmm. An OS without support? John Zern   | 09/07/06
No. (NT) Zogg   | 09/08/06
Do you even know what they are talking about? rock06r   | 09/10/06
Well, this gives new life so some old DOS programs. DonnieBoy   | 09/07/06
Or just run them in Windows. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 09/07/06
Ummm in case you haven't noticed Linux User 147560   | 09/07/06
Hasn't been scaled back, just hasn't been enhanced PB_z   | 09/07/06
But NT never included a "real" DOS rdwhitti   | 09/07/06
from what i understand..... JoeMama_z   | 09/07/06
You name the DOS app... No_Ax_to_Grind   | 09/07/06
but almost no one..... JoeMama_z   | 09/07/06
Registers petteyg359   | 09/07/06
10s of thousands can't keep a company alive if they are giving it away free ajole   | 09/07/06
Games.. Patrick Jones   | 09/07/06
Really? Can you name one. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 09/07/06
You obviously have no clue voska   | 09/07/06
Yes.. Patrick Jones   | 09/07/06
Sound issues voska   | 09/07/06
Voska... Patrick Jones   | 09/07/06
Will have to check those out voska   | 09/07/06
AutoCAD for DOS ver 12 with Pharlap DOS extender osreinstall   | 09/07/06
Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe, by LucasArts. ajole   | 09/07/06
Detroit, Terminal Velocity CobraA1   | 09/08/06
CobraA1 - Terminal Velocity Patrick Jones   | 09/08/06
For those who want to run DOS games, BTW CobraA1   | 09/08/06
I have box of old DOS games voska   | 09/07/06
Because they are still fun! Patrick Jones   | 09/07/06
Nostalgia voska   | 09/07/06
I keep an old PC rdwhitti   | 09/07/06
There are exceptions to every rule voska   | 09/07/06
We have an important DOS app Michael Kelly   | 09/07/06
Here's one - teach me mfrap   | 09/07/06
Have you tried Virtual PC? Patrick Jones   | 09/07/06
If you have a dedicated machine, you do not want it booting to Windows DonnieBoy   | 09/07/06
Space Invaders??? rock06r   | 09/10/06
This does nothing nucrash   | 09/07/06
Prove open source is up to date No_Ax_to_Grind   | 09/07/06
Don Rupert, prove you are right for once #_z   | 09/07/06
You'd be suprised how many dos applications are still in use out there zmud   | 09/07/06
sadly.... JoeMama_z   | 09/07/06
Hmmm... jasonp@...   | 09/07/06
hmmmm.... JoeMama_z   | 09/07/06
That logic works until... 3D0G   | 09/07/06
Hmmm, ever hear of maintenance? ajole   | 09/07/06
Have to consider business continutity also... Spikey_Mike   | 09/08/06
Let's see... Rule #1 rock06r   | 09/10/06
Ignorance driving the ignorant cdgoldin   | 11/07/06
As long as they have a good backup system zmud   | 09/07/06
Backup is some insurance.... JoeMama_z   | 09/07/06
And this... zkiwi   | 09/07/06
Why would anyone want to crack... rock06r   | 09/10/06
What's to fix slim-01   | 09/07/06
Or perhaps... LeeC   | 09/07/06
This may be illegal... Mike Cox   | 09/07/06
Message has been deleted. MLHACK   | 09/07/06
EULA? jobollin@...   | 09/07/06
Its not illegal coreyhaskin   | 09/07/06
Why not use DOS? dayjm   | 09/07/06
Yes... that is very..... rock06r   | 09/10/06
There is NO EULA.... kokuryu   | 09/07/06
Where've you been? teddybairs1   | 09/07/06
The fishing is great! mujadaddy   | 09/07/06
Fish for dinner tonight zmud   | 09/08/06
and swapping spit and..... Jay E Court   | 09/07/06
Trollin', Trollin' Trollin, keep those trout a-rollin' ajole   | 09/07/06
Bravo!!! jlhenry62   | 09/07/06
Throw them back Mike, grenades are not allowed. osreinstall   | 09/07/06
Lookit all the newbies! Thanks Mike! Mazdaman   | 09/07/06
Out for breakfast or out to lunch? PCcritic   | 09/08/06
I vote "Out to Lunch" dumptux   | 09/09/06
Another one that needs to get the hook out of his mouth. osreinstall   | 09/09/06
Of course M$ doesn't like naked computers DarthRidiculous   | 09/07/06
Hog wash... No_Ax_to_Grind   | 09/07/06
Oh now ya done it! Linux User 147560   | 09/07/06
MS Doesn't Want You To Have A Choice itanalyst   | 09/07/06
Hmmmm. And what company does? John Zern   | 09/07/06
Re: Hmmmm. And what company does? slim-01   | 09/07/06
Nonsense. Open Source means that source code must be available. Zogg   | 09/07/06
Speaking of naked computers... NonZealot   | 09/07/06
NonZealot is non-knowing. nomorems   | 09/07/06
why would I buy a PC with FreeDos? voska   | 09/07/06
You really don't. osreinstall   | 09/07/06
You're getting too specific voska   | 09/07/06
Specific is clarity osreinstall   | 09/07/06
Now there's an idea!!! jlhenry62   | 09/07/06
Um, MS does sell computers NonZealot   | 09/07/06
Do you know what an Xbox is? teddybairs1   | 09/07/06
Dude, expand your idea of computers... ajole   | 09/07/06
OEM choice Anti_Zealot   | 09/07/06
I hope you're just being funny... rock06r   | 09/10/06
Don't buy it from Apple voska   | 09/07/06
No company is forced to sell Windows NonZealot   | 09/07/06
should have to sell voska   | 09/07/06
Learn history! bportlock   | 09/07/06
That's what most companies do voska   | 09/07/06
Ah, but that's different! NetArch.   | 09/07/06
Thanks for the history lesson NonZealot   | 09/07/06
But no one lives in history. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 09/07/06
What about Apple's monopoly? ken_ballard@...   | 09/07/06
Nothing wrong with a monopoly NonZealot   | 09/07/06
Re: Nothing wrong with a monopoly ken_ballard@...   | 09/07/06
Uhhh, bp . . . jlhenry62   | 09/07/06
You want history? zedman2006   | 09/07/06
The demand for Linux is there slim-01   | 09/07/06
Remember - Jobs GAVE away Apples? kbrady@...   | 09/07/06
What you say makes more sense now Michael Kelly   | 09/07/06
BIG difference DarthRidiculous   | 09/07/06
Apple sheep get confused by choice NonZealot   | 09/07/06
re: Apple sheep get confused by choice shidokan@...   | 09/07/06
Correction.... ken_ballard@...   | 09/07/06
He was right osreinstall   | 09/07/06
Just a thought... jjarman   | 09/07/06
Follow the technical specs... rock06r   | 09/10/06
Too bad I'm not an Apple sheep DarthRidiculous   | 09/07/06
Neener neener NonZealot   | 09/07/06
Well... zkiwi   | 09/07/06
What I think is funny is . . . jlhenry62   | 09/07/06
Oh!..! only Microsoft does that zedman2006   | 09/07/06
Well... zkiwi   | 09/07/06
Memory lane whisperycat   | 09/07/06
Good point... TroyW   | 09/07/06
Memory lane whisperycat   | 09/07/06
Yippee, break out the champagne LordLiverpool   | 09/07/06
Memory management is key Roger Ramjet   | 09/07/06
You are bringing back nightmares toadlife   | 09/07/06
Are you guys retro nuts or something?? d6564   | 09/07/06
Easy.. Patrick Jones   | 09/07/06
So simple LordLiverpool   | 09/08/06
Nope.. Patrick Jones   | 09/08/06
Dosbox slim-01   | 09/07/06
So I can play Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe, of course... ajole   | 09/07/06
Preparing to catch flak Shelendrea   | 09/07/06
If you actually like DOS... Henry Miller   | 09/07/06
and if you like to try a free CLI for OS X go to... Arm A. Geddon   | 09/07/06
No flak... Patrick Jones   | 09/07/06
Command prompt XCOPY is much easier and more stable zmud   | 09/07/06
Same here ken_ballard@...   | 09/07/06
Excellent, now I dont have to buy Vista PaddyOmaddy   | 09/07/06
And that makes everyone happy. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 09/07/06
LOL That made me laugh voska   | 09/07/06
Why did you think you needed to? (nt) zedman2006   | 09/07/06
DOS is mightily outdated outlaw640   | 09/07/06
Well, DOS is easier for a lot of stuff, ajole   | 09/07/06
(nt)DOS is "stable" cause it doesn't do much toadlife   | 09/07/06
So is ISA, and floppies hawkeyeaz1   | 09/07/06
Oh, and yes, they run DOS too... hawkeyeaz1   | 09/07/06
Record locking? alvaroafernandez   | 09/07/06
Xtree Gold slim-01   | 09/07/06
Xtree Gold was good... TroyW   | 09/07/06
XTree was great for DOS roadbiker   | 09/07/06
nomorems is non-knowing Bob G Beechey   | 09/07/06
Why Open Source Doesn't Work erniescar99   | 09/07/06
MS-DOS Timeline? pj_mouse   | 09/07/06
MS-DOS origins curtcalhoun   | 09/07/06
No not CPM86 mobrien_12@...   | 09/07/06
A DOS by any other name... pj_mouse   | 09/07/06
Explain... zkiwi   | 09/07/06
Dos Business46   | 09/07/06
Just run them in Linux ! j.dupont   | 09/07/06
True mobrien_12@...   | 09/07/06
Dosbox & Dosemu slim-01   | 09/08/06
See ya Microsoft! opus_two   | 09/07/06
Yep... LordLiverpool   | 09/08/06
The new phone book is here! Uber Dweeb   | 09/07/06
freeDOS thedarkstar   | 09/08/06
A better swap cdgoldin   | 11/07/06
Cool I can run my old DOS games on my 486 Species8472   | 09/08/06
Programmers Lost 12 Years ago - Found jpr75_z   | 09/08/06
Did you mean 22 years ago? .... michael_t   | 09/08/06
HA, HA, HA! Linux Geek   | 09/08/06
Smoke and Mirrors and the clueless Dr_Zinj   | 09/08/06
XTree Program was... linkerm@...   | 09/08/06
Dos 5 was the last decent OS made by Microsoft slim-01   | 09/08/06
I stopped using msdos at around the 2.1 era.... :-) michael_t   | 09/08/06
Microsoft hardship making people stronger slim-01   | 09/08/06
You're more like competing religions Boot_Agnostic   | 09/08/06
Why not bring everything back whoozhe@...   | 09/08/06
DOS is even questionably better than CP/M ... michael_t   | 09/08/06

What do you think?