FreeDOS is a complete, free, DOS-compatible operating system that you can use to play classic DOS games, run legacy business software, or develop embedded systems. Any program that works on MS-DOS should also run on FreeDOS.
It doesn’t cost anything to download and run FreeDOS. Even better, you can view and edit the source code. All FreeDOS programs are distributed under the GNU General Public License or a similar open source software license.
And if you wait until Christmas Day 2016 you can get the new 1.2 version.
If you know nothing about virtual machines or are not prepared to destroy your existing system please do not experiment with this. But if you have a real need for old MS-DOS software or games then this is for you.
Latest comments (21)
foes4you
24 Dec 16#21
Dos is windows - who needs freedos ?
BenderRodriguez
12 Dec 16#20
My bad, years of linuxing where this would append the output from the command to the given file.
On an unrelated note, I still have DOS 5.0 floppies somewhere hoping they'll be worth fortune on ebay in 2047.
moneybag
12 Dec 16#19
Eh? My command would append @win to the end of autoexec.bat The at sign stopping the command echoing on execution and win obviously launching the GUI. The echo command >> filename appends whatever the command is to the named file.
BenderRodriguez
12 Dec 16#18
Why would you dump the entire output from windows startup file to autoexec?
sreenireddy
11 Dec 16#17
Ms dos 6.12 on a single floppy win.3.1 on 3 I think and a xtra plus pack disk. win 95 8 floppies win 98 30 floppies. and an all night install waking up each time the floppy drive went grrrrrr
sreenireddy
11 Dec 16#16
I was gonna say that too
moneybag
10 Dec 16#15
C:\> echo @win >>autoexec.bat
BenderRodriguez
10 Dec 16#14
Or just use DosBox..
3722
10 Dec 16#13
My old Intel 486 DX 2 machine used to boot to dos, and from there one had to type in 'win' in order to start the 3.11 version of windows. Those were the days.
CAL23
10 Dec 16#12
afroylnt
10 Dec 16#11
Believe they are twined with the Lib Dems.....
matth9999
10 Dec 16#10
For things that don't like DOSBOX, you may be able to run them in a virtualbox with Freedos installed.
DOSBOX is mainly a solution for games, attempting to run some non-game DOS software in it can bring pain
migavupe
10 Dec 16#9
Dos also available on windows phone. Take that Isheep and fandroid nerds. :stuck_out_tongue: microsoft.com/en-…dtw
Bikertov
9 Dec 16#8
I've got an old 8086 PC you can buy off me if you want. Will run this a treat.
It has a massive 384K of RAM, a 5 1/4" floppy and a 20MB hard drive.
Might even dig out the CGA monitor for you
£300 all in and it is yours
tardytortoise
9 Dec 16#7
and if you get really nostalgic then there are over 600 playable classic DOS games here for you to enjoy dosgames.com/gam…php
Cybirea
9 Dec 16#6
Del *.*
^__^
ajm007
9 Dec 16#5
Good idea then but not for me
Josh.Rogan
9 Dec 16#4
And there is the crux of the problem.
There is no ARM support, so raspi is out and if its just to play games - your computer should run an emulator such as dosbox.
The only actual use case for this is if you have some bespoke legacy software and perhaps legacy hardware and you have lost your ms-dos disks....
ajm007
9 Dec 16#3
What would you run this on?
mattrixdesign2
9 Dec 16#2
Shudders... Ah those were the days, messing with config.sys and auto.exec etc, just to get games to work. Awful key commands. Thank the lord for GUIs. Heat.
Opening post
FreeDOS is a complete, free, DOS-compatible operating system that you can use to play classic DOS games, run legacy business software, or develop embedded systems. Any program that works on MS-DOS should also run on FreeDOS.
It doesn’t cost anything to download and run FreeDOS. Even better, you can view and edit the source code. All FreeDOS programs are distributed under the GNU General Public License or a similar open source software license.
And if you wait until Christmas Day 2016 you can get the new 1.2 version.
If you know nothing about virtual machines or are not prepared to destroy your existing system please do not experiment with this. But if you have a real need for old MS-DOS software or games then this is for you.
Latest comments (21)
On an unrelated note, I still have DOS 5.0 floppies somewhere hoping they'll be worth fortune on ebay in 2047.
DOSBOX is mainly a solution for games, attempting to run some non-game DOS software in it can bring pain
microsoft.com/en-…dtw
It has a massive 384K of RAM, a 5 1/4" floppy and a 20MB hard drive.
Might even dig out the CGA monitor for you
£300 all in and it is yours
dosgames.com/gam…php
^__^
There is no ARM support, so raspi is out and if its just to play games - your computer should run an emulator such as dosbox.
The only actual use case for this is if you have some bespoke legacy software and perhaps legacy hardware and you have lost your ms-dos disks....