FreeDOS Is 20 Years Old

Jim Hall (2985) writes "In a June 29, 1994 post in comp.os.msdos.apps on USENET, a physics student announced an effort to create a completely free version of DOS that everyone could use. That project turned into FreeDOS, 20 years ago! Originally intended as a free replacement for MS-DOS, FreeDOS has since advanced what DOS could do, adding new functionality and making DOS easier to use. And today in 2014, people continue to use FreeDOS to support embedded systems, to run business software, and to play classic DOS games!"

Re:Can I play Descent on it?

[Jim Hall]

I wonder if FreeDOS can run in virtual machine. Oh Google...

Yes, you can run FreeDOS in a VM! I usually recommend installing FreeDOS in a VM, especially if you don't plan to commit that computer to FreeDOS full-time. For Windows, I think most people prefer QEMU [qemu.org] or VMWare [vmware.com] or VirtualPC. [microsoft.com] On my Linux laptop, I run DOSemu. [sourceforge.net]

A popular laptop OS?

[systemDead]

To add to the summary, FreeDOS is probably the 3rd or 4th most popular preinstalled OS for laptops, behind Windows and Mac OSX and maybe Chrome OS, but certainly higher than Ubuntu or any other desktop Linux. My HP laptop came with some version of FreeDOS that I since wiped off the disk. Installing FreeDOS gives OEMs the chance to have a nominally functional unit that can be tested for obvious hardware defects while not restricting the eventual user to their choice of a non-Windows OS.

Don't forget about BIOS updates...

[Anonymous Coward]

There have been several times that FreeDOS has saved the day for installing BIOS updates on older(-ish) Dell servers and whatnot.

Re:A popular laptop OS?

[drinkypoo]

Isn't DOS a horrible operating system to run these days? It doesn't support any energy management,

false [fdos.org]