FreeDOS 1.0 - TTLG Forums

Shadowcat on 4/9/2006 at 22:00

(http://freedos.sourceforge.net/)

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FreeDOS is a free DOS-compatible operating system for IBM-PC compatible systems. FreeDOS is made of up many different, separate programs that act as "packages" to the overall FreeDOS Project.

These days, there are three main uses of FreeDOS:

1. To run old DOS games (like DOOM, etc.)
2. To run old business software that only supports DOS
3. To support an embedded DOS system, such as a computerized cash register or till

You can run FreeDOS on pretty much anything. While can run FreeDOS on a dedicated PC, now it's most often run inside a PC emulator. You can find PC emulators for all computer platforms (Windows, Linux, Mac.) If you are new to DOS, we recommend you use an emulator to install and boot FreeDOS.

FreeDOS is open source software; you can view and edit our source code. Most FreeDOS programs are distributed under the GNU General Public License ("GNU GPL") which means they are not only open source software, but they are Free software. Because of this, FreeDOS would not exist were it not for all the people who contribute to it. Even if you didn't write code, you helped out the FreeDOS Project by submitting comments and bug reports.

We welcome new members to FreeDOS. You can help contribute to the FreeDOS Project by downloading our latest release and telling us what you think. We have a bug tracking system that helps you report problems and submit requests, and otherwise tell us how to improve FreeDOS. By participating in the development and debugging process, you help everyone.

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FreeDOS 1.0 Yes, the FreeDOS Project has reached the "1.0" milestone. Download FreeDOS - or buy it on CDROM. This is a very important day for FreeDOS. A lot of you have put in so much work over the years, helping to make everything perfect. Even if you didn't contribute code, you helped out the FreeDOS Project by submitting comments and bug reports. Thank you!

Nedan on 5/9/2006 at 00:08

I usually use DOSBox (for my old games) because it doesn't require a whole lot to get it running on WinXP. But since I'm always looking for new programs that would increase the backwards compatibility a bit more with old games, what would be the best PC emulator for running this in WinXP?

Martek on 5/9/2006 at 01:24

Interesting.

I wonder how it compares to the (http://www.drdosprojects.de/index.cgi/about.htm) DR-DOS/OpenDOS Enhancement Project. (More info available at the(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DR-DOS) Wikipedia DR-DOS page).

Always good to have another alternative. :)

Cheers,
Martek

dj_ivocha on 7/9/2006 at 20:27

Why not just use normal MS-DOS? :confused:

Shadowcat on 8/9/2006 at 01:24

Quote Posted by dj_ivocha

Why not just use normal MS-DOS? :confused:

Because it's not free (either as in speech or beer). That's pretty much the entire point of the project, I think.

dracflamloc on 8/9/2006 at 20:59

Its also very limited. FreeDOS allows more RAM and bigger HDs to be used, among other things.

Deep Qantas on 12/9/2006 at 16:11

So that you can...

a) play the games in the first place
b) have sounds

ignatios on 12/9/2006 at 16:42

So has anyone tried any games with FreeDOS? How does it compare to DOSBox?

TheOutrider on 12/9/2006 at 19:12

It's most definitely a whole fucking lot faster. I didn't try it much, but I'd wager that on a modern system you'd need a slowdown utility to play old stuff (or is it bundled with one by now?).

ignatios on 12/9/2006 at 20:16

Do you use a virtual machine with it, Outie? DOSBox is quite lovely for me already, but if I can get the same with less hassle I'll gladly switch to FreeDOS.