The entire purpose of FreeDOS is to provide a MS-DOS compatible operating system. What are you trying to do anyways? If a free OS that can run Windows programs is what you are after, your best bet would be a Linux distro with Wine and Mono.
The entire purpose of FreeDOS is to provide a MS-DOS compatible operating system. What are you trying to do anyways? If a free OS that can run Windows programs is what you are after, your best bet would be a Linux distro with Wine and Mono.
In most cases I have used Free DOS to load from when I have diagnostic tools that need a DOS environment to run in.You can use a program called Rufus and make a flash drive a bootable FreeDos flash drive if you want.
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"It's not enough you have the will to care. What are you going to do to show it?"
That sucks. Then why don't they just make it compatible with Windows Programs...
Because Windows is completely different. For one thing, it has a User Interface. For another, it's completely different. Saying "Why don't they just make FreeDOS compatible with Windows Programs" is like saying, "Why don't they make lawnmowers compatible with jet engines".
to answer your questions: Can I dual boot it?
Yes.
Can I play modern games, like Steam, Minecraft?
No.
How do you play games on it?
You install them, run their configuration program, and play them. All of which should require basic understanding of the command line. (I speak of the games that are DOS games, such as Doom and Duke Nukem 3D for example).
Is there mouse support?
Within FreeDOS itself, no. Within programs? Yes. The programs have to use the mouse though. the Edit program uses the mouse, as an example.
Can I use basic applications?
What does this even mean? What "basic applications"?
How does installing drivers work?
Considering you are probably referring to some super recent graphics card or motherboard type deal, it doesn't. 16-bit DOS Drivers are not provided for those and the Windows/OSX/etc drivers really only work to provide OpenGL and/or Direct3D Support, neither of which are relevant for DOS which only works via Linear Frame Buffer and more specifically the fact is that each individual program is responsible for that itself. Programs had Video Drivers, not DOS itself.
Because Windows is completely different. For one thing, it has a User Interface. For another, it's completely different. Saying "Why don't they just make FreeDOS compatible with Windows Programs" is like saying, "Why don't they make lawnmowers compatible with jet engines".
to answer your questions: Can I dual boot it?
Yes.
Can I play modern games, like Steam, Minecraft?
No.
How do you play games on it?
You install them, run their configuration program, and play them. All of which should require basic understanding of the command line. (I speak of the games that are DOS games, such as Doom and Duke Nukem 3D for example).
Is there mouse support?
Within FreeDOS itself, no. Within programs? Yes. The programs have to use the mouse though. the Edit program uses the mouse, as an example.
Can I use basic applications?
What does this even mean? What "basic applications"?
How does installing drivers work?
Considering you are probably referring to some super recent graphics card or motherboard type deal, it doesn't. 16-bit DOS Drivers are not provided for those and the Windows/OSX/etc drivers really only work to provide OpenGL and/or Direct3D Support, neither of which are relevant for DOS which only works via Linear Frame Buffer and more specifically the fact is that each individual program is responsible for that itself. Programs had Video Drivers, not DOS itself.
Well...
At least you can play Doom... I need to get a few DOS games.
A few more questions.
I have Windows 8.1 on my C:/ drive. I want to install FreeDOS on my D:/ drive. Now, when I get freeDOS installed, will it only be confined to the D:/drive? I want to install a few Games on my D:/ drive, like Arena, Quake, Doom, Wolfenstien, etc...
Would I have the Ordinary DOS commands (CD, Cd .., EXIT)?
I have Windows 8.1 on my C:/ drive. I want to install FreeDOS on my D:/ drive. Now, when I get freeDOS installed, will it only be confined to the D:/drive? I want to install a few Games on my D:/ drive, like Arena, Quake, Doom, Wolfenstien, etc...
Would I have the Ordinary DOS commands (CD, Cd .., EXIT)?
1. I would never install such a dual boot configuration. Too unreliable and troublesome. You are usually best to start from oldest to newest OS when installing, as well.
2. For your purposes, just use DOSBox. Or use modern source ports. Quake, Doom, and Wolfenstein all have native Windows source ports.
The commands are the same. EXIT just exits a shelled interpreter and does nothing otherwise.
...2. For your purposes, just use DOSBox. Or use modern source ports. Quake, Doom, and Wolfenstein all have native Windows source ports.
Pretty much this. If you purchase Doom from Steam it will come with DOSBox. Also if you're thinking about playing Doom you can simply use a Source Port like Skulltag instead.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"It's not enough you have the will to care. What are you going to do to show it?"
Can I play modern games, like Steam, Minecraft?
How do you play games on it?
Is there mouse support?
Can I use basic applications?
How does installing drivers work?
I'm back
That sucks. Then why don't they just make it compatible with Windows Programs...
I'm back
Does it require Wine?
I'm back
In most cases I have used Free DOS to load from when I have diagnostic tools that need a DOS environment to run in.You can use a program called Rufus and make a flash drive a bootable FreeDos flash drive if you want.
"It's not enough you have the will to care. What are you going to do to show it?"
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Curse PremiumBecause Windows is completely different. For one thing, it has a User Interface. For another, it's completely different. Saying "Why don't they just make FreeDOS compatible with Windows Programs" is like saying, "Why don't they make lawnmowers compatible with jet engines".
to answer your questions:
Can I dual boot it?
Yes.
Can I play modern games, like Steam, Minecraft?
No.
How do you play games on it?
You install them, run their configuration program, and play them. All of which should require basic understanding of the command line. (I speak of the games that are DOS games, such as Doom and Duke Nukem 3D for example).
Is there mouse support?
Within FreeDOS itself, no. Within programs? Yes. The programs have to use the mouse though. the Edit program uses the mouse, as an example.
Can I use basic applications?
What does this even mean? What "basic applications"?
How does installing drivers work?
Considering you are probably referring to some super recent graphics card or motherboard type deal, it doesn't. 16-bit DOS Drivers are not provided for those and the Windows/OSX/etc drivers really only work to provide OpenGL and/or Direct3D Support, neither of which are relevant for DOS which only works via Linear Frame Buffer and more specifically the fact is that each individual program is responsible for that itself. Programs had Video Drivers, not DOS itself.
Well...
At least you can play Doom... I need to get a few DOS games.
A few more questions.
I have Windows 8.1 on my C:/ drive. I want to install FreeDOS on my D:/ drive. Now, when I get freeDOS installed, will it only be confined to the D:/drive? I want to install a few Games on my D:/ drive, like Arena, Quake, Doom, Wolfenstien, etc...
Would I have the Ordinary DOS commands (CD, Cd .., EXIT)?
I'm back
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Send Message
Curse Premium1. I would never install such a dual boot configuration. Too unreliable and troublesome. You are usually best to start from oldest to newest OS when installing, as well.
2. For your purposes, just use DOSBox. Or use modern source ports. Quake, Doom, and Wolfenstein all have native Windows source ports.
The commands are the same. EXIT just exits a shelled interpreter and does nothing otherwise.
Pretty much this. If you purchase Doom from Steam it will come with DOSBox. Also if you're thinking about playing Doom you can simply use a Source Port like Skulltag instead.
"It's not enough you have the will to care. What are you going to do to show it?"
I have made my decision...
Let's just stick to Windows...
I'm back