Now many netizens are using operating systems such as WinNT/2K/XP. However, when they started WinNT/2K/XP, they found that many DOS programs could not run on it, and they could not use pure DOS. What's going on?
As you all know, there is something called "Command Prompt" in WinNT/2K/XP, which looks similar to the MS-DOS window in /9x. However, they are completely different. /9x is a GUI interface enhancement program in large-scale protection mode running under MS-DOS, while WinNT/2K/XP is an independent operating system based on OS/2 and NT components, so there are essential differences between them. The real DOS is pure DOS such as MS-DOS, PC-DOS, etc., while the "Command Prompt" in WinNT/2K/XP is just a "WinNT System Console", which has a part of the "DOS Virtual Machine" function. Since it is virtual, the effect is naturally not really good. Therefore, when this "virtual DOS" cannot run DOS programs properly, only real DOS (such as MS-DOS 7.10) is used to run them.
Since WinNT/2K/XP does not come with DOS, if you want to install a pure DOS system with a hard disk after installing these operating systems, you can only use dual boot. Many netizens know that when WinNT/2K/XP is started, a menu often appears, where you can select the operating system to start. However, sometimes the option "DOS" is not available in this menu, and even this boot menu does not appear at all when starting (if you choose to retain the original operating system when installing WinNT/2K/XP, the option of the original operating system will appear in the boot menu of WinNT/2K/XP). So what should I do? The following describes how to install DOS after installing WinNT/2K/XP.
The startup of DOS requires the boot sector and startup files of the DOS system. The DOS installer will automatically rebuild the boot sector and startup files of DOS during installation, so that DOS can be started after installation. However, for older versions of DOS (such as MS-DOS), their installer will overwrite the boot information of WinNT/2K/XP, causing WinNT/2K/XP to fail to start. This will also be the case when using SYS and other commands that come with DOS. Therefore, in order to enable both DOS and WinNT/2K/XP to start, it should be done in a better way, or by automatically using a DOS installer that can automatically start DOS and WinNT/2K/XP.
MS-DOS 7.10 is currently the most powerful and practical DOS with the best compatibility. And because it fully supports large hard disks, large memory, long file names (LFN), FAT32 partition, possible direct boot/9x, etc., it is very practical. Moreover, its installer fully supports coexisting with WinNT/2K/XP. "MS-DOS 7.10 Full Installation Version" (can be downloaded in "DOS System") During installation, the system can automatically complete the operation of installing the full version of DOS under WinNT/2K/XP, and automatically realize dual startup of DOS and WinNT/2K/XP. Since the full installation version of MS-DOS 7.10 is very powerful and practical, it is recommended for everyone to use it. More detailed information can be seen in the article Pure MS-DOS 7.10 full installation version.
However, if the main partition of the hard disk (usually the C disk) is in NTFS format, DOS cannot be installed directly, because DOS does not directly support NTFS format. At this time, some multi-start managers can be used to implement it, such as SPFDISK, etc. After setting up the system partition with the multi-boot disk manager, install MS-DOS 7.10 directly to achieve coexistence with WinNT/2K/XP.
In addition, in addition to installing DOS or starting DOS with a real DOS boot disk, you can also use the virtual floppy disk mirroring method to start DOS, that is, directly starting the DOS in the virtual DOS boot disk from the boot menu of WinNT/2K/XP, which is equivalent to booting from the DOS boot disk. It can be achieved by using software such as VFloppy, GRUB for NTLDR, etc., which can be seen in the China DOS Alliance Forum. However, please note that using a virtual floppy disk or a real floppy disk to boot into DOS is not a DOS installation. If you want to install DOS, you need to use the DOS installer to automatically install it.
As you all know, there is something called "Command Prompt" in WinNT/2K/XP, which looks similar to the MS-DOS window in /9x. However, they are completely different. /9x is a GUI interface enhancement program in large-scale protection mode running under MS-DOS, while WinNT/2K/XP is an independent operating system based on OS/2 and NT components, so there are essential differences between them. The real DOS is pure DOS such as MS-DOS, PC-DOS, etc., while the "Command Prompt" in WinNT/2K/XP is just a "WinNT System Console", which has a part of the "DOS Virtual Machine" function. Since it is virtual, the effect is naturally not really good. Therefore, when this "virtual DOS" cannot run DOS programs properly, only real DOS (such as MS-DOS 7.10) is used to run them.
Since WinNT/2K/XP does not come with DOS, if you want to install a pure DOS system with a hard disk after installing these operating systems, you can only use dual boot. Many netizens know that when WinNT/2K/XP is started, a menu often appears, where you can select the operating system to start. However, sometimes the option "DOS" is not available in this menu, and even this boot menu does not appear at all when starting (if you choose to retain the original operating system when installing WinNT/2K/XP, the option of the original operating system will appear in the boot menu of WinNT/2K/XP). So what should I do? The following describes how to install DOS after installing WinNT/2K/XP.
The startup of DOS requires the boot sector and startup files of the DOS system. The DOS installer will automatically rebuild the boot sector and startup files of DOS during installation, so that DOS can be started after installation. However, for older versions of DOS (such as MS-DOS), their installer will overwrite the boot information of WinNT/2K/XP, causing WinNT/2K/XP to fail to start. This will also be the case when using SYS and other commands that come with DOS. Therefore, in order to enable both DOS and WinNT/2K/XP to start, it should be done in a better way, or by automatically using a DOS installer that can automatically start DOS and WinNT/2K/XP.
MS-DOS 7.10 is currently the most powerful and practical DOS with the best compatibility. And because it fully supports large hard disks, large memory, long file names (LFN), FAT32 partition, possible direct boot/9x, etc., it is very practical. Moreover, its installer fully supports coexisting with WinNT/2K/XP. "MS-DOS 7.10 Full Installation Version" (can be downloaded in "DOS System") During installation, the system can automatically complete the operation of installing the full version of DOS under WinNT/2K/XP, and automatically realize dual startup of DOS and WinNT/2K/XP. Since the full installation version of MS-DOS 7.10 is very powerful and practical, it is recommended for everyone to use it. More detailed information can be seen in the article Pure MS-DOS 7.10 full installation version.
However, if the main partition of the hard disk (usually the C disk) is in NTFS format, DOS cannot be installed directly, because DOS does not directly support NTFS format. At this time, some multi-start managers can be used to implement it, such as SPFDISK, etc. After setting up the system partition with the multi-boot disk manager, install MS-DOS 7.10 directly to achieve coexistence with WinNT/2K/XP.
In addition, in addition to installing DOS or starting DOS with a real DOS boot disk, you can also use the virtual floppy disk mirroring method to start DOS, that is, directly starting the DOS in the virtual DOS boot disk from the boot menu of WinNT/2K/XP, which is equivalent to booting from the DOS boot disk. It can be achieved by using software such as VFloppy, GRUB for NTLDR, etc., which can be seen in the China DOS Alliance Forum. However, please note that using a virtual floppy disk or a real floppy disk to boot into DOS is not a DOS installation. If you want to install DOS, you need to use the DOS installer to automatically install it.