I tried to install Win 95 osr 2.5 with dos 6.22, but as soon i rebooted the system id did not boot anymore. I read a few forums where they explain why. Tonight i am planning to try this method :

Re: Is it possible to dual boot MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 95B Post by os2fan2 » Sun Aug 18, 2013 11:10 am […]
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Re: Is it possible to dual boot MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 95B
Post by os2fan2 » Sun Aug 18, 2013 11:10 am

1. Install win95.
2. Put all of the msdos 6.22 files (including the supplemental disks) in a directory ..\msdos622
3. Put the inf in the same directory, or a parallel boot directory
4. Install the inf file
CODE: SELECT ALL

;Author: Ralf Buschmann
;Installs DOS 6.22 and enables dual booting with OSR2. See README.TXT for
;more information
;
; WWW: http://www.conactive.com/win95/
;Mail: ralf@conactive.com
;
; Patched to include some of the supplemental files. Wendy Krieger
; Patched to add cdrom driver and mouse driver, create \temp also.
;
[Version]
Signature="$CHICAGO$"

[DefaultInstall]
CopyFiles=Install.DOS, Install.SYS, Install.INF, Install.TMP
DelFiles=Del.Old.SYS
AddReg=Set.Attr, Uninstall.INF
UpdateInis=Enable.DUALBOOT

[DefaultUninstall]
DelFiles=Install.DOS, Install.SYS, Install.INF, Install.TMP
DelReg=Uninstall.INF
UpdateInis=Disable.DUALBOOT

[Install.DOS]
;----------Disk 1----------
io.sys
msdos.sys
command.com
attrib.exe
autoexec.bat
chkdsk.exe
config.sys
country.sys
country.txt, country.tx_
debug.exe
defrag.exe
defrag.hlp, defrag.hl_
dossetup.ini
drvspace.bin
edit.com
ega.cpi, ega.cp_
ega2.cpi, ega2.cp_
ega3.cpi, ega3.cp_
emm386.exe, emm386.ex_
expand.exe
fdisk.exe
format.com
iso.cpi, iso.cp_
keyb.com
keyboard.sys
keybrd2.sys, keybrd2.sy_
mem.exe, mem.ex_
mscdex.exe
networks.txt
nlsfunc.exe
packing.lst
qbasic.exe
replace.exe, replace.ex_
restore.exe, restore.ex_
scandisk.exe
scandisk.ini
setup.exe
setup.msg
sys.com
xcopy.exe, xcopy.ex_
;----------Disk 2----------
ansi.sys, ansi.sy_
append.exe, append.ex_
chkstate.sys, chkstate.sy_
choice.com
dblwin.hlp, dblwin.hl_
deltree.exe, deltree.ex_
diskcomp.com, diskcomp.co_
diskcopy.com, diskcopy.co_
display.sys, display.sy_
doshelp.hlp, doshelp.hl_
doskey.com, doskey.co_
driver.sys, driver.sy_
drvspace.exe
drvspace.hlp, drvspace.hl_
drvspace.ini, drvspace.in_
drvspace.sys, drvspace.sy_
;drvspace.txt, drvspace.tx_
edit.hlp, edit.hl_
fasthelp.exe, fasthelp.ex_
fastopen.exe, fastopen.ex_
fc.exe, fc.ex_
find.exe, find.ex_
graphics.com, graphics.co_
graphics.pro, graphics.pr_
help.com
help.hlp, help.hl_
himem.sys, himem.sy_
interlnk.exe, interlnk.ex_
intersvr.exe, intersvr.ex_
label.exe, label.ex_
loadfix.com, loadfix.co_
memmaker.exe
memmaker.hlp, memmaker.hl_
memmaker.ini, memmaker.in_
mode.com, mode.co_
monoumb.386, monoumb.38_
more.com
mouse.com, mouse.co_
move.exe, move.ex_
msbackup.exe, msbackup.ex_
msbconfg.hlp, msbconfg.hl_
msbconfg.ovl
msd.exe
mstools.dll, mstools.dl_
mwbackr.dll, mwbackr.dl_
power.exe, power.ex_
print.exe, print.ex_
qbasic.hlp, qbasic.hl_
ramdrive.sys, ramdrive.sy_
setver.exe, setver.ex_
share.exe, share.ex_
sizer.exe, sizer.ex_
smartdrv.exe, smartdrv.ex_
smartmon.exe, smartmon.ex_
smartmon.hlp, smartmon.hl_
sort.exe, sort.ex_
subst.exe, subst.ex_
tree.com, tree.co_
unformat.com
vfintd.386, vfintd.38_
wina20.386, wina20.38_
;----------Disk 3----------
msav.exe
msav.hlp, msav.hl_
msavhelp.ovl, msavhelp.ov_
msavirus.lst, msavirus.ls_
msbackdb.ovl
msbackdr.ovl
msbackfb.ovl
msbackfr.ovl
msbackup.hlp, msbackup.hl_
msbackup.ovl
mwav.exe, mwav.ex_
mwav.hlp, mwav.hl_
mwavabsi.dll, mwavabsi.dl_
mwavdlg.dll, mwavdlg.dl_
mwavdosl.dll, mwavdosl.dl_
mwavdrvl.dll, mwavdrvl.dl_
mwavmgr.dll, mwavmgr.dl_
mwavscan.dll, mwavscan.dl_
mwavsos.dll, mwavsos.dl_
mwavtsr.exe, mwavtsr.ex_
mwbackf.dll, mwbackf.dl_
mwbackup.exe, mwbackup.ex_
mwbackup.hlp, mwbackup.hl_
mwgrafic.dll, mwgrafic.dl_
mwundel.exe, mwundel.ex_
mwundel.hlp, mwundel.hl_
undelete.exe
vsafe.com, vsafe.co_
wintools.grp, wntools.gr_
;----------Disk 4----------
backup.exe, backup.ex_
commands.txt, commands.tx_
comp.exe, comp.ex_
cv.com
dosshell.com, dosshell.co_
dosshell.exe, dosshell.ex_
dosshell.hlp, dosshell.hl_
dosswap.exe, dosswap.ex_
edlin.exe, edlin.ex_
dosshell.ini, ega.in_
exe2bin.exe, exe2bin.ex_
gorilla.bas, gorilla.ba_
money.bas, money.ba_
nibbles.bas, nibbles.ba_
remline.bas, remline.ba_
dosshell.grb, vga.gr_
dosshell.vid, vga.vi_
;---------- OEM stuff ------
vide_cdd.sys

[Install.TMP]
packing.lst

[Install.SYS]
io.dos, io.sys
msdos.dos, msdos.sys
autoexec.dos, autoexec.eng
config.dos, config.eng

[Install.INF]
inst_eng.inf

[Del.Old.SYS]
msdos.dos
io.dos

[SourceDisksFiles]
;----------Disk 1----------
io.sys=50
msdos.sys=50
command.com=50
attrib.exe=50
autoexec.bat=50
chkdsk.exe=50
config.sys=50
country.sys=50
debug.exe=50
defrag.exe=50
defrag.hl_=50
dossetup.ini=50
drvspace.bin=50
edit.com=50
ega.cp_=50
ega2.cp_=50
ega3.cp_=50
emm386.ex_=50
expand.exe=50
fdisk.exe=50
format.com=50
iso.cp_=50
keyb.com=50
keyboard.sys=50
keybrd2.sy_=50
mem.ex_=50
mscdex.exe=50
networks.txt=50
nlsfunc.exe=50
packing.lst=50
qbasic.exe=50
replace.ex_=50
restore.ex_=50
scandisk.exe=50
scandisk.ini=50
setup.exe=50
setup.msg=50
sys.com=50
xcopy.ex_=50
;----------Disk 2----------
ansi.sy_=51
append.ex_=51
chkstate.sy_=51
choice.com=51
dblwin.hl_=51
deltree.ex_=51
diskcomp.co_=51
diskcopy.co_=51
display.sy_=51
doshelp.hl_=51
doskey.co_=51
driver.sy_=51
drvspace.exe=51
drvspace.hl_=51
drvspace.in_=51
drvspace.sy_=51
drvspace.tx_=51
edit.hl_=51
fasthelp.ex_=51
fastopen.ex_=51
fc.ex_=51
find.ex_=51
graphics.co_=51
graphics.pr_=51
help.com=51
help.hl_=51
himem.sy_=51
interlnk.ex_=51
intersvr.ex_=51
label.ex_=51
loadfix.co_=51
memmaker.exe=51
memmaker.hl_=51
memmaker.in_=51
mode.co_=51
monoumb.38_=51
more.com=51
move.ex_=51
mouse.co_=51
msbackup.ex_=51
msbconfg.hl_=51
msbconfg.ovl=51
msd.exe=51
mstools.dl_=51
mwbackr.dl_=51
power.ex_=51
print.ex_=51
qbasic.hl_=51
ramdrive.sy_=51
setver.ex_=51
share.ex_=51
sizer.ex_=51
smartdrv.ex_=51
smartmon.ex_=51
smartmon.hl_=51
sort.ex_=51
subst.ex_=51
tree.co_=51
unformat.com=51
vfintd.38_=51
wina20.38_=51
;----------Disk 3----------
msav.exe=52
msav.hl_=52
msavhelp.ov_=52
msavirus.ls_=52
msbackdb.ovl=52
msbackdr.ovl=52
msbackfb.ovl=52
msbackfr.ovl=52
msbackup.hl_=52
msbackup.ovl=52
mwav.ex_=52
mwav.hl_=52
mwavabsi.dl_=52
mwavdlg.dl_=52
mwavdosl.dl_=52
mwavdrvl.dl_=52
mwavmgr.dl_=52
mwavscan.dl_=52
mwavsos.dl_=52
mwavtsr.ex_=52
mwbackf.dl_=52
mwbackup.ex_=52
mwbackup.hl_=52
mwgrafic.dl_=52
mwundel.ex_=52
mwundel.hl_=52
undelete.exe=52
vsafe.co_=52
wntools.gr_=52

;----------Disk 4----------
backup.ex_=53
commands.tx_=53
comp.ex_=53
cv.com
dosshell.co_=53
dosshell.ex_=53
dosshell.hl_=53
dosswap.ex_=53
edlin.ex_=53
ega.in_=53
exe2bin.ex_=53
gorilla.ba_=53
money.ba_=53
nibbles.ba_=53
remline.ba_=53
vga.gr_=53
vga.vi_=53

autoexec.eng=54
config.eng=54
inst_eng.inf=54
vide_cdd.sys=54

[SourceDisksNames]
50="MS-DOS 6.22 Disk 1",,,"..\MSDOS622"
51="MS-DOS 6.22 Disk 2",,,"..\MSDOS622"
52="MS-DOS 6.22 Disk 3",,,"..\MSDOS622"
53="MS-DOS 6.22 Disk 4",,,"..\MSDOS622"
54="BootFix",,,"%01%"

[DestinationDirs]
Install.DOS=30,DOS
Install.SYS=30
Install.TMP=30,TEMP
Install.INF=17
Del.Old.SYS=30

[Set.Attr]
HKLM,%KEY_RENAME%\Boot,,,%30%
HKLM,%KEY_RENAME%\Boot,IO.DOS,,"IO.DOS,7"
HKLM,%KEY_RENAME%\Boot,MSDOS.SYS,,"MSDOS.SYS,7"

[Uninstall.INF]
HKLM,%UNINST%
HKLM,%UNINST%,DisplayName,,"MS-DOS 6.22"
HKLM,%UNINST%,UninstallString,,"%10%\rundll.exe setupx.dll,InstallHinfSection DefaultUninstall 132 %17%\inst_eng.inf"

[Enable.DUALBOOT]
%30%\msdos.sys,Options,,"BootMulti=1"

[Disable.DUALBOOT]
%30%\msdos.sys,Options,,"BootMulti=0"

[Strings]
KEY_RENAME="Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RenameFiles"
UNINST="Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\DOS622"

If this aint working i found an other methode here:

Install MS-DOS 6.xx (6.00 up to 6.22): reboot FIRST with your MS-DOS 6.xx bootup floppy, pop in your 1st MS-DOS 6.xx Setup flopp […]
Show full quote

Install MS-DOS 6.xx (6.00 up to 6.22): reboot FIRST with your MS-DOS 6.xx bootup floppy, pop in your 1st MS-DOS 6.xx Setup floppy diskette, and then run SETUP from drive A.
Install Windows 95B/95C OSR 2.x or Windows 98/98 SE, and make sure to answer YES when prompted to BACKUP your old Operating System files, respectively MS-DOS 6.xx + Windows/WfWG 3.xx!
OSR2 USERS ONLY [WIN98/98 SE USERS SKIP TO STEP #6 below!]: Copy ALL files (make sure to include the hidden/read-only/system files) from the root folder (directory) of your boot drive (default is C:\) to any other folder (safe location). Example (press Enter after each line):
ATTRIB C:\*.* -H -R -S +A
MD C:\BACKUPS
COPY C:\*.* C:\BACKUPS
Now you need a startup diskette of the old Win95 retail (1st release) or Win95a OSR1 (Win95 retail upgraded with SP1). Boot from this original Win95 floppy disk, but ONLY if the last time you shut down your machine was from OSR2, NOT from MS-DOS 6.xx! Now run:
SYS A: C:
when you see the A:\> prompt.
Copy ALL files you backed up at step #3 above back to C:\ root, and answer YES to overwrite ANY existing system files:
ATTRIB C:\*.* -H -R -S +A
COPY C:\BACKUPS\*.* C:\
Finally, reboot one last time. From now on you should be able to dual-boot properly between MS-DOS 6.xx and OSR2/Win98.

My problem with this is that mi Win 95 install doesnt ask if i want to Backup my Old Operating System files.. how could i do that .. should i do that befor installing Win 95 manually.. is that only copiing the .sys and .bat files to a floppy from my main directory?

Theres also a patch included on that site.. here https://www.navsoft.cz/products.htm

OSR2DOS6 Version 1.01 released 2001-05-04 […]
Show full quote

OSR2DOS6
Version 1.01 released 2001-05-04

A patch which fixes the problem of Windows 95 OSR2 with previous DOS version.

Download (8 KB)

but i am not sure how to use it should i install dos 6.22 first than install win 95 osr 2 and just run the patch from there?
Doesn anyone have any experience in any of these methods above?
I will try all of them and wrote down my experiance one by one ...

Well yesterday i tried the first solution, but it did not worked at all. had the exact same outcome.... it did not boot at all , so i had to reinstall everything and tonight i will give a try to the second methods.. Namely to install this

OSR2 Fix: Unofficial OSR2DOS6 v1.01 DOS TSR correctly implements the dual-boot feature on OSR 2.x systems to enable the use of MS-DOS 6.xx as "Previous Operating System" without modifying IO.SYS:
Direct download [8 KB, freeware].
See "DUAL-BOOT IN OSR2/WIN98", also in OSR2TIPS.TXT (part of W95-11D.EXE), for more details.

from here: https://www.mdgx.com/dos.htm#OSR

Because i didn't found any info about how to install it my plan is to install Dos 6.22 first than Win 95 osr 2.5 and inside windows i will install the patch and hopefully that should fix the no booting error.. I will update this post with the result. Meanwhile if anybody has any suggestion about the problem please share it with me ..

RagingSquirrel wrote on 2024-02-22, 15:10:

I read a few forums where they explain why.

So what is the main reason?

Looks like the second method is to use Win95A's boot sector while keeping all boot files from OSR 2. Something wrong with OSR2 boot sector? (I'm just wondering why it doesn't work)

Azarien wrote on 2024-02-23, 14:24:

RagingSquirrel wrote on 2024-02-22, 15:10:

I read a few forums where they explain why.

So what is the main reason?

Looks like the second method is to use Win95A's boot sector while keeping all boot files from OSR 2. Something wrong with OSR2 boot sector? (I'm just wondering why it doesn't work)

Well the problem is that if i Install Win 95 osr 2.5, and try to boot to dos 6.22 the computer lock out because apparently these two not really compatible with each other.. i am trying to find a way to make them work together.. so far i found these 3 methods mentioned above.. so i am trying them one by one...hoping one of them will work eventually...

On such small disks I usually:
Boot from Win95B floppy and create a small FAT32 partition (slightly above 256 MB) and install Win9x on it (not Win95A).
Boot from DOS floppy and create a (FAT16) partition with rest size (or perhaps 6-8 MB smaller) and install DOS 6.22 on it.
Install a boot manager (like the one from OS/2). If I do not use a boot manager, I can swap active partition with borth Win9x' and DOS' FDISK.

Win95B also has access to the DOS partition for file exchange...

Disruptor wrote on 2024-02-23, 15:10:

On such small disks I usually: Boot from Win95B floppy and create a small FAT32 partition (slightly above 256 MB) and install Wi […]
Show full quote

On such small disks I usually:
Boot from Win95B floppy and create a small FAT32 partition (slightly above 256 MB) and install Win9x on it (not Win95A).
Boot from DOS floppy and create a (FAT16) partition with rest size (or perhaps 6-8 MB smaller) and install DOS 6.22 on it.
Install a boot manager (like the one from OS/2). If I do not use a boot manager, I can swap active partition with borth Win9x' and DOS' FDISK.

Win95B also has access to the DOS partition for file exchange...

Sorry but at this point i have to ask .. What's the difference between Win95B and Win95A ? i downloaded a win 95 boot floppy creator where i can create both , but tbh i thought that refers to the drive letter..

Win95B (and all later Versions of Windows) supports FAT32, Win95A does not.

ohh i see thank you for enlighten me ..

Disruptor wrote on 2024-02-23, 15:22:

Win95B (and all later Versions of Windows) supports FAT32, Win95A does not.

A little nitpicking here, but: The original version of Win95 is not Win95A. Win95 is the original, Win95A is OSR1 (and included IE2.0); Win95B is OSR2. You are correct that Win95B supports FAT32 unlike its predecessors.

It's sortof like the Enterprise, NCC-1701. The original does not have an appended letter.

Ok . I think i managed to do it with this patch :

http://web.archive.org/web/20051027180327/htt … ft/osr2dos6.zip

First i installed Dos 6.22

Than i installed Win 95 osr 2.5

I created a folder c:\Utility

Than i opened autoexec.dos file and on the wery first line i added : "c:\Utility\OSR2DOS6.EXE"

Than i edited msdos.sys, added the line BootMenu=1 below the [OPTIONS] line

If i restart in previous dos version mode (opt 7 ) it runs a script, i dont know what exactly but it prevents to moddify something .. so if i restart it can easily boot up in normal mode(opt 1) .. so both can work ...

tbh i dont know what would happend if i would instal win 3.11 now.. I think it would be better to instal Win 3.11 right after i instal dos6.22 and than instal Win 95 doing the process above.. but it doesnt matter since i have to redo the whole process tomorrow with the new mobo..

If you install Windows 3.1, then Windows 95 Upgrade (the retail product, not OEM like OSR1 or OSR2) you don't need to run any third-party utilities to get dual boot to work. I guess you don't get FAT32 that way, but you probably don't need it for your 800MB HDD. I'm not sure if you can get USB support this way either.

To quote myself from another thread:

doshea wrote on 2024-02-20, 08:03:

It still had it, but it didn't work - Q155364/KB155364 says: […]
Show full quote

leileilol wrote on 2023-11-22, 06:22:

I'm sure 95 had the option to boot "Previous version of MS-DOS" in its own boot options menu for that situation. I'm not sure if OSR2 ripped that out for the sake of FAT32

It still had it, but it didn't work - Q155364/KB155364 says:

After starting your previous operating system (by pressing F4 when you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, or by choosing Pre […]
Show full quote

After starting your previous operating system (by pressing F4 when you see the
"Starting Windows 95" message, or by choosing Previous Operating System from the
Startup menu), when you exit the previous operating system session, your
computer stops responding (hangs) when you restart the computer.
...
This problem occurs with Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2). Windows 95
OSR2 is designed to be preinstalled on new computers only, and cannot boot back
into Windows 95 from a previous operating system.

I don't know if this issue affects OSR1 too.

I just installed Windows 95 Upgrade recently because I didn't feel like the headache of dealing with third-party patches.

doshea wrote on 2024-03-01, 11:16:

If you install Windows 3.1, then Windows 95 Upgrade (the retail product, not OEM like OSR1 or OSR2) you don't need to run any th […]
Show full quote

If you install Windows 3.1, then Windows 95 Upgrade (the retail product, not OEM like OSR1 or OSR2) you don't need to run any third-party utilities to get dual boot to work. I guess you don't get FAT32 that way, but you probably don't need it for your 800MB HDD. I'm not sure if you can get USB support this way either.

To quote myself from another thread:

doshea wrote on 2024-02-20, 08:03:

It still had it, but it didn't work - Q155364/KB155364 says: […]
Show full quote

leileilol wrote on 2023-11-22, 06:22:

I'm sure 95 had the option to boot "Previous version of MS-DOS" in its own boot options menu for that situation. I'm not sure if OSR2 ripped that out for the sake of FAT32

It still had it, but it didn't work - Q155364/KB155364 says:

After starting your previous operating system (by pressing F4 when you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, or by choosing Pre […]
Show full quote

After starting your previous operating system (by pressing F4 when you see the
"Starting Windows 95" message, or by choosing Previous Operating System from the
Startup menu), when you exit the previous operating system session, your
computer stops responding (hangs) when you restart the computer.
...
This problem occurs with Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2). Windows 95
OSR2 is designed to be preinstalled on new computers only, and cannot boot back
into Windows 95 from a previous operating system.

I don't know if this issue affects OSR1 too.

I just installed Windows 95 Upgrade recently because I didn't feel like the headache of dealing with third-party patches.

Hi.. I couldnt find a Win 95 upgrade with osr 2 or above.. only osr1.. and i need osr 2 for usb support...
Also i noticed that i cannot instal win 95 osr 2.5 after i install win 3.11 .. It says that i need to use the upgrade.. but than again thaats not an option for me..

Small update .. if someone want to have win 3.11 and win 95 osr 2.5 use the methode mentioned above, but be carefull to instal win 3.11 last. So its dos 6.22 than win 95. Do the patching and than indatll win 3.11 in that way you cal aleays boot to win 95 as normal or boot to dos 6.22 as previous dos version in boot menu. And if you enter win command in dos it will load 3.11

RagingSquirrel wrote on 2024-03-01, 11:36:

Hi.. I couldnt find a Win 95 upgrade with osr 2 or above.. only osr1..

I think by "with OSR1" you mean "with SP1"? I think they're equivalent though, and yeah, you can't go beyond SP1 with the retail (non-OEM) Windows 95 using the normal install methods of anything released by Microsoft, from what I understand.

and i need osr 2 for usb support...

Fair enough, it sounds like you definitely need an unofficial install then! Glad to hear you got it working.

Also i noticed that i cannot instal win 95 osr 2.5 after i install win 3.11 .. It says that i need to use the upgrade.. but than again thaats not an option for me..

I guess that makes sense, they wanted to help you not end up with a setup where you couldn't start Windows 3.11 any more! I wonder if the following command-line option to setup.exe would help?

/d Instructs Windows 95 Setup not to use the existing version of Windows for the early phases of Setup. Use this switch if you have problems starting Setup that might be due to missing or damaged supporting files for Windows.

I suspect it might still search for old versions of Windows and it wouldn't help - it's probably not worth trying if you already have a working install!

Pretty sure the simple way is to just add the io.sys, command.com and msdos.sys as io.dos, command.dos and msdos.dos into the root and it'll be in the menu as oldmsdos

ie after you install 9x

I had put instruction on how to do this exact thing on this thread:

DOS 6.22 / Windows 95 dual boot.

If anyone needs clarification on the instructions, just pm me.