Greetings!
I have just installed it on to a hard drive. Never used it before was just wondering what i could use it for
Are there word processors and art packages for it? can you go online with it?
Thanks
You can run software made for MS-DOS with it. There are countless of word processors made for DOS. I’m not quite sure what you mean by art packages, but DOS is text based OS and shell can only display text. With ANSI.SYS and shell replacements such as 4DOS you can add handy color to the user interface, but that’s it.
You need to define online. If you mean browse internet, then the answer is kind of, but with big asterisk and it will be very limited with even remotely modern web. I haven’t ever even bothered with it. But networking in DOS is extremely handy and I have network cards in every DOS system I have. You can for example telnet to BBSs and use FTP for easy file transfers. For networking you of course need a NIC which can be configured in DOS and has at least DOS packet driver so that you can actually get TCP/IP working.
There's lots to do with MS-DOS! I'm not sure what kind of system you're running in terms of specs, so here's some generic thoughts from my experiences.
For me personally, I enjoy using DOS to play around with old software, distraction-free writing, run games, etc.
You really have your pick of the litter when it comes to word processors, here's a few I've tried:
As for making art, I'm not as familiar with the software available for DOS as that's not something I really get into. But, I have played around with Print Shop Deluxe from Broderbund and that was fun (made me wish I have a dot matrix printer). Outside of that, I'm sure other members have good suggestions.
If you're into CAD, there's AutoCAD which is, well, a CAD program. I poked around on it several years ago, but can't totally recall my experiences with it. There's also bCAD, which I've never tried but does look pretty full-featured.
Should you enjoy messing around with spreadsheets, Lotus 1-2-3 is a classic.
Outside of that, searching around the internet for MS-DOS software is a great way to find interesting little gems to try out. There's various sites which host old software, but I don't want to run afoul of any rules by listing or linking them. Google (or DuckDuckGo) will furnish what you need here.
And of course, there's a virtually endless number of games that are fun to run in MS-DOS instead of something like DOSBox.
In terms of taking MS-DOS online, I'll leave that up to others for their input as I haven't really done that. I've seen some folks connecting to BBSes, of which there are still quite a few online today. And there are web browsers like Arachne or Links, but trying to browse the modern web on MS-DOS is a whole thing on its own.
Point is, there's plenty of fun to be had with MS-DOS. It just comes down to what interests you. Hunting around for old software is a big part of the enjoyment, at least for me.
Oh, and one last thought. Something that helped me appreciate MS-DOS was simply learning how to use it. Moving around directories, creating and deleting folders, managing files, copying things, stuff like that. It's a satisfying process, and becoming fluent with the OS will make your entire experience that much more pleasant.
Deluxe Paint is a well known graphics program. Was used to make a lot of game graphics back in the day.
To get started with MS-DOS from the command promt can be a bit intimidating (similar to linux without a desktop environment). A nice way to "visualize"your OS working environment is the Northon Commander. It is a simple graphical interface that includes system information, filemanagement and many other things. Also be aware that you can install Windows 3.1 on top of MS-DOS. During this time, Windows is not (yet) a fully developed graphical OS, but rather an optional Desktop environment. It comes with an art software (called Paint) and a text editor (Write). In addition, MS DOS is the "de facto" OS for a very important time in computing history - when the PC emerged as the (almost) sole survivor and standard after a decade of a huge number of different independent home computers. Even later Microsoft OS (like Win 95 and 98) still had MS DOS under the hood.
CharlieFoxtrot wrote on Yesterday, 20:55:You can run software made for MS-DOS with it. There are countless of word processors made for DOS.
I am looking for one with a spell checker; can you recommend one please?
CharlieFoxtrot wrote on Yesterday, 20:55:I’m not quite sure what you mean by art packages, but DOS is text based OS and shell can only display text. With ANSI.SYS and shell replacements such as 4DOS you can add handy color to the user interface, but that’s it.
I was thinking along the lines of things like photoshop and GIMP
But good point there BTW!
CharlieFoxtrot wrote on Yesterday, 20:55:You need to define online. If you mean browse internet, then the answer is kind of, but with big asterisk and it will be very limited with even remotely modern web. I haven’t ever even bothered with it. But networking in DOS is extremely handy and I have network cards in every DOS system I have. You can for example telnet to BBSs and use FTP for easy file transfers. For networking you of course need a NIC which can be configured in DOS and has at least DOS packet driver so that you can actually get TCP/IP working.
I am using a VodaFone USB dongle, windows calls it a Net Adapter if that means anything
Thanks
oceangazer wrote on Yesterday, 21:01:There's lots to do with MS-DOS! I'm not sure what kind of system you're running in terms of specs, so here's some generic thoughts from my experiences.
Pentium 4 with 2.25GB RAM, HDD SATA 150GB
oceangazer wrote on Yesterday, 21:01:You really have your pick of the litter when it comes to word processors, here's a few I've tried: […]
You really have your pick of the litter when it comes to word processors, here's a few I've tried:
- WordPerfect
- WordStar
- Ability Plus 2.0 (Word processor plus spreadsheet, database, etc. I quite like this one.)
- Microsoft Word (You'll want version 5.5 if I recall correctly)
Do you know if any of them have a spell checker please? what format are they? as I like to type up my letters hear at home save them to memory stick and pint in the library (though I dont know how we will get round this USB thing, if DOS has any USB support)
oceangazer wrote on Yesterday, 21:01:As for making art, I'm not as familiar with the software available for DOS as that's not something I really get into. But, I have played around with Print Shop Deluxe from Broderbund and that was fun (made me wish I have a dot matrix printer). Outside of that, I'm sure other members have good suggestions.
Is it color and black and white? Broderbund; is that where I go to get it?
oceangazer wrote on Yesterday, 21:01:If you're into CAD, there's AutoCAD which is, well, a CAD program. I poked around on it several years ago, but can't totally recall my experiences with it. There's also bCAD, which I've never tried but does look pretty full-featured.
Nar! im more into the photshop side of things
oceangazer wrote on Yesterday, 21:01:Should you enjoy messing around with spreadsheets, Lotus 1-2-3 is a classic.
Yer Ill give that one a try if you know where I can get it from?
oceangazer wrote on Yesterday, 21:01:Outside of that, searching around the internet for MS-DOS software is a great way to find interesting little gems to try out. There's various sites which host old software, but I don't want to run afoul of any rules by listing or linking them. Google (or DuckDuckGo) will furnish what you need here.
The problem we have with a lot of these site is a lot of there software is currupt!
oceangazer wrote on Yesterday, 21:01:And of course, there's a virtually endless number of games that are fun to run in MS-DOS instead of something like DOSBox.
I have heared of DOSBox (its one of the names of threads hear) but dont rely know wha it is
oceangazer wrote on Yesterday, 21:01:In terms of taking MS-DOS online, I'll leave that up to others for their input as I haven't really done that. I've seen some folks connecting to BBSes, of which there are still quite a few online today. And there are web browsers like Arachne or Links, but trying to browse the modern web on MS-DOS is a whole thing on its own.
I have used link before in linux tiny core. text based only though. I though it was only abailbe via linux tiny core OS
Point is, there's plenty of fun to be had with MS-DOS. It just comes down to what interests you. Hunting around for old software is a big part of the enjoyment, at least for me.
Thanks
RetroPCCupboard wrote on Yesterday, 21:19:Deluxe Paint is a well known graphics program. Was used to make a lot of game graphics back in the day.
is that DPaint or Coral graphics you are refering to?
So I located my internet usb dongle, its in the D drive
I reboot and boot ms dos up
Type D:\
And an error message of invalid drive specification came up. How come it cant read it?
You are trying to mash together things from eras so far apart that they can never go together. If you want networking in DOS (or even 98/XP) from a mobile dongle, you will need a more recent setup running the dongle and bridging to Ethernet, and an Ethernet card in the P4 if it doesn't already have a port in the IO.
Also, DOS is "hard mode" for a lot of the things you want to do, on a machine quite capable of running 98 or XP
DOS did have art software.
PC Paintbrush, and Corel Draw 1.x, for example.
ModernMan wrote on Today, 00:41:So I located my internet usb dongle, its in the D drive I reboot and boot ms dos up Type D:\ And an error message of invalid dri […]
So I located my internet usb dongle, its in the D drive
I reboot and boot ms dos up
Type D:\
And an error message of invalid drive specification came up. How come it cant read it?
What is an "internet usb dongle" ? Is that a wifi adapter or a USB thumb drive?
Just to warn you, DOS is way older than USB. It doesn't know anything about USB because USB didn't exist yet. In DOS, you need to load device drivers to make DOS understand any device that is not supported directly by the ROM BIOS. Usually this is done via entries in the config.sys file.
I find that getting USB devices to work on anything older than Win98SE is often quite the challenge. If your system can support Win98se, maybe install that on top of DOS. It still sits on top of DOS, so you can start to learn DOS, but has built in support for several of the most common USB device families.
Matth79 wrote on Today, 18:59:You are trying to mash together things from eras so far apart that they can never go together. If you want networking in DOS (or even 98/XP) from a mobile dongle, you will need a more recent setup running the dongle and bridging to Ethernet, and an Ethernet card in the P4 if it doesn't already have a port in the IO.
Also, DOS is "hard mode" for a lot of the things you want to do, on a machine quite capable of running 98 or XP
The dongle in question states that it will run windows xp, vista, 7, 10 and 11
So I need an Ethernet router right. Meaning DOS can read Ethernet right?
if so then will this do
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/296029858600
Think you plug your dongle into the router then plug the router into the Ethernet cable
or even one of these?
https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/5g … outer/tl-mr105/
Of cource if this where a landline the this would not be an issue hear
wierd_w wrote on Today, 19:12:DOS did have art software.
PC Paintbrush, and Corel Draw 1.x, for example.
That Coral Draw version 1.0 that you refer to
States "Platform Microsoft Windows" not MS-DOS!
douglar wrote on Today, 19:28:What is an "internet usb dongle" ? Is that a wifi adapter or a USB thumb drive?
I am not that sure how it operates but its defo Not wifi.
It takes a sim card in the same way that a mobile phone dose. When plugged into the machine its drive acts as a ROM/ CDROM. it also has capacity for an SD card
douglar wrote on Today, 19:28:Just to warn you, DOS is way older than USB. It doesn't know anything about USB because USB didn't exist yet. In DOS, you need to load device drivers to make DOS understand any device that is not supported directly by the ROM BIOS. Usually this is done via entries in the config.sys file.
My keyboard is USB, how comes that it works when i am in the DOS OS?
There is no config.sys in my DOS files, where would i find it please?
