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I am interested to do a clean install of MS-DOS 6.2 on my old PC with Pentium III (32-bit) processor. Just for fun.

I obtained a copy of MS-DOS from Microsoft download Site.

Is that the correct installer that i should use? Please give me a step-by-step guide on installing MS-DOS.

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OMG! Can't believe someone still wants to install MS-DOS in 2009, and "just for fun" on top of that! – Zoran Dec 4 '09 at 4:24
Ya. Maybe get bored of graphic interface. – yihang Dec 4 '09 at 8:08
Zoran: I do that monthly. (I prefer installing Windows though) – grawity Dec 5 '09 at 13:13
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Some people just need to play Gorilla Basic. – music2myear Feb 10 at 18:26
The link you showed is a Stepup version... What exactly is that? – Luke Feb 10 at 18:55
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4 Answers

up vote 6 down vote accepted

You may have a much easier time installing FreeDOS.

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Just curious. Is FreeDOS really 100% compatible with MS-DOS (in terms of Command, compatibility of programs...)? – yihang Dec 4 '09 at 8:10
as far as commands go, it is. However some of the graphics were not 100% when I tested it out in 2003. For instance an old version of MS Flight Simulator had a little trouble with graphics. But most things work very well in FreeDOS with a lot less hassle. – jweede Dec 4 '09 at 15:04
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up vote 3 down vote

The link you provided goes to a download page for 'step up' files (from MSDOS 6.2 to MSDOS 6.22) not the full MSDOS itself.

In fact MSDOS is a system requirement, so it must be installed first.

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MS-DOS 6.22. Stepup will update 6.0, 6.2, or 6.21 – Beaner Dec 4 '09 at 4:43
I see... Can it be used to update the CMD in Windows Vista or 7? – yihang Dec 4 '09 at 8:09
No. The "cmd" is a native Windows program, no different from Notepad or Firefox. The only relation it has to DOS is similar syntax. – grawity Dec 4 '09 at 13:28
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up vote 2 down vote

Does it have to 6.2(2)? If you are only playing around (and even if you are not), then you may as well install MS-DOS 7.1.

A few years ago, a new copy of DOS 7.1 (the version that came with Windows 98) started making the rounds. It is not an official release from Microsoft, but rather a compilation made by DOS enthusiasts of the official MS-DOS 6.22 (the last official release) + the components from MS-DOS 7.1 (from Windows 98—I think ME had "7.11") + several third-party tools.

It has lots of great features:

  • long-filenames
  • better disk-checking for large drives
  • support for sound-cards
  • multiple languages

Best of all, it supported Windows XP in that the installer was able to detect and work-around it so that you could actually (successfully) install MS-DOS 7.1 after having already installed XP, and successfully dual-boot both! It even came on a bootable CD that you could install it from.

The legalities of it are not really known. Technically I suppose it should not be allowed if it uses actual Microsoft files though it says it is free (GPL), but you can find many people arguing and pointing out loop holes and supporting documentation and such that it is okay. Either way it is pretty easy to find a copy. There are plenty of videos showing how to install it.

Splash screen: enter image description here

Initial setup screen: enter image description here

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up vote 0 down vote

I have seen it on Technet and MSDN but had no idea it was free to anyone - I think this is just a upgrade from 6.1 and not full a free download.

For a simple install, you need any Windows machine with a floppy drive and three blank floppys.

Run the file "Setup.bat" and it should guide you through the setup and create the installation disks.

Put the first disk in your Pentium three machine and run setup from the A drive, and it should install.

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Whats that "Setup.bat"? Can give more detailed guide? – yihang Dec 4 '09 at 8:08
IIRC, the bare minimum for a dos machine is: you boot using floppy, run FDISK to partition the hard drive (DELETES ALL DATA ON HARDDRIVE), format c: /s (DELETES ALL DATA ON HARD DRIVE), then copy command.com io.sys and msdos.sys to the root folder of c:. Your machine should be bootable without the floppy at this point. – horatio Feb 10 at 18:57
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