Some features of MS-DOS 8.0

Original work by Vagif Ashumov

If you don't know DOS, you don't know Windows...

Some features of MS-DOS 8.0

 * Since September 2000, the latest version 4.90.3000 Windows 98, more commonly known as Windows Millennium Edition ME with removal native mode / real / true / pure MS-DOS mode of booting from the hard disk on the Internet has a patch - Real DOS-Mode Patch for Windows ME v1.3 This removes a deliberate error in the last version of Microsoft MS-DOS 8.0 shipped embedded in Windows Me. Another Russian path also make Command.com DOS version independent.(93040) This Command.com you can launch from Windows NT 5x (2000,XP,2003,WHS). A subset is included with 32-bit versions of Windows XP and Windows Vista. For booting from C: drive IO.SYS and COMMAND.COM can be modified by replacing byte 75 by byte EB at hex offset 00006510 in COMMAND.COM and 000003AA for IO.SYS
 * MS-DOS 8.0 Patch:
 * IO.SYS .... 000003AA 75 -> EB
 * COMMAND.COM 00006510 75 -> EB
 * For remove version check replace byte sequence 3D 08 00 74 ->90 90 90 EB


 * Third parties have discussed how to restore some aspects of the Real-mode functionality in Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me). The use of third-party methods is neither recommended nor supported by Microsoft as Windows Me has not been tested with nor designed to run with Real-mode terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) drivers.
 * New Real DOS-mode Patch for MS-DOS 8.0 by replacing in IO.SYS first 2048 bytes from original Windows Me OEM CD IO.SYS
 * README.TXT - Contents boot disk MS-DOS Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 deleted file restored from an image extracted from diskcopy.dll Windows XP SP3. In this subset Microsoft cut startup message from OS kernel "Starting Windows Millennium Emergency Boot ... " to "Starting...". Format a floppy disk by using My Computer, select the Create an MS-DOS startup disk option. The size of OS Kernel from Windows XP - IO.SYS 116,736


 * "Merged real mode drivers in Io.sys. Services such as HIMEM and SMARTDRV, which are separate files in Windows 98 that must be loaded during boot, are now built into the Windows Me Io.sys file. This improves read performance of the hard disk during boot. Io.sys is compressed, which reduces disk size and makes it faster to load." Microsoft: Improving "Cold Boot" Time for System Manufacturers Updated: December 4, 2001


 * The decompressor for IO.SYS Version 8 by Rudolph R. Loew will take an Unmodified Compressed version 8 IO.SYS File and create an Uncompressed IO.SYS File that can be used to Boot DOS 8


 * Uncompressed with The Decompressor for IO.SYS Version 8 by Rudolph R. Loew, IO.SYS file size is 280064 bytes can be reduced by stripping the bitmap with any hex-editor.The bitmap starts at 'BM' but ends at 0x44005

FF 00 04 73 06 BE 04 ==>> FF 00 03 73 06 BE 04 C0 58 74 EE 80 0E 5B ==>> C0 58 90 90 80 0E 5B
 * Win3xStart path for uncompressed IO.SYS version 8.0: original path by Ralf Buschmann, based on an idea by Samuel Leo

Show files in hidden sub-directories D4 B9 10 00 B4 ==>> D4 B9 16 00 B4 FC B9 10 00 B4 ==>> FC B9 16 00 B4
 * COMMAND.COM FIX original fix by John Augustine


 * Himem.sys, Emm386.exe and Smartdrv.exe versions that are included with Windows Millennium Edition are the best, and work fine under MS-DOS 7.10. Windows Me does not support loading Emm386.exe from the Startup disk. Xmsmmgr.exe(HIMEM: DOS XMS Driver, Version 3.07 - 02/14/92): This file is a TSR (terminate-and-stay-resident) version of HIMEM.SYS(Windows XMS Driver Version 3.95). It is run from the source directory when Setup has determined that there is not an XMS provider loaded in memory.

Startup Menu no differences with the Startup Menu Windows 98 SE. Restart your computer. Press and hold down CTRL until the Startup Menu appears. This menu appears only from the floppy image Windows ME OEM CD IO.SYS.
 * IO.SYS from the floppy image Windows ME OEM CD load automatically DBLBUFF.SYS and IFSHLP.SYS. Startup message: Now preparing to start your new computer.

In Russian forum topic starter fps posted: "WinME has a normal DOS"

http://forum.ixbt.com/topic.cgi?id=22:10612

No cracks and patches. MS cares about herself, but from users is away scraps.

The following files are only on the Windows Me OEM bootable CD Tools\NetTools\FAC\cbs.dta\winboot.sys (118784) Tools\NetTools\FAC\cbs.dta\winboot.lf (116736) Tools\NetTools\FAC\ltools.dta\io.sys (116736) Tools\NetTools\FAC\ltools.dta\msdos.sys (7) Tools\NetTools\FAC\ltools.dta\command.com (92992) Tools\NetTools\FAC\ltools.dta\setucase.com (688) Tools\NetTools\FAC\pld.dta\reboot.exe (755) Tools\NetTools\FAC\tls.dta\tee.com (1298) Tools\NetTools\FAC\tls.dta\imdump.exe (11628) Tools\NetTools\FAC\tls.dta\setini.exe (20364) Tools\NetTools\FAC\tls.dta\pbf.img (512) - floppy bootsector Everything! "Command Prompt Only" is present.

Autoexec + Config.sys is processed

This command.com no have Strange Instructions Built Into COMMAND.COM as noted in the article by Micho Durdevich RIPLing Windows Millennium Edition from OS/2 Warp Server

Appendix A: Enabling Real-Mode DOS Support in Windows Millennium Edition "Our main idea is to replace the file VMM32.VXD by the appropriate command interpreter. The simplest solution would be to use the standard COMMAND.COM. However, a slight technical problem appears here, because of a funny mistake in the standard command interpreter COMMAND.COM"

Appendix B: Weird Changes in Design of Windows Millennium

If you copy any normal DOS executable over VMM32.VXD, it should start without problems, as a part of WinME "boot". The only ME-runnable program I know that does not start properly is the command interpreter COMMAND.COM

IO.SYS outdated.

WARNING: MS-DOS Does Not Properly Process Hard Disk Hardware Errors. Microsoft updated ms-dos kernel files both version 7.10 & 8.0

Microsoft REMOVED the display of the Startup Menu from Windows ME & MS-DOS 8.0 startup disk from Windows XP, Vista, Seven.
 * Last update: With Windows Vista the files on the startup disk are dated 18th April 2005 but are otherwise unchanged,
 * Io.sys file size is 116736 bytes


 * Kernel loading menu minimal - Normal, the remaining modes by hot keys.. For Safe mode command prompt only, without implementation of the configuration files config autoexec hold shift during loading. Existing options configuration of msdos.sys or winboot.ini with higher priority (Winboot. Ini is an interim version Msdos.sys file created during installation Win9x): Logo = 0 not display a logo for loading; DisableLog = 1 not to log bootlog.txt ; SystemReg = 0 not preload the system registry; BootGUI = 1 parameter is not working. Windows will not automatically loaded when Windows folder have command.com. If command.com only source drive and the path to Windows folder true specified in the msdos.sys and config.sys added line FAT32 support driver device=ifshlp.sys, then Windows will load automatically. There is no need to set anything in the autoexec.bat.
 * Disable the F8 startup menu in Uncompressed IO.SYS by Dencorso
 * 1) Search for B4 02 CD 16 A8 07 74 and patch the red 74 to EB
 * 2) Search for 36 01 B4 01 CD 16 75 :
 * you'll find it to be 36 01 B4 01 CD 16 75 XX, where XX is any value.
 * Patch this to become 36 01 B4 01 CD 16 90 90


 * ScanDisk cannot process on a FAT32 drive, if the volume size more 127.53 gigabytes (GB). Limitations of FAT32 File System
 * Sys.com version 8.0 is functionally limited, using sys.com version 7.10 is included in Windows 98SE and put it to the table version setver.exe from boot disk Windows ME, as a driver (line device = setver.exe in config.sys ), you can remove the restrictions functionality of MS-DOS 8.0. Instead of file setver.exe can use the driver ver710.sys by Dencorso (put DEVICE=VER710.SYS as the very first line in CONFIG.SYS). Another way use deversioned sys.com version 7.10 (3D 07 0A 74->90 90 90 EB)
 * Windows XP Professional operating system CD contains a modified file format.com - Oformat.com. Run Oformat on the versions of MS–DOS in Windows Millennium Edition or Windows XP. Oformat does not prompt for confirmation before formatting a disk. Oformat creates a FAT32 volume with clusters that are aligned in an optimal way for when the volume is later converted to NTFS file system format. Oformat does not force sector verification at the first disk format. As a result, you can do a Quick Format immediately after creating a new partition, which is significantly faster in the manufacturing environment than using the conventional Format. Russian analogue oformat.com - patched FORMAT.COM: Option /Q (QuickFormat) now can be used to format floppies and hard disks quickly even if they're never been formatted before MS-DOS version check has been removed You cannot format a volume larger than 32 gigabytes (GB) in size using the FAT32 file system during the Windows XP installation process. Another option is to start from a Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) Startup disk and use the Format tool included on the disk.

Limitations of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP


 * SYS.COM, FORMAT.COM, OFORMAT.COM Fix (original path by Petr Soucek)
 * Modify boot record code from 75 06 to B2 0E at specific location
 * This modification causes using INT 13 Extensions(LBA addressing) regardless on partition or media type.
 * FC 75 06 -> FC B2 0E
 * WARNING: This fix is not intended for computers that do not have support for Int13h extensions!


 * SYS.COM, FORMAT.COM, OFORMAT.COM check OEM System Name (MSWIN4.1; sometimes called the "OEM ID") is the eight-byte ASCII string that identifies the system that formatted the disk. Many floppy disks have the letters IHC in their OEM ID field.The whole string begins with five pseudo-random hex bytes, and always ends with the characters IHC. (Alex Verstak & Daniel B. Sedory ). You can replace the OEM string in SYS.COM, FORMAT.COM, OFORMAT.COM from MSWIN4.1 to MSDOS8.0

The maximum possible number of clusters on a volume using the FAT32 file system is 268,435,445. With a maximum of 32 KB per cluster with space for the file allocation table (FAT), this equates to a maximum disk size of approximately 8 terabytes (TB).


 * Fdisk.exe is a simple boot manager, if you hard drive have more than one primary partition -use Set active partition option to select bootable partition. IDE hard disks larger than 128 GB using the 48-Bit logical block addressing (LBA). If installed on your computer BIOS does not support 48-Bit LBA, disk space outside the boundaries of 128 GB not specified. Windows ME's FDISK an entry : "MS-DOS Version 8 (C) Copyright 1981-1999." FDISK may create more than one primary partition, if you after the first primary partition make it hidden by third-party. Fdisk.exe Unable to Partition Drives Larger Than 512 Gigabytes. Maximum Sizes on FAT32 Volumes is 127.53 GB Maximum file size is 4 GB. NTFS compared to FAT and FAT32


 * You can install MS-DOS 8.0 on FAT32 partition as second OS to boot.ini.

MS-DOS 8.0 Files without real-mode network drivers
All binary files with strings "MS-DOS Version 8 (C)Copyright 1981-1999" or "Microsoft"

Unofficial standalone Full MS-DOS 8.0 Distribution Disk

Download installation Boot CD ISO image (MSDOS8.ISO)

Contents of the Windows XP SP3 & Windows 7 MS-DOS startup disk extracted (Disk Extract) from DISKCOPY.DLL.

Another application to get the image you can download from http://jacevedo.phstech.info/getbtdsk.zip Filename	Size	Attributes	Creation Date	Creation Time IO.SYS		116 736	A R S H	18-04-2005	17:54:34 EGA2.CPI	58 870	A	18-04-2005	17:54:34 EGA3.CPI	58 753	A	18-04-2005	17:54:34 EGA.CPI		58 870	A	18-04-2005	17:54:34 KEYB.COM	21 607	A	18-04-2005	3:04:42 KEYBOARD.SYS	34 566	A	18-04-2005	17:54:34 KEYBRD2.SYS	31 942	A	18-04-2005	17:54:34 KEYBRD3.SYS	31 633	A	18-04-2005	17:54:34 KEYBRD4.SYS	13 014	A	18-04-2005	17:54:34 MODE.COM	29 239	A	18-04-2005	17:54:34 COMMAND.COM	93 040	A	18-04-2005	17:54:34 DISPLAY.SYS	17 175	A	18-04-2005	17:54:34 MSDOS.SYS	9	A R S H	18-04-2005	17:54:34 The MS-DOS startup disk only allows the system to boot into an MS-DOS prompt. The disk contains no additional tools. An MS-DOS startup disk is useful when you need to update a computer’s BIOS.

Contents of the Ebd.cab File recovered from Windows XP MS-DOS startup disk

HELP.HLP compilation by Wendy Krieger

Deploy.cab MS-DOS Files from Windows XP Service Pack 3 - ISO-9660 CD Image File Filename	Size	Attributes Creation Date Creation Time Oformat.com	50 055	A	  12-29-06	 19:50 Cvtarea.exe	27 968	A	  12-29-06	 19:47

DOS Files from Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 Filename	Size	Attributes Creation Date Creation Time Mouse.com	9 169	A	  04-30-2008	 17:00 Cdrom.sys	5 241	A	  04-30-2008	 17:00

DOS Files from Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition Filename	Size	Attributes Creation Date Creation Time Sys.com	19 159	A	  05-05-1999	 22:22

DOS Files from Windows XP Embedded SP1 tools Filename	Size	Attributes Creation Date Creation Time Bootprep.exe	20 927	A	  09-04-2002	 16:48

DOS Files from Windows CE Embedded Tools Filename	Size	Attributes Creation Date Creation Time vesatest.exe	7 121	A	  28-01-2004	 17:50

MS-DOS File Manager DOSSHELL from Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 Supplemental Disk Filename	Size	Attributes Creation Date Creation Time DOSSHELL.COM	 4 620	A	   31-05-1994	 06:22 DOSSHELL.EXE	236 378	A	  31-05-1994	 06:22 DOSSHELL.HLP	161 323	A	  31-05-1994	 06:22 DOSSWAP.EXE	 18 756	A	  31-05-1994	 06:22

© V. Ashumov 2007-2010

MS-DOS Version 8 (C)Copyright 1981-1999 Microsoft Corp Licensed Material - Property of Microsoft All rights reserved.

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