MS-DOS on a Win2k box

major marco · Post by **major marco** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 12:05 am

I've got a Win2k SP2 OS with 2 HD. The master HD has 3 partitions formatted as NTFS. The slave HD has 2 partitions formatted as FAT32. Win2k supports
a dual or multi-boot configuration and it is suggested that if you're going to have multiple OSs installed to install in a particular order. I would prefer not to have to do that.

I want to take an extended partition and install MS-DOS 6.22. Can anyone who has this setup offer any advice specifically whether installing DOS *after* already having installed Win2k will it mess up anything? Please advise

Stef · Post by **Stef** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 2:48 am

Get a boot loader, don't even bother with any Microsoft product.

Try http://www.xosl.org/, it's free, it works on anything better than a 386 with 4MB of RAM and is fully GUI.

Stef

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 10:08 am

Maybe you already know this ,but dos can't read an NTFS formatted partition. I am running 98se, 2k pro and XP pro, I installed them in that order. You may need to use a 3rd party boot loader, installing dos now may trash the 2k bootloader.

Zuma · Post by **Zuma** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 11:21 am

Stef, that link isn't working. Do you have another?

richardc · Post by **richardc** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 11:48 am

I think the link doesn't work because it picks up the comma at the end
Try here: http://www.xosl.org/

major marco · Post by **major marco** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 2:26 pm

Originally posted by The Dude
Maybe you already know this ,but dos can't read an NTFS formatted partition. I am running 98se, 2k pro and XP pro, I installed them in that order. You may need to use a 3rd party boot loader, installing dos now may trash the 2k bootloader.

Actually I know very little about what kind of format DOS prefers. I read that it's best to install to a FAT16 format in which case I won't be able to do that on my current configuration since all I've got to choose from are NTFS or FAT32 partitions. I may consider trashing my current config and starting from scratch but I'm not sure I want to put myself through that misery. It may be easier to consider other alternatives such as the XOSL bootloader.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 2:45 pm

Dos and windows 9X can use fat 16 and fat 32. A NTFS partition is invisible to them. It gets treated like a non dos partition. Windows NT 4 can use NTFS and Fat 16 but not Fat 32. Win 2k and XP can see Fat 16, Fat 32 and NTFS. Not sure if 2k and XP will install on fat 16 but I know they will on fat 32 and NTFS.

Stef · Post by **Stef** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 3:36 pm

It all depends on which version of DOS your using. DOS 6.22 or lower can only be installed on a FAT 16 partition. FAT 16 is limited to 512 MB. ANy version of DOS newer then DOS 6.22 is FAT 32 compatible.

Is their any particular reason why you need to dual boot? DOS can be run in a virtual PC program. I know that Debian comes with pre-packed DOS emulator packages. ( packed with FreeDOS, but it will work with MS-DOS) Why not get some DOS emulator for Win2k instead?

Stef

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 4:36 pm

I could be wrong but I thought Dos 6.22 had a max 2gig partition using fat 16 and more using fat 32. I've formated drives over 1 gig using Dos 6.22. Isn't the 512 meg a limitation in the old bioses that don't support LBA mode.

major marco · Post by **major marco** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 5:57 pm

Originally posted by Stef
It all depends on which version of DOS your using. DOS 6.22 or lower can only be installed on a FAT 16 partition. FAT 16 is limited to 512 MB. ANy version of DOS newer then DOS 6.22 is FAT 32 compatible.

Is their any particular reason why you need to dual boot? DOS can be run in a virtual PC program. I know that Debian comes with pre-packed DOS emulator packages. ( packed with FreeDOS, but it will work with MS-DOS) Why not get some DOS emulator for Win2k instead?

Stef

I don't really need to have a dual boot. All I really want to be able to do is install MS-DOS 6.22 on my Win2k system and use it without any hassles or screwing up my system and I'm not sure the best route to take to accomplish that objective. How would *you* go about this?

Stef · Post by **Stef** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 6:32 pm

I would use a PC emulator, that way their is no need to reboot or too partition.

http://bochs.sourceforge.net/

Use bochs, it's free, run's MS-DOS, UNIX, Win9x, NT, etc...

Stef

Murman · Post by **Murman** » Sun Nov 10, 2002 9:30 am

Originally posted by The Dude
I could be wrong but I thought Dos 6.22 had a max 2gig partition using fat 16 and more using fat 32. I've formated drives over 1 gig using Dos 6.22. Isn't the 512 meg a limitation in the old bioses that don't support LBA mode.

correct

2 gig fat16
512 or around that prob even 540 is the old bios limitation

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sun Nov 10, 2002 11:23 am

Originally posted by Murman
correct

2 gig fat16
512 or around that prob even 540 is the old BIOS limitation

OK thanks, It's not a big deal unless you still have an old 486 kicking around. I do and it can be a real pain sometimes having to use the drive overlay. Who said DOS was dead. Hey when is Norm going to be back?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sun Nov 10, 2002 1:27 pm

Can make it incredibly easy...I just did this a month ago for a customer who runs a marine engine diagnostic utility from Bombardier, for OMC Ficht outboards. The program absolutely has to run in real DOS, uses a COM port dongle to hook up to the engine. He uses a laptop. It came OEM with Win2K on it, I FDISK'd and formatted the hard drive, making a 2 gig C in FAT, and an 18 gig D in NTFS. I installed DOS to the C drive, and Win2KPro to the D drive. When you install the consumer OS first (DOS, Win9X)...once you install any NT based OS (NT 4, Win2K, XP) after that to another partition....the installation automatically makes it a dual boot system via the boot.ini. Nothing else needed....works perfectly all the time.

Now if you wish to keep your existing setup, there is a fantastic program I've used many times also, called System Commander. It takes your exisiting setup....you can re-partition your setup, convert partitions, resize, etc, whatever it takes to create an empty partition...and install up to, err, I think it's up to 8 operating systems on the same computer. Great software...works well, and good support...I had to call them once on an unusual case.

http://www.v-com.com/

major marco · Post by **major marco** » Sun Nov 10, 2002 4:53 pm

Thanks to all who responded. Btween the suggested emulator and Sys Commander I think I have the information I need to make an intelligent decision which route to take.

twwabw · Post by **twwabw** » Sun Nov 10, 2002 5:28 pm

Originally posted by The Dude
II thought Dos 6.22 had a max 2gig partition using fat 16 and more using fat 32.

Hmmm.... Fat 32 on MS-Dos 6.22 ?? I don't think so. Could be wrong, but I believe it only supports Fat16 and the really old Fat12. No Fat32 until W95 SR2 as I recall.

I could always breakk out my old 6.22 disks (yes- I still have them... even 5.0 ) I even have the "upgrade" disks from the original 6 release ( 6.1?? ) . God I'm old.

I actually liked 5 & 6, as long as you knew how to "tweak" your config.sys and memory manager. I remember what a revolution DOSSHELL was after using 3.21 !! OMG- you could actually look at files and directories !!

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sun Nov 10, 2002 6:45 pm

I do believe you are correct, Fat 16 and Fat 12. Fat 32 with win 98. I still have my 4 original Ms dos 6.22 floppies, Windows 3.1 and 3.11 also. Microsoft office on 24 floppies too all original. Maybe sometime I'll put them in a time capsule with all the books.