1

An Early History of MS-DOS

http://www.oldstuff.myagora.net/powerload/early.htm

Known variously as Seattle Computer 86-DOS, IBM Personal Computer DOS (PC-
DOS) , Zenith Z-DOS, and MS-DOS - 86-DOS was developed by Seattle Computer
Products for its 8086-based computer system. The MS-DOS history is intertwined with
the general development of software for 8086-based computers.

In May 1979, Seattle Computer made the first prototype of its 8086 microprocessor card
for the S-100 bus. There were brief discussions with Digital Research about using one
of Seattle Computer's prototypes to aid in developing CP/M-86, which was to be ready
"soon." Although Seattle Computer was considering using CP/M-86 when it became
available (expected no later than the end of 1979), there were only two working proto-
types of the 8086 processor card, and it was felt that both were needed in house.
Therefore, there wasn't one free for Digital Research.

Microsoft had already started a strong 8086 software-development program. The firm
was ready to try the 8086 version of Stand-Alone Disk BASIC, which is a version of its
BASIC interpreter with a built-in operating system. During the last two weeks of May
1979, this BASIC was made completely functional using the hardware that Seattle
Computer provided for Microsoft. Seattle Computer Products displayed the complete
package (8086 running disk BASIC) in New York the first week of June at the 1979 Na-
tional Computer Conference. (This was the first-ever public display of an 8086 BASIC
and of an 8086 processor card for the S-100 bus.)
 2

Seattle Computer shipped its first 8086 cards in November 1979, with Stand-Alone Disk
BASIC based on Digital Researches CP/M as the only software to run on it. The months
rolled by, and CP/M-86 was nowhere in sight. Finally, in April 1980, Seattle decided to
create its own DOS. This decision resulted just as much from concern about CP/M's
shortcomings as from the urgent need for a general-purpose operating system. As to
was QDOS a new operating system or a adaptation of CP/M is hard to say, It is more
certain to say that CP/M 86 had a lot more in commen with QDOS than CP/M had. To
what level of coroperation there was between Digital Research and Seattle Computer or
if the code was copied will never be resolved.

The first versions of the operating system, called QDOS 0.10, were shipped in August
1980. QDOS stood for Quick and Dirty Operating System because it was thrown to-
gether in such a hurry (two man-months), but it worked surprisingly well. It had all the
basic utilities for assembly-language development except an editor. One week later,
Seattle Computer had created an operating system with an editor, an absurdity known
as EDLIN (editor of lines). A primitive line-oriented system, it was supposed to last less
than six months. (Unfortunately, it has lasted much longer than that as part MS-DOS.)

In the last few days of 1980, a new version of the DOS was released, now known as
86-DOS 0.3. Seattle Computer passed this new version on to Microsoft, which had
bought non-exclusive rights to market 86-DOS and had one customer for it at the time.
Also about this time, Digital Research released the first copies of CP/M-86. In April
1981, Seattle Computer Products released 86-DOS 1.00, which was very similar to the
versions of MS-DOS that are widely distributed today.

In July 1981, Microsoft bought all rights to the DOS from Seattle Computer, and the
name MS-DOS was adopted. Shortly afterward, IBM announced the Personal Com-
puter (PC), using as its operating system what was essentially Seattle Computer's 86-
DOS 1.14. Microsoft has been continuously improving the DOS, providing version 1.24
to IBM (as IBM's PC-DOS 1.1) with MS-DOS 1.25 as the first general release to all MS-
DOS customers in March 1982.

Digital Research later came back into the DOS market with DR-DOS claiming it to be
based on CP/M 86 and thier own DOS code, and by others as a reverse engineered
copy of IBM PC-DOS. Certainly DR-DOS uses the IBMDOS.SYS kernel naming style!
And GEM a Graphical User Interface at about the same time as Microsoft were devel-
oping Windows.

DOS Timeline ~ Part One ~ 1980 to 1993

A History of Microsoft MS-DOS and Windows (and its main competitors) on
the 8086 Processer family

The Origins of MS-DOS ~ Articles by Tim Paterson, original author of DOS

 3

NOTE - Other (minor) versions of DOS & Windows exsist, This list is based on major versions plus items
observed or reported
Updates other than NT Service Packs are available via the PowerLoad Resource Pages

Note - Any changes listed continue on to later versions:

Month Year Version Major Changes or Remarks

Microsoft buys non-exclusive rights to market
Pattersons Quick & Dirty Operating System from
Seattle Computer Products (Developed as 86-
December 1980 QDOS
DOS)
(Which is a clone of Digital Researches CP/M
in virtually every respect)
Microsoft buys all rights to 86-DOS from Seattle
Computer Products, and the name MS-DOS is
July 1981 86-DOS adopted for Microsoft's purposes and IBM PC-
DOS for shipment with IBM PCs (For Com-
puters with the Intel 8086 Processor)
Digital Research release CP/M 86 for the Intel
Q3 1981 CP/M 86
8086 Processer
Pre-Release PC-DOS produced for IBM Per-
Mid 1981 PC-DOS 1.0 sonal Computers (IBM PC) Supported 16K of
RAM, ~ Single-sided 5.25" 160Kb Floppy Disk
OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation. (First Re-
August 1982 PC-DOS 1.1
lease Version)
OEM Version for Zenith Computer Corporation..
(Also known as Z-DOS) This added support for
September 1982 MS-DOS 1.25 Double-Sided 5.25" 320Kb Floppy Disks. Previ-
ously the disk had to be turned over to use the
other side
Digital Research release CP/M Plus for the
Q4 1982 CP/M Plus
Intel 8086 Processer
OEM Version For Zenith - This added support for
IBM's 10 MB Hard Disk, Directories and Double-
March 1983 MS-DOS 2.0
Density 5.25" Floppy Disks with capacities of 360
Kb
OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation. - Released
March 1983 PC-DOS 2.0
to support the IBM XT
Microsoft first announces it intention to create a
GUI (Graphical User Interface) for its existing
MS-DOS Operating System. Microsoft also intro-
March 1983 MS-DOS GUI duces its first mouse, "The Microsoft Mouse", in-
cluding card and software, for US$200. A major
tool in its GUI Development Program. (Windows
is Born)
November 1983 MS-DOS 2.01 OEM Version for Wang Computer Corporation.
November 1983 PC-DOS 2.1 OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation. - Released
 4

to support IBM PCjr PC

Microsoft Microsoft formally announces Windows 1.0, but

does not have a working copy! Microsoft
November 1983 Windows for
shows Windows to IBM, but IBM is not inter-
MS-DOS ested in such an unfinished product.
Meanwhile, Digital Research debuts its GEM
GUI for the IBM PC at Fall COMDEX 1983, and
Digital Re-
November 1983 also debuts its first multiuser and multitask-
search ing version of CP/M, Concurrent CP/M
(MP/M) for the Intel-based IBM PC.
OEM Version for AT&T, Bull & Sony. - Support
December 1983 MS-DOS 2.11
for foreign and extended characters was added.
There were also a number of Retail/Freeware
Menu or Shell Programs becoming available for
Notes >>>> "DOS Menu" DOS to help the novice user and shield him from
the 'raw' command line! Prompting Microsoft to
speed up its GUI development work!
OEM Version for Unknown Computer Manufac-
Early 1984 MS-DOS 2.25
ture. (Possibly Zenith)
OEM Version for Various Manufactures.- Support
September 1984 MS-DOS 3.0 for High-Density 1.2 MB Floppy Disks and 32 MB
Hard Disks was added. - No extended partitions.
September 1994 PC-DOS 3.0 OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation
OEM Version for Various Manufactures. Network
November 1984 MS-DOS 3.1
support was added.
Digital Research release DOSPlus 1.0 as a fol-
> 1985 DOSPlus 1.0
low on from CP/M Plus
A small number of Computer Manufactures
start to bundle 'GEM' DOS Manager by Digital
March 1985 Dr GEM 1.1 Research (Who also published DR-DOS) It
stands for Graphical Environment Manager
Details & History
Digital Research release 'retail' GEM version
September 1985 Dr GEM 1.2
1.2
Microsoft announces the Retail shipment of Mi-
crosoft Windows, a GUI which extends the fea-
tures of the DOS operating system. Windows
Microsoft Win- provides users with the ability to work with sev-
November 1985
dows 1.01 eral programs at the same time and easily switch
between them without having to quit and restart
individual applications. (Retail Price was US$99)
Screenshots
December 1985 PC-DOS 3.2 OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation. ~ Support for
3.5" LD 720Kb Floppy Disks
Digital Research release DOSPlus 2.0 - Fore-
> 1986 DOSPlus 2.0
runner to DrDOS
 5

Amstrad & KayPro bundle 'GEM' software with

> 1986 Dr GEM
MS-DOS 3.1
First Retail Release of MS-DOS ~ Support for
April 1986 MS-DOS 3.2
3.5" LD 720Kb Floppy Disks
Microsofts second release, - MS-DOS version
August 1986 Windows 1.03
3.2 support added
Microsoft Windows Device Driver Library Volume
Windows DDL 1
January 1987
Volume 1 Additional support for display devices, printers,
and pointing devices added
Microsoft announces MicroSoft Operating Sys-
tem/2 (MS OS/2) a new personal computer op-
erating system. It has been designed and devel-
oped specifically to harness the capabilities of
April 1987 OS/2 personal computers based upon the Intel 80286
and 80386 microprocessors. This is the first
product to be announced as a result of the Joint
Development Agreement between IBM and Mi-
crosoft announced in August 1985. - Intended
Replacement for MS-DOS
April 1987 Windows 1.04 - IBM Personal System/2 support added
OEM Version for Kaypro & Zenith Computer
April 1987 MS-DOS 3.21
Corporations. (And others)
MS-DOS 3.3 introduces support for more than
one logical drive per hard disk. Logical drives are
treated as completely separate disks under MS-
April 1987 MS-DOS 3.3 DOS, even though they may occupy the same
physical hard disk. Plus 3.5" HD 1.44MB Floppy
Disk Support + Real Time Support for the 'new'
CMOS clock
OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation. Added sup-
April 1987 PC-DOS 3.3
port for PS/2 Computers
Microsoft & IBM OS/2 Version 1.0 Released
April 1987 MS OS/2 - 1.0 Click here for OS/2 History, Sub-Versions and
Resources
Digital Research release DOSPlus 2.1 - Last
Mid 1987 DOSPlus 2.1
release before DrDOS 3.31
Microsoft releases LAN Manager, (Local Area
MS LAN Man-
October 1987 Network) a LAN operating system add-on that
ager
runs on both MS-DOS and OS/2.
 6

Microsoft releases Microsoft Windows 2.03 (Re-

tail Packaging however may show it as Windows
2.0) offering compatibility with existing Windows
applications and a new visual appearance com-
patible with Microsoft OS/2 Presentation Man-
November 1987 Windows 2.0 ager. In addition to the new visual appearance, it
uses a system of overlapping windows, rather
than tiled windows. Windows 2.03 also includes
significant performance enhancements and im-
proved support for expanded memory hardware.
Screenshots
Version 2.03 ~ When Windows/386 was re-
leased, Microsoft renamed Windows 2.03 to
Windows/286 (For the Intel 286) for version con-
sistency, And labelled all further production ac-
> 1988 Windows/286
cordingly. However it was not replaced by Win-
dows/386, As both versions were aimed at differ-
ent processors. Therefore Version 2.03 can be
found labelled under both descriptions.
MS-DOS
February 1988 Extended MS-DOS for Selected OEMs
3.3Plus
Modified MS-DOS 3.3 for Tandy (Radio Shack)
March 1988 MS-DOS 3.3T
Computers as TandyDOS
Extended Version for Various OEM Manufac-
April 1988 MS-DOS 3.31
tures.
Digital Research release DrDOS 3.31 (No ver-
sion 3.0 recorded) followed by a series of
May > 1988 DrDOS 3.3x OEM versions. 3.32, 3.33, 3.34, 3.35, 3.40,
3.41 & 3.42 Some releases include a version
of GEM Desktop (Called ViewMAX)
This version provided XMS support, support for
partitions on hard disks up to 2.10 GB and a
July 1988 MS-DOS 4.0
graphical shell. ~ It also contained a large number
of bugs and many programs refused to run on it.
July 1988 PC-DOS 4.0 OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation. (IBM buy rights
to future versions of PC-DOS)
August 1988 Windows/286 Version 2.10 ~ Intel 286 Optimised Edition
Version 2.10 ~ Intel 386 Optimised Edition (In-
August 1988 Windows/386
troduces HIMEM.SYS Driver)
Microsoft and IBM announce the delivery of the
jointly developed Operating System/2 (OS/2) 1.1
with Presentation Manager. Presentation Man-
October 1988 MS OS/2 1.10 ager is the graphical user interface (GUI) for the
OS/2 operating system. This is the second major
release of the Standard Edition of OS/2. (LAN
version also released)
November 1988 MS-DOS 4.01 Major Bug Fix for MS-DOS 4.0 (Core Files al-
 7

most completely rewritten)

November 1988 PC-DOS 4.01 Major Bug Fix for PC-DOS 4.0
Digital Research release DrDOS 4.41 (No Ver-
December 1988 DrDOS 4.41
sion 4.0 released!)
March 1989 Windows/286 Version 2.11 ~ Intel 286 Optimised Edition
March 1989 Windows/386 Version 2.11 ~ Intel 386 Optimised Edition
Minor update to MS-DOS 4.01 to include better
April 1989 MS-DOS 4.01a support as Larger Hard Drives become available.
A File Update is also released to support MS-
DOS 4.01
April 1989 Dr GEM 3.13 Last retail release of GEM by Digital Research
Microsoft and IBM OS/2 1.10 Extended Edition
April 1989 MS OS/2 - 1.10EE
released, with LAN Manager.
June 1989 IBM OS/2 - 1.20 IBM OS/2 1.20 released.
Microsoft announces the immediate, worldwide
availability of Microsoft Windows 3.0, This ver-
sion offers dramatic performance increases for
Windows applications, advances in ease of use
May 1990 Windows 3.0 and aesthetic appeal, and straightforward inte-
gration into corporate computing environments
Network Drivers also made avail-
able. Screenshots IBM start to offer Windows
3.0 as a PS/2 Option
Digital Research release DrDOS 5.0 - First Re-
May 1990 DrDOS 5.0
tail Version
IBM and Microsoft agree to end their develop-
September 1990
ment relationship.
April 1991 IBM OS/2 - 1.30 IBM OS/2 1.30 released.
Maintenance Release of Windows 3.0 focusing
October 1991 Windows 3.0a
on specific problems
This was a major upgrade. It allowed parts of
DOS to load itself in the high memory area and
certain device drivers and TSRs to run in the un-
used parts of the upper memory area between
640K and 1024K. This version also added sup-
port for IBM's new 2.88 MB floppy disks. An im-
proved BASIC interpreter and text editor were
April 1991 MS-DOS 5.0
included, as was a disk cache, an undelete utility
and a Hard Disk partition-table backup program .
After the problems with MS-DOS 4, it also pro-
vided a utility to make programs think they were
running on a different version of MS-
DOS.(SETVER) ~ Restores confidence in DOS
after v4.x disaster.
June 1991 DrDOS 6.0 Digital Research release DrDOS 6.0 Adds disk
 8

compression, disk optimizer, etc.

June 1991 PC-DOS 5.0 IBM PC-DOS 5.0

MS-DOS 5.0 Upgrade Edition for all earler ver-
June 1991 MS-DOS 5UG
sions (First Upgrade Version)
OEM Windows 3.0 with MultiMedia Extensions
v1.0. This version of Windows was probably
Windows 3.0
a standard version of Windows 3.0a and Micro-
with Multimedia
October 1991 soft Multimedia Extensions Version 1.0 being re-
Extensions
leased as an OEM Multimedia CD-ROM only.
Version 1.0
IBM list Windows 3.0 MM as an option for
PS/2 Computers
Tandy Modular Windows was an OEM Special
GUI for Tandy Corp.'s Video Information System
(VIS) Multimedia Player. It was essentially a Win-
Tandy Modular
Notes 1991 dows 3.0 Core Program, But without any Micro-
Windows
soft Desktop Accessories, Drivers, or a number
of other features. (Not to be confused with Win-
dows 3.0 MultiMedia)
New Technology Development Program - NT
Windows NT Operating System was first intended to be based
Q3 1991
Program on OS/2 Technology but was later changed to
Windows
This was a minor update for MS-DOS 5.0 which
dealt with possibly catastrophic problems with
Q4 1991 MS-DOS 5.Oa
UNDELETE and CHKDSK. A File Update is also
released
Replaces MS-DOS 5.0 Upgrade (Details as for
Q4 1991 MS-DOS 5aUG
MS-DOS 5.0a)
PC-DOS 5.0 Rev 1 (Possibly an update for same
February 1992 PC-DOS 5.0.1
reason as MS-DOS 5.0a)
Microsoft ships Microsoft Windows 3.1 with over
1,000 enhancements. The new version created
unprecedented user demand with over one million
April 1992 Windows 3.1 advance orders placed worldwide. ~ 386 En-
hanced Mode with minimum 4MB RAM - Oper-
ates in Standard Mode with 2MBs - Added sup-
port for Truetype Fonts Screenshots
April 1992 Win 3.1UG Windows 3.1 Upgrade for Windows 3.0 Users.
(Full Version marked Upgrade!)
IBM OS/2 version 2.0 released. (Microsoft with-
June 1992 IBM OS/2 - 2.0
draws support for OS/2)
PC-DOS 5.0 Rev 2 - To correct errors with Win-
September 1992 PC-DOS 5.0.2
dows 3.1 (EMM386.EXE)
 9

Microsoft announces the worldwide availability of

Microsoft Windows for WorkGroups 3.1 (WfWG)
which integrates networking and workgroup func-
Windows for tionality directly into Windows 3.1. The product
Workgroups allows common activities of sending electronic
October 1992 3.1 mail, scheduling group meetings, sharing files
and printers, managing calendars, and working
together on groups projects. It can provide net-
(WfWG 3.1) working capabilities on its own, or it can be used
as a client on an existing local area network.
Screenshots (Unlike NT, WfWG is still a MS-
DOS GUI)
Windows for Workgroups 3.1 Add-On for MS-
October 1992 WfWG31AD
DOS Users
WfWG 3.1 Add-On for Windows Users - This
package is for machines that already have Win-
October 1992 WfWG31AW dows version 3.1 installed. It upgrades Windows
by adding those files required for the new fea-
tures of WfWG 3.1 (Uses Compliance Checking)

WindowsNT
Windows New Technology - First BETA Testing
Q4 1992 of Windows NT ~ Microsofts first true 32bit Op-
BETA
erating System.
This was a catch-up with Novell's DR-DOS 6. It
added a disk-compression utility called Double-
Space, a basic anti-virus program and a disk de-
fragmenter. It also finally included a MOVE
command, an improved backup program,
March 1993 MS-DOS 6.0
MSBACKUP and multiple boot configurations.
Memory management was also improved by the
addition of MEMMAKER. A number of older utili-
ties, such as JOIN and RECOVER were re-
moved. However DOSSHELLwas still included.
MS-DOS 6.0 Upgrade Edition for all earler ver-
March 1993 MS-DOS6UG
sions from 3.3 onwards.
Microsoft released a Supplimental Update of Ear-
March 1993 6.0 Supplimental
ler Files removed from v6.0
Microsofts first attempt at a GUI for Palm and
Windows for PEN Organiser type small computers. It used a cut
May 1993
Computing 3.1 down version of MS-DOS 6.0 & Windows 3.1 with
a PEN Driver Set.
Digital Research base their PalmDOS on
Note 1993 Dr PalmDOS
CP/M with GEM ViewMAX
IBM starts to number PC-DOS in series with MS-
June 1993 PC-DOS 6.1
DOS
DrDOS sold to Novell who release it as
Q3 1993 NovellDOS 7.0
NovellDOS 7.0 with NetWare
 10

Windows NT - Designed for Business & Network-

ing Use - Not dependent on MS-DOS - Uses its
July 1993 WindowsNT 3.1 own NTFS Bootstrap to install. (Released on 3.5"
Disks) Screenshots from http://pla-
netx.com/linebackn/guis/nt31.html
After the release of NT 3.1 Microsoft began a se-
Windows NT ries of Service Pack Releases, which included Up-
> > dates, Patchs as well as New or Updated Network Drivers.
Service Packs The Last known Service Pack for Windows NT
3.1 was SP-3 (Dated October 1994)
Extra security was built into DoubleSpace follow-
ing complaints of data loss. A new disk checker,
November 1993 MS-DOS 6.2 SCANDISK, was also introduced, as well as im-
provements to DISKCOPY and SmartDrive
(DOSSHELL was removed to the Supplemental Disk Set)
MS-DOS 6.2 Upgrade Edition for all earler ver-
November 1993 MS-DOS62UG
sions from 3.3 onwards.
MS-DOS 6.2 Step-Up for 6.0 Users Only (MS-
DOS Step-Up differs from Upgrade in that it is
November 1993 MS-DOS62SU limited to earler 6x versions only and contains file
updates not complete copies of application files
other than IO.SYS & MSDOS.SYS)
Microsoft released a Supplimental Update of Ear-
November 1993 6.2 Supplimental ler Files removed from v 6.2 Including DOSSHELL
which was removed from 6.2 & later versions.
WfWG 3.11 contains the complete software
package for machines that do not have Windows
Windows for Operating System version 3.0 or 3.1. It contains
Workgroups all the WfWG software, including Windows 3.1
December 1993 3.11 functionality, file sharing, printer sharing, network
dynamic data exchange (DDE), Microsoft Mail,
(WfWG 3.11) Microsoft Schedule+, Microsoft At Work PC Fax,
Remote Access Services, 32-bit file and disk ac-
cess, and advanced security. Screenshots
December 1993 WfWG311AD WfWG 3.11 Add-On for MS-DOS Users.
WfWG 3.11 Add-On for Windows Users -This
package is for machines that already have Win-
December 1993 WfWG311AW dows or WfWG version 3.1 installed. It upgrades
Windows or WfWG 3.1 by adding those files re-
quired for the new features of WfWG 3.11.
Microsoft Client for MS-DOS version 3.0 (Net-
December 1993 MSClient 3.0
work Add-On for MS-DOS)
With WfWG Compatable Core Files, SVGA &
updated drivers Screenshots Windows 3.11 was
December 1993 Windows 3.11 never marketed as such, It is a Service Release
of Windows 3.1 only - The only way to check you
have it was to click the 'About' Box
 11

Microsoft also made available 2 updates for Win-

December 1993 Win31 Updates dows 3.1 to bring it upto Windows 3.11 standard
~ 3.11 Core Files and SVGA Driver Updates.

December 1993 PC-DOS 6.3 Replaces PC-DOS 6.1

DOS Timeline ~ Part Two - 1994 On-

wards
A History of Microsoft MS-DOS and Windows (and main competitors) on the
8086 Processer family
NOTE - Other (minor) versions of DOS & Windows exsist, This list is based on major versions plus items
observed or reported
Updates other than NT Service Packs are available via the PowerLoad Resource Pages

Note - Any changes listed continue on to later versions:

Month Year Version Major Changes or Remarks

Work starts on a Enhansed version of MS-DOS for 32bit
Q1 1994 MS-DOS 7.0
Windows. At first based on MS-DOS 6.2 with Double-
BETA 1
Space but later changed due to legal action.
Following legal action by Stac Electronics, Microsoft re-
leased this interim version which had DoubleSpace re-
March 1994 MS-DOS 6.21 moved This was an interim limited release of MS-DOS until
replacement of DoubleSpace ~ Otherwise identical in function to
MS-DOS 6.2
MS- MS-DOS 6.21 Upgrade Edition for all earler versions (No
March 1994
DOS621UG Step-Up Released)
6.21 Suppli- Microsoft released a Supplimental Update of Earler Files
March 1994
mental removed from v6.21
Win32s is a set of runtime libraries for Windows 3.1, which
Win32s for enable users to run most Windows NT 32-bit applications
March 1994
Windows 3.1 on Windows 3.1, without the extensive hardware require-
ments of Windows NT.
Microsoft licenced a disk-compression package called
DoubleDisk from VertiSoft Systems and renamed it Drive-
April 1994 MS-DOS 6.22
Space, which was included in this version. (Other than
disk-compression there is no differance to MS-DOS 6.2)
MS- MS-DOS 6.22 Upgrade Edition for all earler versions from
April 1994
DOS622UG 3.3 onwards.
April 1994 MS- MS-DOS 6.22 Step-Up for 6.0, 6.2, 6.21 Users Only
 12

DOS6.22SU
6.22 Suppli- Microsoft released a Supplimental Update of Earler Files
April 1994
mental removed from v6.22
7.0 Second BETA of WindowsDOS now based on DriveSpace
May 1994 MS-DOS
BETA 2 Technoligy.
Microsoft announces that Microsoft Windows 95 is the offi-
cial name for the next version of Windows, code-named
"Chicago." This name was chosen to make it easier for
customers to identify the most current version of Microsoft
Windows. It is a fully integrated 32-bit operating system
September 1994 Chicago
replacing Windows 3.11, Windows for Workgroups 3.11,
and MS-DOS as the mainstream desktop operating sys-
tem.
Windows 4.0 (95) uses a version of MS-DOS to 'Boo-
tup' (MS-DOS 7.0)
WindowsNT
September 1994 Windows New Technology 3.5
3.5
NT Service
> > No recorded Service Pack was published for NT 3.5
Packs
OS/2 Warp
November 1994 IBM OS/2 Warp 3.0 released
3.0
OEM (Pre-Installed) 32bit Processing - Long Filename
Support & other major improvments over Windows 3.x
(Still uses original FAT16) DriveSpace Included Windows
August Windows
1995 OEM 95 95 supports two new partition types (0E and 0F) to support
the logical block addressing (LBA) INT13h extensions as
specified in the Windows 95 Driver Development Kit
(DDK).~ Includes Internet Explorer 1.0
Retail Windows 95 for Computers without MS-DOS (or ear-
August 1995 Windows 95 ler MS-DOS Version) Screenshots from http://pla-
netx.com/linebackn/guis/win95.html
MS-DOS 7.0 (Also called WindowsDOS) is an integral part
of Windows 95.
(It and later versions are NOT available as a Stand-
Alone OS)
Integral
August 1995 It provides support for Long Filenames only when Win-
MS-DOS 7.0 dows is running, but removes a large number of other utili-
ties, some of which are on the Windows 95 CD versions
in the \other\oldmsdos directory. (Reports itself as Windows
95)
August 1995 Win95UG Windows 95 Upgrade for Previous Versions of Windows
Educational Discounted Combined Win95 & NT4.0 for Teachers & Stu-
August 1995
Pack dents Only.
Win95 Plus- Extras for Win95 such as DriveSpace 3, MS Themes and
August 1995
Pack 3D Pinball Game
 13

Win95 CD- Microsoft release Extra Applications found on 95 CD for

August 1995 ROM Extras &Floppy Disk Users. (This MS page has changed now to the
Updates equivalent of 'WindowsUpdate')
Win95 - DOS Microsoft release a Supplimental Update of MS-DOS 6.22
September 1995 7.0 Suppli- Files removed from Win95 Called OLDDOS.EXE ~ Micro-
mental soft still find it difficult to 'Kill' DOS
Updated Release of NT 3.5 with additional network drivers
WindowsNT
September 1995 Screenshots from http://pla-
3.51
netx.com/linebackn/guis/nt351.html
NT Service- The Last Service Pack for Windows NT 3.51 was SP- 5
> >
Packs (Dated October 1996)
> 1995 Nashville Windows 95 OSR (OEM Service Release) Update Program

> 1995 Cairo Windows NT (4.0) 'Future Technology' BETA Program.

(Also reported as Detroit)
Windows CE (Compact Edition) Development Program -
Based on Windows 95 and designed for the Handheld PC
> 1995 Pegasus (H/PC) and Portable PC (P/PC) also known as Personal
Digital Assistants (PDA) ~ The Windows CE series is in-
cluded to complete the Windows Range.
February 1996 Windows 95A OSR 1.0 (As with later sub-versions of OSRs - Pre-Installed)
IE 2.0 Included.
Service Pack 1 for Windows 95 (95A Upgrade) This was the
February 1996 Win95 SP1 only Windows 9x Service Pack, After this MS placed further updates
on internet 'WindowsUpdate' Web Site.
Microsofts (Cairo) 32bit Muli-Tasking Operating System.
WindowsNT Available in Server, Desktop and Upgrade Versions. (De-
August 1996
4.0 velopment continues for Option & Enterprise) Screenshots from
http://pla-netx.com/linebackn/guis/nt4.html
NT Service- The Latest Service Pack for NT 4.0 is SP - 6a (Dated De-
> >
Packs cember 1999)
OS/2 Warp
August 1996 IBM OS/2 Warp 4.0 released
4.0
OSR 2.0 (Mainly a Floppy Disk Release) - Windows 95 OSR 2
onwards support two new partition types (0B and 0C) to
September 1996 Windows 95B support the FAT32 file system. Maximum partition size
now 2 TeraBytes (TB) But still 2.1 GBs if is FAT16 se-
lected.
OSR 2.1 with added USB Support (CD-ROM Versions
September 1996 Windows 95B
CD Only) IE 3.0 Included.
Integral Updated MS-DOS 7.10 is an integral part of OSR 2 and
later versions of Windows. The main change is support for
September 1996 MS-DOS
FAT 32, a more efficient and robust way of storing Data
7.10 on Large Hard Disks. ('Large Disk Support' is an Option in FDISK)
WindowsCE Pegasus ~ All versions of Windows CE are OEM releases
November 1996
1.0 only.
Late 1996 Windows Windows NT 5.0 Development Program. Windows NT
 14

NT5 Background & History

April 1997 PC-DOS 7.0 PC-DOS 7.0 Revsion 0 - Update available to Revsion 1 (PC-DOS
2000) from IBM
Windows NT 5.0 BETA Program. Click here for NT5/2000
September 1997 NT5 BETA
Build TimeLine
OSR 2.5 with Integrated Internet Explorer 4.0 (Improved
November 1997 Windows 95C USB Support) Some issues of 95B/C Install CD-ROMs
were 'Bootable' Dependent on BIOS Support.
WindowsCE
November 1997 Mercury ~ Successor to Windows CE 1
2.0
OpenDOS DrDOS sold to Caldera who release it as Caldera
November 1997
7.01 OpenDOS 7.01
WinNT 4.0
December 1997 NT 4.0 Option Pack
OP
WinNT 4.0
December 1997 NT 4.0 Enterprise Version
Ent
> 1997 Memphis Windows 98 BETA Program
Caldera release OpenDOS 7.02 (Then rename it as DR-
February 1998 DR-DOS 7.02
DOS 7.02)
April 1998 PC-DOS 2000 PC-DOS 7.0 Revsion 1 - Fully Y2K Compliant Update
WindowsCE
Q2 1998 Gryphon ~ First Microsoft P/PC OS
2.01
OEM (Pre-Installed) With full FAT32 & USB Support and
June Windows
1998 OEM 98 Integrated Internet Explorer 4.0 (Install CD-ROM is now
'Bootable')
Retail Windows 98 for Computers without MS-DOS
June 1998 Windows 98 Screenshots from http://pla-
netx.com/linebackn/guis/win98.html
June 1998 Win98 UG Windows 98 Upgrade for Previous Versions of Windows
Educational Discounted Combined Win98 & NT4.0 for Teachers & Stu-
June 1998
Pack dents Only.
Win98 Plus- 'Extras' that could have been included on 98 CD! (Say no
June 1998
Pack more!)
WindowsCE
July 1998 Birch ~ P/PC Release
2.1
August 1998 NT5 BETA 2 Windows NT5 Beta 2 (Becomes Windows 2000 Beta 2)
Win CE 2.11
Q3 Jupiter ~ CE 2.11 Professional ~ H/PC Release
Pro
Win2000
April 1999 Windows 2000 Beta 3
BETA 3
Planned successor to Windows 98 (Cancelled Early
Q2 1999 Neptune
2000) See Whistler
Planned successor to Windows NT5 (2000) (Cancelled)
Q2 1999 Odysee
See Whistler
 15

May 1999 Win98 SP1 Service Pack 1 for Windows 98 (Major Bug Fixes plus IE 4.01
SP1)

May Windows 98SE OEM (Pre-Installed) Win98 Second Edition - Integrated

1999 OEM
Internet Explorer 5.0
Windows Retail Windows 98SE for Computers without MS-DOS or
May 1999
98SE Windows
Windows 98SE Upgrade for Previous Versions of Win-
May 1999 Win98SE UG
dows
Educational Discounted Combined Win98se & NT4.0 (SP-5) for Teachers
May 1999
Pack & Students Only.
Millennium Edition (WinMe) BETA Testing Program
July/August 1999 Millennium Still reallies on MS-DOS (No longer supports Real
Mode) (MS-DOS 8.0)
Caldera release DR-DOS 7.03 then transfer all rights to
August 1999 DR-DOS 7.03
Lineo, Corp
WindowsCE
Q3 1999 Wyvern ~ P/PC release
2.11
Click here for the Full Windows Me TimeLine with Build
.> 1999 WinMe BETA
Numbers.
End 1999 DR-DOS 7.04 Lineo release OEM version as DR-DOS 7.04
7.05 Lineo BETA Test OEM DR-DOS 7.05 but then discontinue
Early 2000 DR-DOS
BETA DR-DOS development.
Planned future merge of Windows 98, Millennium and
Q1 2000 Whistler
NT(2000) into 1 OS
Windows Windows 2000 Professional (NT & Network Users) NO
MS-DOS Support Successer to Windows NT 4.0 - De-
February 2000 2000 Profes-
signed for Business Use. Available in Server, Desktop and
sional Upgrade Versions.
NT Service The Latest Service Pack for Windows 2000 is SP-2 Dated
> >
Packs May 2001
For Microsoft's Pocket PC Handheld Devices. A Major Re-
WindowsCE
May 2000 vamp! 2 code-names have been reported = Rapier for
3.0
P/PC 2000 and Galileo for H/PC 2000
OEM (Pre-Installed) For Home Users with Integrated Inter-
August 2000 Windows Me net Explorer & Outlok Express 5.5 and MSN Messenger -
OEM Gold Release 4.10.3000
(ME as in Millennium Edition or Me as in I myself ?)
Retail for Computers without MS-DOS or Windows
September 2000 Windows Me Screenshots from http://pla-
netx.com/linebackn/guis/me.html
Major change to MS-DOS 8.0 is the removal of 'Real-
Integral
September 2000 Mode' Support. Other than that it is identical to MS-DOS
MS-DOS 8.0 7.10 (This is done by changes to IO.SYS & COMMAND.COM)
WinMe Step- Limited Promotional Step-Up Version for Windows 98/98se
September 2000
Up Users Only
 16

Windows Millennium Upgrade for Previous Versions of

September 2000 WinMe UG
Windows (Not 3.x)
WindowsCE Microsoft Announces Beta 1 of "Talisker," the Next Version
of Windows CE
April 2001
http://www.microsoft.com/PressPass/press/2001/Apr01/04-
Talisker 10TaliskerPR.asp
Windows XP is the release name for Windows Whistler
>>>>>>> 2001 and was released on October 25 2001 Due to the large num-
ber of 'Builds' it has not been possible to keep listing them! - Read -
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/windowsxp_gold.asp
Now that Windows no longer uses a MS-DOS loader or
supports it in any way. It is time to close the DOS
Timeline. I enjoyed doing it, but now is the time to
???????? 2002
STOP. For New and Breaking News on Windows and
its Future visit
http://www.winsupersite.com/default.asp

A Short History of MS-DOS

Known variously as Seattle Computer 86-DOS, IBM Personal Computer DOS, and Ze-
nith Z-DOS, MS-DOS was developed by Seattle Computer Products for its 8086-based
computer system. The MS-DOS history is intertwined with the general development of
software for 8086-based computers.

In May 1979, Seattle Computer made the first prototype of its 8086 microprocessor card
for the S-100 bus. There were brief discussions with Digital Research about using one
of Seattle Computer's prototypes to aid in developing CP/M-86, which was to be ready
"soon." Although Seattle Computer was considering using CP/M-86 when it became
available (expected no later than the end of 1979), there were only two working proto-
types of the 8086 processor card, and it was felt that both were needed in house.
Therefore, there wasn't one free for Digital Research.

Microsoft had already started a strong 8086 software-development program. The firm
was ready to try the 8086 version of Stand-Alone Disk BASIC, which is a version of its
BASIC interpreter with a built-in operating system. During the last two weeks of May
1979, this BASIC was made completely functional using the hardware that Seattle
Computer provided for Microsoft. Seattle Computer Products displayed the complete
package (8086 running disk BASIC) in New York the first week of June at the 1979 Na-
tional Computer Conference. (This was the first-ever public display of an 8086 BASIC
and of an 8086 processor card for the S-100 bus.)

Seattle Computer shipped its first 8086 cards in November 1979, with Stand-Alone Disk
BASIC as the only software to run on it. The months rolled by, and CP/M-86 was no-
where in sight. Finally, in April 1980, Seattle decided to create its own DOS. This deci-
sion resulted just as much from concern about CP/M's shortcomings as from the urgent
need for a general-purpose operating system.
 17

The first versions of the operating system, called QDOS 0.10, were shipped in August
1980. QDOS stood for Quick and Dirty Operating System because it was thrown to-
gether in such a hurry (two man-months), but it worked surprisingly well. It had all the
basic utilities for assembly-language development except an editor. One week later,
Seattle Computer had created an operating system with an editor, an absurdity known
as EDLIN (editor of lines). A primitive line-oriented system, it was supposed to last less
than six months. (Unfortunately, it has lasted much longer than that as part MS-DOS.)

In the last few days of 1980, a new version of the DOS was released, now known as
86-DOS version 0.3. Seattle Computer passed this new version on to Microsoft, which
had bought non-exclusive rights to market 86-DOS and had one customer for it at the
time. Also about this time, Digital Research released the first copies of CP/M-86. In
April 1981, Seattle Computer Products released 86-DOS version 1.00, which was very
similar to the versions of MS-DOS that are widely distributed today.

In July 1981, Microsoft bought all rights to the DOS from Seattle Computer, and the
name MS-DOS was adopted. Shortly afterward, IBM announced the Personal Com-
puter, using as its operating system what was essentially Seattle Computer's 86-DOS
1.14. Microsoft has been continuously improving the DOS, providing version 1.24 to
IBM (as IBM's version 1.1) with MS-DOS version 1.25 as the general release to all MS-
DOS customers in March 1982. Now version 2.0, released in February 1983, has just
been announced with IBM's new XT computer.

Origins of MS-DOS

Articles about MS-DOS and Tim Paterson

Seattle Times - Garage warriors: Computer pioneer makes a name on geek TV,
5/6/02.

Microsoft MicroNews - Father of DOS Still Having Fun at Microsoft, 4/10/98.

Forbes ASAP - The Dross of the DOS, 12/1/97.

Softalk - The Roots of DOS, March, 1983.

Articles by Tim Paterson, original author of DOS

Encyclopedia of Computers and Computer History (Raul Rojas, editor) - DOS ,

April 2001.

Byte Magazine - A Short History of MS-DOS, June, 1983.

Byte Magazine - An Inside Look at MS-DOS, June, 1983.

Additional Bibliography

Manes, Stephen, and Paul Andrews. Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an In-
 18

dustry - and Made Himself the Richest Man in America. Doubleday, 1993.

Wallace, James, and Jim Erickson. Hard Drive: Bill Gates and the Making of the Micro-
soft Empire. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1992.

Duncan, Ray, editor. The MS-DOS Encyclopedia. Microsoft Press, 1988.