Portable MS-DOS Mini Computer

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Genralkidd

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Apr 18, 2013
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Is it possible to install MS-DOS on any x86 based computer today? I don't see MS-DOS requiring a bunch of drivers. I plan to build a mini portable computer running MS-DOS maybe using one of Via's nano-itx or pico-itx boards. Maybe even Intel's NUC board. I'm just not sure if it's even possible to install MS-DOS anymore on such modern hardware.
 


Hmm unfortunately, no mini motherboard (pico itx or NUC) have IDE connectors. I'm guessing it's impossible to run MS-DOS off a SATA SSD. Would it make a difference if I set the SATA drive to legacy mode in the BIOS?
 
What you would use MS-DOS for? There aren't so many application today needing it 😉. And making it network-connected could turn into a nightmare.

I think that even if the drive is SATA, BIOS could be set to emulate IDE interface.
 


It's mainly because in one of my classes in college, we're working with command lines and we have the option to choose what command-line based OS we want to use (besides command prompt in modern Windows). Most people just use Unix's terminal and people with Windows opt to use SSH clients. As kind of a personal interest and me being a Mirosoft fanboy, I'd like to give MS-DOS a try. It's also for nostalgic reasons too as I was forced to use MS-DOS when I was 3 because I deleted important system files in Windows 95 and I had to replace them from the command line.

So anyways, you think as long as the BIOS supports IDE legacy mode, MS-DOS should work regardless of the hardware? And as for networking, I can figure that out later, it's not a big deal just yet.



As long as the HDD, CPU, and PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard are supported by MS-DOS, there shouldn't be any problems right? Intel CPU's are famous for their legacy support. Although I'm not sure if that extends to Via x86 CPU's, but I'm sure the legacy support is there for MS-DOS to run on a Core i5 or Intel Atom CPU.
 
ok... I just successfully tested MS-DOS 6.22 On a computer running a Phenom X4 64-bit and SATA HDDs without legacy mode, however, when I used it to open windows 1.01 by typing "win", Windows couldnt detect my mouse.
 


Hmm were you using a PS/2 Mouse or USB Mouse? Cause while I'm surprised MS-DOS worked on a SATA HDD without legacy mode, I wouldn't expect USB devices to work on MS-DOS.
 


Ok cool! I'm guessing the BIOS must be handling a lot of the hardware stuff behind the scenes. Anyways, I assume you were using a USB floppy drive? I don't think many modern computers have floppy drives anymore.

 


I am booting DOS 6.22 off USB floppy, and DOS never knows (there was not USB back in 1990 😉
 
DOS (win98 in real mode) works well on embedded PC104 stacks, and single-board computers. Runs fine on a Vortex 86DX. These boards will boot off of CF cards and USB drives. MS-DOS bootable SD card running on a Vortex 86DX board, 900Mhz- just fine. The 32-bit DOS extenders, Phar Lap DOS, work just fine and allow use of all the memory in protected mode. HP has a utility to produce bootable memory cards, SD, CF, memory sticks, under WIN7.
 


Do you think MS-DOS will be able to boot up and run on the Intel Galileo boards? There's no PS/2 support on the board so I'm not sure if MS-DOS will be able to utilize a USB Keyboard.

 


It wont be able to utilize mouse or keyboard unless you somehow have a dos driver that will somehow make a USB mouse and keyboard work.
 





This message is bit dated but I wanted to clarify some things that might help you if you end up reading this.

First off your best bet is to use an Intel based motherboard. AMD might also work. Any other CPU brands it is hard to say until you try it.

First off if you don't have a PS/2 Mouse port you aren't screwed from using a mouse. Most people used the serial port mouse back in the day with Windows 98 and DOS. Does your motherboard have a serial port on the back or a serial port header? If so get a serial port header to rear bracket and connect a serial mouse to it and you can use the serial mouse. If you want to ensure the highest compatibility get a Microsoft serial mouse.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Serial-Mouse-RS-232-2-1A-Beige-Part-90567-Brand-New-Old-Stock-/281354143875?pt=Mice&hash=item4182038883

Next you will need to load at the command line a mouse DOS driver in order to use it. If you bought a Microsoft serial mouse then you can use theirs.

If you want to automate the loading of the mouse driver by placing it in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file so it loads each time you boot.

As for running DOS on a hard drive it doesn't matter if you are using an IDE or SATA hard drive. You can make a DOS bootable hard drive on either. I've done this on many systems even on a modern Z77 motherboard so I know it works.

As for booting off a DOS floppy disk you can use a real internal 1.44MB floppy drive or an external USB 1.44MB floppy drive. Just make sure you set it in the BIOS as the first bootable device or else it will default to your hard drive or optical drive and therefore won't try to boot from the floppy drive.

 





There should be a USB legacy support option to enable in the BIOS if for some reason the USB keyboard is not working in DOS.

As for the USB mouse, there are USB mouse DOS drivers out there to download freely.

If the USB mouse doesn't work in DOS then your only option left is to use a serial port to connect a serial mouse which should work.

 



If you just want to get the experience of using MS-DOS then you can try using DOSBOX. This emulates DOS under Windows as close as possible and you will have USB keyboard support.

 


DOSBOX is just a program to run DOS-based Games and applications. I find it no where near the real experience of using the real DOS 6.22 on a floppy disk, CF, etc.
 
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