Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!purdue!wjin
From: wjin@cs.purdue.EDU (Woochang Jin)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: Re: Million Dollar Question is.........
Message-ID: <10719@medusa.cs.purdue.edu>
Date: 26 May 90 19:04:25 GMT
References: <21454@boulder.Colorado.EDU> <9348@sbcs.sunysb.edu> <1990May25.170319.24227@watdragon.waterloo.edu> <45868@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu>
Organization: Purdue University
Lines: 41

In article <45868@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu> sl197009@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Chima Echeruo) writes:
>gpsteffler@tiger.uwaterloo.ca (Glenn Steffler) writes:
>
>If microsoft developed MSDOS why can't it simply recode the bulk of the OS
>to run in protected mode instead  of switching to real mode to service *DOS*
>interupts?

Because if microsoft did most existing software would not run on such new
operating system, as many Window softwares do not run on version 3.0 protected
mode.

>I hear that the new 32 OS/2 does have such a feature where most of the DOS I/O
>and services have been ported to protected mode and hence runs DOS applications
>much better.

Therefore DOS programs do not run on OS/2.

>Since a large portion of the PC market is using '286 processors is there not 
>much need for a revamped MSDOS does utilizies the 286 protected mode while 
>retaining all the functions and services of it's real mode version. The 
>disadvantage would be that 8086 processors would be excluded from the new MSDOS
>, but then again anyone who is stuck with a PC does not have much need for 
>high-powered computing.
>
>Perhaps when MSDOS becomes a protected mode operating system, things such as
>expanded memory/extended memory will no longer cripple the AT/386 processors.

Yes. Someday, anyway. 
CP/M died because it lacked hierarchical directory system.
Now, next time it is DOS because it lacks protected memory system.
But this does not seem to happen within a short period because there are
too many usable softwares despite the lack of protected memory system.

>Does anyone have any idea if microsoft is going to rewrite DOS for protected
>mode operation????

Well, if microsoft decides that it would throw away all the existing DOS
softwares.

------
W. Jin