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From: browns@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com (Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: Re: PC-DOS vs. MS-DOS
Message-ID: <1502.271df2f5@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com>
Date: 18 Oct 90 23:22:45 GMT
References: <90290.111217ESR@SLACVM.BITNET>
Lines: 28

In article <90290.111217ESR@SLACVM.BITNET>, ESR@SLACVM.BITNET (Ed Russell) writes:
> [Please explain the difference between PC-DOS and MS-DOS, not between
> different-numbered versions]

The principal difference between PC-DOS and MS-DOS is in their BASICs,
as you have discovered the hard way.  PC-DOS BASIC and BASICA are partly
on the PC-DOS diskette, partly in ROM BIOS (the machine hardware).  So
if you execute PC-DOS BASIC/BASICA on a non-IBM machine, it will try to
execute nonexistent instructions with, as we say, unpredictable results. 
It's perfectly safe to go the other way, i.e. to run GWBASIC on an IBM
machine, because GWBASIC has all of its instructions on the diskette.

More generally, PC-DOS is one version of MS-DOS.  Microsoft licenses
MS-DOS to computer manufacturers, who make whatever mods they want and
sell the result.  As far as I know, only IBM has actually given its
version a separate name, PC-DOS.  The other mfrs, such as Compaq, sell
"Compaq MS-DOS" and the like.  Many of these will work on each others'
machines, but there are no guarantees.  Part of the deal with Microsoft
licensing to the manufacturers is that each mfr is free to build things
into MS-DOS that will only work on that manufacturer's hardware.

As far as I know, BASIC/BASICA is the only part of PC-DOS that requires
IBM hardware.  Many manufacturers (including Dell, who made my machine),
say that their machines will run PC-DOS except for BASIC.

The above opinions are not attributable to any other person or company.
                                     email: browns@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.   +1 216 371 0043