Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!mensa.usc.edu!chanel From: chanel@mensa.usc.edu (chanel summers) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc Subject: Re: DOS 5.0 Message-ID: <31987@usc> Date: 16 Apr 91 19:25:58 GMT References: <1991Apr16.185656.25290@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> Sender: news@usc Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Lines: 258 Nntp-Posting-Host: mensa.usc.edu In article <1991Apr16.185656.25290@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> mas35638@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Sleipnir) writes: >I know this was hashed a few weeks ago, but those articles are long >gone from my notes server now. I went to IBM's "Fun Day" here at >UIUC yesterday, and ran into a guy working for Microsoft. Remembering >that I had seen DOS 5.0 mentioned here before (and just now re: >Stacker), I said "So tell me about DOS 5.0" He didn't even smile; >just shook his head and said no. I went on to explain that I had >seen some references to it on this net (which he understood), and >asked why, are there betas out? All he would say is: "I'm not >saying anything, but if Microsoft were to produce 5.0, it would >have the largest beta testing program you have ever seen." I took >this to mean that you guys aren't bullshitting me, and that you do >have beta versions. Comments? Is it like the 4.0x mousey thing, >or back to 3.3 command line? What's new? > >Mike Stangel >m-stangel@uiuc.edu Mike: All DOS 5.00 beta testers must sign a non-disclosure agreement with Microsoft promising not to discuss any aspect of the operating system until it is released commercially. Therefore, I don't expect that you will learn much until you see a copy of the system in stores. However, it has been reported elsewhere that Microsoft just completed its final release candidate which means that barring some really weird occurrence, DOS 5.00 should be out in about a month or two. According to Microsoft's publicity department, this is the information they will allow to the public (the Microsoft rep you spoke with SHOULD have acknowledged any and all of the following, not played coy as he did): For more information contact: Kathryn Hinsch Microsoft Corporation 206/882-8080 Carrine Greason The Waggener Group 503/245-0905 The following is information about MS-DOS version 5.0 that Microsoft has confirmed publicly. o This is the best DOS yet. o There is going to be a huge beta program; MS-DOS version 5.0 exists in beta now. The huge beta program is designed to help us ship a stable product. o Microsoft is targeting a Q1 91 ship, but we do not know when the product will ship because it is very important that the product be stable. This is really important for an operating system. o MS-DOS version 5.0 has significant memory improvements, including: A smaller kernel that benefits even users of 8088-based personal computers because it will take less conventional memory. Support for the VCPI in the EMM386 LIM emulator program. Benefit Windows 3.0 users who run DOS programs because the memory gains are reflected in Windows' DOS virtual machines (VMs). o Has a shell with improved size and speed over 4.0. o Has additional planned features not in the first or second beta releases. To confirm information or to request an interview, please do not hesitate to contact us. /CBG:kal Furthermore, the following report was leaked to several systems. Caveat: the information is highly questionable and suspect due to the fact that its authenticity cannot be confirmed and also because the report was sent out very early in the testing process. Microsoft will NOT stand behind this report, but you can draw your own inferences as to what IS and IS NOT accurate: What will be new with DOS 5.00? Well, DOS 5.00 will probably be out by the end of 1990, and you are probably anxious to know what is new. Most people either don't know what is new, or "can't tell you". I'll tell you all I know (and whatever I can make up). Maybe I shouldn't be telling anyone, but no one knows who I am so it doesn't matter. Anonymous User Changes/Additions: 1. DOS can now load itself into the first 64K of Extended memory if you have it. You must have the line, "DOS=HIGH" in your config.sys and you must have at least 64K of extended memory available. This will only work on AT machines since 8088/8086 processors can only address up to 1 Megabyte of memory, and Extended Memory begins at 1 Meg. Loading DOS high will free up quite a bit of valuable conventional memory. 2. The QuickBasic interpreter is included along with GWBasic. 3. The Shell program (DOSSHELL) has been completely changed. It now resembles the "File Manager" Program that comes with Windows or OS/2. DOSSHELL can be run in either graphics or text mode, in color or black and white. The F1 key brings up online help. 4. If the environment variable "TEMP" is set, DOS will use the directory set in "TEMP" to write temporary files for piping operations. If there is no "TEMP" directory set, the current directory is used. 5. If the environment variable "DIRCMD" is set, DOS uses it for all "DIR" commands. For example, if "DIRCMD=/W", when you type "DIR", DOS would act like you typed "DIR/W" (Wide display). 6. A short help screen is available for all DOS commands by adding a "/?" after the command, for example, "DIR /?" would give you a help screen for the DIR command. 7. There is a utility called "DOSKEY" that is basically a command line editor that lets you backup through your previous DOS commands. Here is the help screen for DOSKEY: DOSKEY [/reinstall] [/bufsize=] [/dmacs] [/dhist] [macro=text] /reinstall Installs a new copy of doskey. /bufsize= Specifies the size of the command buffer. /dmacs Displays all macros and lets you redirect them to a file. /dhist Displays all command lines stored in memory. 8. A program called UNFORMAT is included. It restores a hard drive to its condition prior to the last FORMAT command. 9. The DIR command now reports how many bytes the files listed total up to. Here is an example DIR command: E:\>dir Volume in drive E is whatever Directory of E:\ WIERDOS 06-28-90 12:42a DUDE ZIP 724409 07-26-90 10:14p TMP 07-28-90 6:32p IHATE-U 06-28-90 12:42a MASM EXE 103175 07-31-87 12:00a STSCFG CFG 2339 04-30-90 1:49a SD INI 2497 07-13-90 2:52a FRECOVER DAT 50688 07-14-90 1:25a 8 File(s) 3883108 bytes 21868544 bytes free E:\> 10. The FORMAT command now supports 2.88 Meg 3.5" diskettes. Here are the help screens for a few of the DOS commands: DIR [pathname] [/p] [/w] [/a:attributes] [/o:sortorder] [/s] [/b] /p Pause after each screen page of display. /w List Files in columns with up to five filenames on each line. /a:attributes Displays only files with the attributes you specify. /o:sortorder Displays files sorted in the specified order. /s Displays files in the specified directory and all subdirectories. /b Lists filenames, one per line, without any file information. FORMAT drive: [/1] [/4] [/8] [/n:sectors] [/t:tracks] [/f:size] [/b] [/s] [/u] [/v[:label]] /1 Formats a single side of a floppy disk. /4 Forces a high-capacity floppy drive to format a 360K Floppy-disk. /8 Formats eight sectors per track. /n Specifies the number of sectors per track. /t Specifies the number of tracks on the disk. /f Specifies the size of the floppy disk to format. /b Formats the disk, leaving space to copy an operating system. /s Copies the operating system files. /u Specifies an unconditional format for a hard disk. /v Specifies the volume label. COPY [pathname1] [pathname2] [/v] [/a] [/b] /v Verifies sectors written on the target disk. /a Copies Ascii files. /b Copies binary files. BACKUP source destination [/s][/m][/a][/f:size][/d:date][/t:time][/L:pathname] /s Backs up subdirectories /m Backs up only those files that have changed since the last backup /a Adds backed-up files to an existing backup disk /d:date Backs up only files modified since the specified date /t:time Backs up only files modified since the specified time /L:pathname Creates a log entry to record the backup operation /f:size Formats the target backup disk RESTORE drive1: [drive2] [pathname] [/s] [/p] [/b:date] [/a:date] [/e:time] [/l:time] [/m] [/n] /s Restores all subdirectories. /p Prompts before restoring read-only files or filed modified since the backup. /b Restores only those files last modified on or before date. /a Restores only those files last modified on or after date. /e Restores only those files last modified a /n Restores only those files that no longer exist on the target disk MODE - Configure a device. Device Status: MODE [device] [/sta] Printer port: MODE LPTn[cols=c] [lines= l] [retry=r] Serial port: MODE COMm baud=b [data=d] [stop=s] [parity=p] [retry=r] Display mode: MODE con:[cols=m] [lines=n] Typematic rate: MODE con [:] [rate=r] [delay=d] Prepare codepage: MODE device cp prepare=((yyy) [drive:][path]filename Select codepage: MODE device cp select=yyy Redirect printing: MODE LPTn[:]=COMm[:] XCOPY pathname1 [pathname2] [/a] [/d:date] [/e] [/m] [/p] [/s] [/v] [/w] /a Copy files with archive bit, but don't modify archive bit. /d Copies source files modified on or after specified date. /e Copies any subdirectories, even if they are empty. /m Copy files with archive bit set and clear the archive bit. /p Prompts before creating a new file in the target directory. /s Copy directories and subdirectories, unless empty. /v Verify each file as it is written to the target. /w Causes xcopy to wait before it starts copying files. There is also a neat little program included with the beta version of DOS 5.0 called "Microsoft Infer". I don't know if Infer will be included with the release version of DOS. Infer tells lots of useful information about your system, like: Operating System Version, Machine type, Environment, Processor type, Memory info, Video Adapter info, Serial/Parallel port info, disk drive info, and much more. Infer includes a ROM BIOS browser, memory browser, and several other useful functions. As I mentioned, I downloaded this file from a BBS in July of 1990. Neither I nor Microsoft nor (theoretically) any other beta testers can confirm or deny any of the foregoing (except for the public information file). Use at your own risk, your mileage may vary. Chanel