Free DOS is an operating system (OS) that is fully compatible with Microsoft's released MS-DOS, but differs in that it is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free License. The OS was released in 2006 and is installed by default on laptops and computers from various manufacturers.
Free DOS principle
The system was created as a full-fledged alternative to the existing MS-DOS, which is distributed under a paid license. The development of the Free DOS project began back in 1994, but the system was released in a stable version 1.0 only by 2006. The OS is free and can be run on almost any new and outdated hardware, as well as using emulators in order to run the necessary applications under DOS. The system code is open, which means, if desired, it can be modified by any developer for their own needs.
Usage
Today the system in version 1.1 can be downloaded from the official website of the developers as a CD image for installation. The system is used by manufacturers of computers and laptops as a free alternative to MS-DOS and other products from Microsoft, which can significantly increase the cost of a particular device, which, as a result, can negatively affect equipment sales. Dell, HP and ASUS provide users with the opportunity to buy computers on FreeDOS.
Characteristics
The OS runs on the FAT32 file system. It supports all basic file operations that are available in other operating systems. Free DOS also supports opening archives (ZIP, 7-ZIP), editing text documents using additional programs, viewing HTML pages, working with mouse pointers with a scroll wheel. Also a feature of Free DOS is a large number of programs ported from Linux. The system has its own browser, BitTorrent client, and even antivirus software.
Free DOS works with any modern x86 computer. In this case, the device must have at least 2 MB of RAM, and about 40 MB may be required to install the system. The system can be launched not only after installation, but also through virtual machines (for example, VirtualBox), which can be installed in standard Windows, Linux or Mac. It is also possible to launch the system directly in the browser window using a Java emulator, which is available for download from the developer's official website. To directly install Free DOS on a computer, simply download the latest version of the system and burn it to a blank CD, then restart the computer and boot from the disc.
