Skip to main content

Hardware and Software Requirements

The various versions of DOS operates with Intel's 8086, 8088, 80186, 80286, 80386, and 80486 family of microprocessors. DOS-based computers are being used around the world by an estimated fifty million people for thousands of useful applications. This includes hundreds of computer models ranging from desktop to laptop computers from nearly as many suppliers.

With a growing base of complex software programs, the need for more memory and file storage is increasing. Today, it is not uncommon to find DOS-based microprocessors sporting from one to sixteen megabytes (million characters) of memory and 50 to more than 300 million characters (or bytes) of disk storage.


Within the past few years extended memory specifications have been developed to let the microcomputer load greater amounts of executable code and data into memory. Having access to greater amounts of memory achieves greater execution speeds that rival those attained by many minicomputers, giving rise to new breed of super microcomputers.

Your ability to take advantage of large amounts of memory depends on the specific programs you use and the way you configure your computer. However, the most computers using 8086, 8088, and 80286 microprocessors cannot address more than 640 kilobytes (thousand characters) of memory at a time. MS-DOS 5.00 introduced a number of important new upper memory management capabilities to let users of 80286, 80386, and 80486 based microcomputers address large portions of continuos memory above the 1024K level. Using MS-DOS 5.00, computers can load various utilities, including DOS, in memory above the 640K.

Until the advent of DOS 4.01, most DOS-based microcomputers were unable to address more than a 32-megabyte partition of disk space at a time. DOS 4.01 eliminated the 32-megabyte barrier, giving users the ability to manage huge amounts of data on a modern-technology microcomputer.

In addition, higher disk density technology is reducing the cost of hard disks and other storage media, yielding greater storage capabilities and higher access speed at lower costs. This is putting microcomputers within the financial reach of users who operate within even the smallest businesses.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MEM

MEM The MEM command was introduced in DOS version 4.01 and memory information. The MEM command is entered alone or with a modified slightly in MS-DOS 5.00. MEM is used to display system memory information. The MEM command is entered alone or with a parameter. MEM-Displays to all system memory values, including expanded and extended memory values. MEM PROGRAM--Displays programs presently loaded in memory with used and unused memory. You may use /P if you are using DOS 5.00 MEM/DEBUG--Dispiays a list of programs, device drivers, install drivers, and used unused memory. You may use / if you are using DOS 5.00. MEM CLASSIFY (or MEM /C)-Displays programs and cor-responding memory usage. The largest available memory block is also displayed. You may use /C if you are using DOS 5.00. Typing MEM and pressing Enter displays information similar to the following (typical of DOS 5.00): C:\>MEM                  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

DOS CONFIGURATION AND AUTOMATIC EXECUTION FILES

The CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files can be used to set the way your computer responds to commands. The purpose of each of these files is briefly described. Although these files are not always essential to the proper operation of your computer, there are certain programs that depend on their presence. At this point in your exploration of DOS, you are not expected to make use of these commands. However, it is important to know what they are and how they can be used. When you finish this blog, you may wish to experiment with the effect of these files on the way your computer interacts with certain programs, its operating speed, and the allocation of memory. CONFIG.SYS When your computer is turned on, DOS  checks for a CONFIG.SYS file and adjusts your computor's configuration according to commands contained in that file. The CONFIG.SYS file is always found on the main directory of the DOS book disk. If you have a hard disk system, it is found on drive C, although you can boot from ...
Post a Comment
Read more