What is DOS?

MS-DOS is an abbreviation for Microsoft Disk OperatingSystem, which means "disk operating system Microsoft." This is undoubtedly the most famous operating system before the appearance of the famous Windows family.

MS-DOS - what is it?

This is the operating system that wasreal-time mode of the processor with the architecture of x86 (first 16-bit, and then 32-x). Basic functionality performed only 3 (!) File. About any multitasking speech did not even go. All the work was done by entering directives into the command line. The user only saw the "invitation" for input, the cursor and the text, no GUI existed.

The predecessor of this operating system wasDeveloped by Tim Paterson in the company Seattle Computer Products in 1980. He created QDOS for the Intel 8086 processor. In July 1981, Microsoft acquired a license for the IBM machine. The deal is estimated at 25 thousand dollars. Based on it, DOS was created.

The MS-DOS release was dated 1981, and itsUpdates continued until 2000. During this time, 8 OS versions were released. It is thanks to this operating system that Microsoft has developed into the largest player in the IT market.

Graphical shell for DOS

Since 1983, the development of graphicshell for this system. They were seriously hampered by the meager hardware resources of that time. Third-party shells were produced, but speaking modern language, they looked like extensions only. Yes, and call it a "graphical interface" is difficult. Rather pseudo-graphic, because all the graphics consisted of color lines and menu names. The meaning remained the same - text, text, text. Only MS-DOS shell stands out - it's essentially a file manager with the same pseudo-graphic text interface, but it was a breakthrough thanks to the support of the pointing device - the "mouse".

In 1985, Microsoft's desperate attempt to introducethe graphical interface was met coolly, and it was not done well. It was then that the first Windows appeared, it was just a shell for MS-DOS.

Multitasking

As we have already explained, MS-DOS was not designedfor multitasking and multi-user work. There have been attempts to provide multi-tasking mode from such additional environments as TopView and DESQview. The latter achieved little success, but later, with the arrival of more powerful processors and the implementation of some features of the Intel 80386 virtual memory, multitasking was introduced (it is implied that the processor simply performed all the tasks in turn, or rather their parts).

Afterword

We face DOS every day, but when does this happen? What is DOS in the modern world?

In fact, Windows is based on the MS-DOS core. This is just a fluffy shell, of course, the nucleus is also not very similar to what is dated to the eighties of the last century. But nevertheless, want to feel that atmosphere?

Start - Run - cmd.exe. Press on Enter - welcome to DOS! Any operation you perform on the computer can be performed here by simply entering commands!