DOS

Sam Hobbs

I know that 64-bit Windows does not support DOS. Does the 32-bit version of Windows 8 still support DOS? According to Getting a DOS prompt - Microsoft Answers, starting with Windows XP it is not possible to get a DOS prompt, but I am not sure about that. According to Some 16-bit DOS-based Programs and the Command Prompt will not run in full-screen mode in Windows Vista and in Windows 7 32-bit Windows supports DOS but not 64-bit. There is a bit of inconsistency there and probably that is due to the difference between the ability to execute a DOS program and the ability to show a DOS window that is for executing DOS programs.

Note that I am not asking about Windows Command Prompt windows. DOS windows execute 16-bit programs that use an operating system very different from Windows. The DOS operating system is very primitive compared to Windows.

8 Replies

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Mahesh Chand14y ago
Sorry guys, I've been busy with the summit. I have installed Windows 8 one laptop and it is working fine but I have not had time to write about it or investigate it. I am still using my Windows 7 machine to do all the work.
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Satish Bhat14y ago
Hi Sam,

The machine I tried was Windows 7 32 bit. Just tried on my laptop which is Windows 7 64 bit, it was not there. You

are right, I think it is not supported in windows 7 64 bit.
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Sam Hobbs14y ago
Thank you, Shubham. Yes, I saw your article; I edited it. My question is about another article. My question is not about how to execute a DOS program; my question is about support of DOS by Windows. That is the only thing I am asking about. I want to ensure the accuracy of the other article; not your article. Your article is good.

I see that Suthish mentioned DosBox. I did not realize that it is not relevant to my question.
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Shubham Srivastava14y ago
Hi Sam,
          I have 64 bit windows machine, and through the help of DosBox tools i have been run Dos prompt in my machine. If you like to check my article in below link..

     http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/0524d6/how-to-run-dos-prompt-in-windows-8/


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Sam Hobbs14y ago
Thank you, Satish.

Yes, I think command.com is the DOS emulator.

Is your Windows 7 32-bit or is it 64-bit? Probably 32-bit. I have Windows 7 64-bit and I cannot find command.com.
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Satish Bhat14y ago
I don't know about Windows 8, but till Windows 7 (tested on Professional & Ultimate versions), there are 2 command prompts.
1] CMD.EXE [Windows > Run > cmd]
2] command.com [Windows > Run > command]

CMD.EXE, is the command line shell introduced in Windows NT. and command.com is used to access the MS-DOS shell.

I don't know whether you can execute 16-bit programs with command.com, but it shows the signs of old DOS window ;) by not allowing the space in file & folder names, allowing only 8 characters for file & folder names (it will truncate the name using "~1") and 3 character for file extension etc.
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Sam Hobbs14y ago
Thank you, Suthish.

The reason I asked is that an article in this web site called command prompt windows DOS boxes. That is very incorrect. I have not downloaded Windows 8 and I am not going to just to investigate the accuracy of the article. I as hoping to get help from other members. I know that Mahesh is very busy.
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Suthish Nair14y ago
I think only couple of guys here tried Windows 8. I was waiting for Mahesh to give a reply. With the help of open source DOS emulator - DOSBox, can run DOS on Windows 7 64 bit.
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