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Given the very small size of DOS, it would seem it might still be ideal for some applications such as handheld games. Is any system manufacturer still shipping DOS with their machine?

If no one is shipping DOS, when was the last shipment?

jwzumwalt
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Barnstormer
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  • That's a good question. I can't provide a definitive answer, but there are some interesting facts: (1) MS-DOS is still available in volume licenses from Microsoft, so somebody could still be distributing it; (2) Wikipedia states that it still being distributed in some embedded devices, but doesn't provide any supporting evidence for this assertion. – Jules Feb 05 '18 at 09:19
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    How do you define "DOS"? – Mawg says reinstate Monica Feb 05 '18 at 13:30
  • Do you mean "OS manufacturer" or "application distributor" or "device manufacturer"? – Qsigma Feb 05 '18 at 15:51
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    By "OS" do you mean "OEM"? – deltab Feb 05 '18 at 17:13
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    @Mawg I'm pretty sure that my new feature phone is running a DOS-based OS, since it exposes a file explorer that uses D:/ as its internal storage designator. – wizzwizz4 Feb 05 '18 at 17:51
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    I don't know the answer, but if it helps you arrive at a conclusion based on continued usage of DOS, I can tell you that a substantial proportion of Indian schools teach C++ using a compiler called "Turbo C++", and a version of that compiler from the mid-1980s. The students install an MS-DOS emulator to run it, because there is no other way to do so. I'm not kidding. – Lightness Races in Orbit Feb 05 '18 at 23:25
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    @wizzwizz4 it doesn't. Microsoft hasn't released any new dos based operating systems since windows Me – PC Luddite Feb 06 '18 at 00:58
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    I don't mean MS DOS. – wizzwizz4 Feb 06 '18 at 08:10
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    @wizzwizz4 Which 'phone? Btw, shouldn't that be D:, with a backslash? – Mawg says reinstate Monica Feb 06 '18 at 08:17
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    My Lenovo Y50-70 laptop which I bought 2 years ago was running Free DOS when purchased. It was advertised as "without operating system" version. – styrofoam fly Feb 06 '18 at 09:34
  • This question can not be answered in the scope of sx. No one here knows, about the software on all sold computers. Who knows, if someone sells a computer with DOS in a minute? What do you really expect as answer? A daily link to an offer of a webshop? I suggest to close this question. – Jonas Stein Feb 06 '18 at 11:23
  • @LightnessRacesinOrbit Are they using 64-bit Windows? We've been running Turbo Pascal just fine in our school, no emulator needed :P As long as you're using 32-bit Windows, the backwards compatibility is still stellar. A good amount of retailers and services still use their good old text-mode DOS applications even today. – Luaan Feb 06 '18 at 13:14
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    There's quite a few operating systems, including embedded-level ones, that borrow DOS's notion of drive letters (which itself borrowed from CP/M), such as Symbian, etc. – LawrenceC Feb 06 '18 at 13:25
  • @Luaan: I don't know the ins and outs, but one would assume that they wouldn't go through the trouble of installing DOSBox 5.2 million times if they didn't need to. Mind you, I guess it wouldn't be a galloping surprise either... There are some potential hardware incompatibilities that an emulation layer can sort out though. – Lightness Races in Orbit Feb 06 '18 at 13:31
  • @jwzumwalt It looks like you're the same user as the OP. Please request an account merge using the [contact] form linked at the bottom of the page; it'll mean that edits to your own questions will go through immediately, you'll get credit for all of your content (and associated privileges) and the privileges that come with reputation as well as making it easier for the rest of us. If you are in fact different people, make sure to log out after using Stack Exchange and make sure to check who you're logged in as before doing stuff. – wizzwizz4 Feb 06 '18 at 20:53
  • The first version of Apple's AirPort was running DOS, I believe. – Jörg W Mittag Feb 06 '18 at 22:53
  • I'm pretty sure that Canon's DSLRs use some form of DOS (at least up to the 300D for which I installed alternative firmware). If I had time to find a reference, this would have been an answer; perhaps it helps someone else to answer? – Toby Speight Feb 07 '18 at 08:25
  • This question is (even if it doesn't look like it at first) definitely off-topic, as it asks about present state of delivery of new computers. – tofro May 31 '21 at 11:40

9 Answers9

57

I’m not sure about OS manufacturers, but hardware manufacturers still use DOS, in at least two scenarios visible to the general public:

  • firmware upgrade CD images;
  • bare-bones enterprise laptop and workstation setups (e.g. from HP or Lenovo, “bare-bones” as in “with FreeDOS as the only installed operating system”; in some countries you’ll need a business account to access these configurations).

In both cases, manufacturers tend to use FreeDOS rather than MS-DOS.

Since modern systems can no longer boot DOS (they no longer include BIOS compatibility), manufacturers have come up with surprising setups to provide a “working” FreeDOS — in this case, a Linux system running QEMU running FreeDOS.

As of early 2024, usage for firmware upgrade CD images has pretty much disappeared (replaced by upgrades handled using UEFI capsules). Bare-bones laptops are still available, albeit in fewer regions; for example, HP India still sells laptops with FreeDOS.

Stephen Kitt
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  • Sure, but do they ship any computer with DOS installed? – Raffzahn Feb 05 '18 at 10:25
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    Yes @Raffzahn, you can order certain systems from HP and Lenovo with FreeDOS installed (as the only operating system). – Stephen Kitt Feb 05 '18 at 10:36
  • Let us continue this discussion in chat. – Raffzahn Feb 05 '18 at 11:35
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    FWIW, not only enterprise. Special offers to students by Lenovo also sometimes(?) use FreeDOS instead of other, more common OSes. – Jonas Schäfer Feb 05 '18 at 12:14
  • @JonasWielicki it depends a lot on the country the offer is made, what options are available. – Raffzahn Feb 05 '18 at 12:16
  • You don't need a business account. I'm a Linux guy, so when I ordered my laptop, I chose FreeDOS so I wasn't paying for Windows. – Dessa Simpson Feb 05 '18 at 17:19
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    @StephenKitt the purpose of the stack is to build a knowledge database in the form of Q&A. It is perfectly fine to ask a question for which you know the answer beforehand. It is also encouraged to self-answer if you do the above. (and yes, I read your network profile before posting this, and you probably know the above. But joe lurker might not). – Mindwin Remember Monica Feb 05 '18 at 17:35
  • @Midwin yup, although I’d expect that to result in a Q and A by the same person; the comment I was reacting to wasn’t from the OP. In a comment I would just point out what needs clarified if I know the answer; Raffzahn asked a clarifying question, I answered, and then he added his own answer indicating he already knew (at least, I imagine he already knew). – Stephen Kitt Feb 05 '18 at 18:48
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    Presumably in almost all cases buyers just use the FreeDos OS to check that the machine works, if that, before installing their own choice of operating system to replace it. – bdsl Feb 06 '18 at 08:37
  • A third and very important sue case is some flavor of DOS is still used in the development and manufacture of motherboards as there is no other real option, but that test media and software is not something you deliver. Which leads into they already have a dos tool to handle bios upgrades, package that and make it deliverable. – old_timer Feb 13 '20 at 12:30
  • Anecdotally, here in Israel consumers can buy "no-OS" (=with FreeDOS) laptops from Lenovo, HP, Dell and Asus, no business account required. A computer shop clerk recently told me that touch-enabled laptops are always sold with Windows - presumably that's how the licensing works here. – Jonathan Jun 01 '21 at 09:30
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Several major computer brands have devices, low end in particular but not only, which get sold with FreeDOS installed. This includes top players like HP and Lenovo — at some point even Dell offered it for their professional workstations.

FreeDOS is basically an open source DOS reimplementation of MS-DOS, but includes several modern updates, including the ability to run not only DPMI programs, but also (a subset of) Windows console applications.

In some countries the offer of a FreeDOS installation is available to the general public and used to scrap of even a bit more of their lowest priced machines. Availibility of this offer depends if there is a general contract with Microsoft about handling 'empty' PCs or not.

In other countries it's only available as part of some business plan for professional customers, but this time usually across all their professional systems. Here it's a way of avoiding double payment of the MS-Tax for institutional customers. Basically all computer manufactures have (at least in the US but also other countries) a contract with Microsoft that by default for every machine a Windows installation will be assumed - unless a different OS is installed. Installing no OS is terefore not an option. In that way, large scale customers who already have their own bulk licence agreement with Microsoft would have to pay twice for Windows. Thus pro forma FreeDOS installation on contract base does enable "bare hardware" deals again.

Stephen Kitt
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Raffzahn
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    Here in Germany, the "Windows tax is not mandatory". Many (currently 559) laptops are sold on Amazon.de with FreeDOS installed. I buy them when I want a laptop on which to install Linux, without having to pay for Windows license which I will not use. – Mawg says reinstate Monica Feb 05 '18 at 13:29
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    @Mawg That's why all examples for Lenovo and HP end user offer point to German dealerships :) – Raffzahn Feb 05 '18 at 13:31
  • I don't see where (*1) leads. Also, you can use the <sup> HTML tag if you want. – wizzwizz4 Feb 05 '18 at 17:54
  • HP is selling "no-OS" desktops in Germany through various distributors with FreeDos installed: https://www.alternate.de/HP/Pavilion-570-a151ng-Komplett-PC/html/product/1368446?event=search (Search for FreeDOS on that page) – tofro Feb 05 '18 at 18:04
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    @mawg my pcs don't come with a windows tax. They come with a "well-built" tax and OS X. – Harper - Reinstate Monica Feb 06 '18 at 05:49
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    In poorer countries it's very commonplace for private individuals to buy computers with FreeDOS (because it's cheaper), so they can install pirated Windows on them. – vsz Feb 06 '18 at 07:17
  • OS X *is* a lovely GUI, but since I do my work from the command line, I use its underlying operating system , BSD – Mawg says reinstate Monica Feb 06 '18 at 08:09
  • @StephenKitt: So, you're saying FreeDOS is being sold to businesses and consumers, but they're not actually using it? It's just there as a placeholder for some other OS the end user will install? – hackerb9 Feb 06 '18 at 10:46
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    @hackerb9 it’s typically not sold (it’s free), it’s an option available for customers looking for a licence-free computer; I imagine the vast majority of customers install a replacement OS, Windows using their own volume licence, or Linux, or something else perhaps. I guess manufacturers provide FreeDOS for two reasons: one is to allow the system to be boot-tested, another is to ensure the device sold is “fit for purpose” (which is a requirement in some countries) — the customer can nominally switch the computer on and use it as-is (for some value of “use” of course). – Stephen Kitt Feb 06 '18 at 10:50
  • Apparently Dell offers the OS with it's n-series products but not factory installed. The other option is RedHat Linux which I think you can get installed by Dell. – Codeguy007 Sep 10 '18 at 12:50
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As of today, the German price comparison website idealo.de lists 11 PC systems and 91 laptops that come with FreeDOS preinstalled, mainly from MSI, Lenovo, HP and ASUS. Not only cheap entry level machines, there are some more expensive gaming and business laptops among them as well..

followed Monica to Codidact
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7

Just to note, your question is about OS manufacturers shipping DOS with their machine. We also might have diferences on what 'machine' means, in this instance.

Also, for the purposes of this question, OS Manufacturers are not usually hardware manufacturers (Assuming we can agree Microsoft is an OS Manufacturer, but the existance of Xbox and Surface pro does not make MS a hardware manufacturer).

I'm in the warehousing industry and while there is a change underway to Andriod as the de facto Operating system of choice, there are plenty of legacy applications that still require DOS.

https://www.barcodesinc.com/cats/portable-data-terminals/Operating_System=DOS/page=1/

These devices are for sale with some kind of DOS. There are also devices from CipherLab and Honeywell that ship with DOS.

Alternatively, the OS itself can be downloaded: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/ms-dos-mobile/9nblgggxzdtw#

Dallas

enterprisetoday2827870
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    I love Microsoft's description of MS-DOS from the download link you provided: All the productivity you’ve come to expect from Microsoft in the simplest OS yet. – hackerb9 Feb 06 '18 at 10:49
  • "MS-DOS Mobile" is a joke app. – Brian Feb 10 '20 at 14:46
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DePauw saws (from Belgium) use DOS in their control computers.

I've very recently seen brand new replacement computers running MS DOS 6. I don't know whether a brand new saw would still ship with a DOS machine.

Although brand new there are a number of retro features to the design, including ISA sockets, PS2 and DDR RAM. I suspect the hardware was designed some time ago.

Mast
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Rodney
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    This question was related to the same machines https://serverfault.com/questions/871239/can-group-policy-deny-access-to-non-domain-shares – Rodney Feb 05 '18 at 22:04
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In terms of useful software (rather than the FreeDOS use to get around contracts), Toshiba (formerly IBM) 4690 OS is still being shipped. It is an OS for Toshiba/IBM cash registers, and runs on descendants of Digital Research CP/M-86 and Concurrent DOS. The hardware it runs on is a PC and is Windows compatible.

user71659
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In Russia, Federal Law No. 135-FZ, "On the Protection of Competition" requires manufacturer of both hardware and software of any model of PC, regardless of price segment or desktop/notebook/whatever designation to provide procedure to uninstall bundled/OEM OS and reimburse its cost upon buyer's request. FreeDOS is typical choice as cost-free placeholder to be installed if buyer requests a "clean" PC.

Sometimes when this requests gets especially popular for particular model of pre-built PC/notebook, manufacturers start to ship separate batches of those models with FreeDOS pre-installed to Russian market.

Oleg V. Volkov
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This is a rather complicated question. To my knowledge, no PC OEM manufacturer have shipped DOS as a pre-installed OS on a mainstream, massively produced machine since the 90s. The other thing is refurbished PCs sold on auction sites such as eBay, Craigslist or similar - to avoid listing computers as working, but without an OS (which may induce smaller sales), they list them as working, with FreeDOS.

Besides not being pre-installed, there are still a lot of use cases for DOS even nowadays. You can still find DOS installed on checkout computers, newest of which are about 3-5 years old. Besides shops, also about 3 years ago most Polish health care computers ran DOS, which remains can still be seen in use of old and yellowed thermal printers.

wizzwizz4
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redsPL
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0

In some cases, free (whether open source or just available legally with no payment) operating systems are installed on "blank" hardware to satisfy requirements in the licensing agreements of the OS that is to be actually installed on it. For example, some Windows versions under some licensing contracts were/are more expensive - or not available at all - as a non-upgrade version, while there is/was an upgrade version available that is a valid upgrade to a long list of eligible third party OSes (in some cases including free OSes).

rackandboneman
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