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Dos version on 720k disk
- Thread starter mnoble2
- Start date
Terry Yager
Veteran Member
I have a Tandy OEM version of MSDOS 5.0 on 720Kb disk, so you can probably go at least that high without a problem. Caldera OpenDOS (DRDOS) v. 7.01 is available in 720Kb disk images as well:
ftp://ftp.fsn.hu/pub/OpenDOS/OpenDOS.701/
--T
ftp://ftp.fsn.hu/pub/OpenDOS/OpenDOS.701/
--T
evildragon
Veteran Member
I use DOS 6.22 on 720KB disks too, no problem there.
Yzzerdd
Veteran Member
I have AT&T DOS 4.01 that works on computers that aren't AT&T brand if you want me to image them. Just PM me with your e-mail if you would like me to.
--Ryan
--Ryan
I figured around 5.0, they would come on 720k.
My only problem is I don't have a floppy drive to burn
the image disks on to. I guess that I could go out and
get an external usb floppy drive.
I was just thinking of picking up something on ebay,but not sure
what versions were released on 720k.
How many disks am I looking at to load it?
Sorry for the nob questions.
My only problem is I don't have a floppy drive to burn
the image disks on to. I guess that I could go out and
get an external usb floppy drive.
I was just thinking of picking up something on ebay,but not sure
what versions were released on 720k.
How many disks am I looking at to load it?
Sorry for the nob questions.
evildragon
Veteran Member
You don't "burn" to a floppy, you "write". 
Some USB drives, specifically Sony's, don't seem to like 720KB disks all that well. (mine won't even touch a DMF formatted one).
I can make an image of 6.22 if you want.
Some USB drives, specifically Sony's, don't seem to like 720KB disks all that well. (mine won't even touch a DMF formatted one).
I can make an image of 6.22 if you want.
billdeg
Technician
2 disks will do it.
Could you please spell out what you're trying to do? Do I understand correctly that you need to transfer DOS from your modern computer without a disk drive to a classic computer? If you're patient, you'll probably do better to buy a DOS 5 with manuals from Ebay or wherever. You could also find someone here to "burn" you a couple of DOS 5 disks in 720K format and then search around on the web for a copy of the manual.
Bill
Could you please spell out what you're trying to do? Do I understand correctly that you need to transfer DOS from your modern computer without a disk drive to a classic computer? If you're patient, you'll probably do better to buy a DOS 5 with manuals from Ebay or wherever. You could also find someone here to "burn" you a couple of DOS 5 disks in 720K format and then search around on the web for a copy of the manual.
Bill
Anonymous Freak
Veteran Member
Well, what exactly are you wanting?
Are you wondering what versions of DOS came on 720 KB floppies? Or are you looking for a specific version?
I, for example, have PC-DOS 3.3 on one 720 KB floppy, as well as MS-DOS 5.0, which takes up three.
And even positively ancient 720 KB floppy drives work just fine in modern PCs. (As long as it's not a PS/2 floppy drive, those were goofy custom jobs.)
Are you wondering what versions of DOS came on 720 KB floppies? Or are you looking for a specific version?
I, for example, have PC-DOS 3.3 on one 720 KB floppy, as well as MS-DOS 5.0, which takes up three.
And even positively ancient 720 KB floppy drives work just fine in modern PCs. (As long as it's not a PS/2 floppy drive, those were goofy custom jobs.)
Yep. Sorry I meant write instead of burn.
I was wondering what versions of DOS were released on 720k
disks. I was planning on picking one up on Ebay.
I'm going to go ahead and get an external usb floppy, there's an IBM one will write/read on both sized 3.5 disks.
My current computer inventory is a thinkpad t40p, grid compass 1137, and
gridcase tempest.
My compass has DOS already in bubble memory, but the gridcase has nothing
in rom.
I was wondering what versions of DOS were released on 720k
disks. I was planning on picking one up on Ebay.
I'm going to go ahead and get an external usb floppy, there's an IBM one will write/read on both sized 3.5 disks.
My current computer inventory is a thinkpad t40p, grid compass 1137, and
gridcase tempest.
My compass has DOS already in bubble memory, but the gridcase has nothing
in rom.
carlsson
Veteran Member
Beware that USB floppy drives are not quite as programmable as the onboard controller on older PCs (which itself is rather limited). I suppose 720K FAT12 floppy disks should be fine to write though, but you also saw Evildragon's response above.
Terry Yager
Veteran Member
You can't save to ROM, it's read-only...
--T
--T
Yzzerdd
Veteran Member
LOL! Save to Read Only Memory! Sorry if I make you feel bad, but one day you will look back and laugh. Anyways, maybe you can find someone on the forums to take the info you want on the ROM, and duplicate the ROM/add the info and burn you a new ROM.
It might work, but I have no clue...
--Ryan
It might work, but I have no clue...
--Ryan
Last edited:
carlsson
Veteran Member
With a bit of luck, the computer may have static RAM. How much space would the minimal installation take, at least 256K?
No worries. I figured that I'll look like a noob sometimes.
My experience is limited. I did use some dos programs back in
the early-mid 90's when I was a security sys. tech.
There must be some static ram, another exact model went on ebay with DOS
loaded. I didn't want to spend too much $$, to swap chips.
My gridcompass, has dos in magnetic bubble memory already.
At least everyone so far is cool here, so sorry for the stupid questions.
My experience is limited. I did use some dos programs back in
the early-mid 90's when I was a security sys. tech.
There must be some static ram, another exact model went on ebay with DOS
loaded. I didn't want to spend too much $$, to swap chips.
My gridcompass, has dos in magnetic bubble memory already.
At least everyone so far is cool here, so sorry for the stupid questions.
carlsson
Veteran Member
The GRiD Compass (1982) seems to have been shipped (?) with MS-DOS 2.2.
http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=900
The GRiD Gridcase I/II/III/IV (1985) has eight ROM sockets, which could be populated with MS-DOS 2.11, GW-Basic, Lotus 1-2-3 and so on. It also has an internal 3.5" floppy drive (as you know) and could be expanded with a 10 MB hard disk. Possibly the Gridcase on eBay had DOS in ROM, which is kind of what you're trying to recreate.
http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=1054
Perhaps you can create a boot floppy from the DOS installation floppies, but somehow I doubt MS-DOS 5 will work well on an early 8086 laptop with 128-512K RAM. I don't know what it takes to burn e.g. EPROMs and install those into the computer, if you absoutely want the OS built-in.
http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=900
The GRiD Gridcase I/II/III/IV (1985) has eight ROM sockets, which could be populated with MS-DOS 2.11, GW-Basic, Lotus 1-2-3 and so on. It also has an internal 3.5" floppy drive (as you know) and could be expanded with a 10 MB hard disk. Possibly the Gridcase on eBay had DOS in ROM, which is kind of what you're trying to recreate.
http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=1054
Perhaps you can create a boot floppy from the DOS installation floppies, but somehow I doubt MS-DOS 5 will work well on an early 8086 laptop with 128-512K RAM. I don't know what it takes to burn e.g. EPROMs and install those into the computer, if you absoutely want the OS built-in.
Terry Yager
Veteran Member
The last time I looked, GRiD machines had a large following on the net. Many websites, user groups, etc. Perhaps google will be your friend here too. You might also want to check Yahoo Groups, et.al. If you manage hook up with other GRiD fanatics, they may be able to help you get a bootROM burnt for it. (I'll be happy to do the burning, if you find the necessary info, and if it's within the capabilities of my system).
--T
--T