DOS ain't dead - Introduction, a return to DOS

WDA0208

06.03.2025, 04:26

Introduction, a return to DOS (User Introductions)

Hello everyone!

It is good to find this forum and the BTTR Software site. I cut my IT teeth on DOS very many years ago, but with the onset of Windows I was using it less and less and finally not at all as a primary OS, but only as the Windows command shell. So, while maintaining skills with the typical DOS commands, I lost through disuse most of what I knew about the DOS boot up and configuration process.

Recently, I set up a Zimaboard with DOS since it helpfully boots from USB without UEFI to get in the way, a rare commodity these days! Finding a relatively modern hardware platform that would easily accept a DOS installation got me interested in relearning how to do all the DOS configurations again, and then using the system to the max.

This was not really a necessity, but a wonderful tech diversion for me. But I must admit, I am hooked. I deal with very modern and diverse systems all day long, but this has given my computer use as a hobbyist a new lease on life! So, I am in learning mode again, which is my favorite state to be in. I will have lots of questions I am sure as I jog some exceedingly unused areas of my brain, and also learn new things about DOS that have likely developed over the decades since I last used it as a full system OS for anything more than booting a utility disk.

I am currently running FreeDOS 1.4-r2 on a Zimaboard 832. With the very kind guidance of others (and a heck of a lot of research!), I got the Zimaboard networking going. Now I am off to the races and exploring how far I can take this. Very excited about relearning DOS and learning new things!

Best Regards,
Bill

kerravon Sydney, Free World South, 12.03.2025, 21:45 @ WDA0208	Introduction, a return to DOS Post reply
	> Recently, I set up a Zimaboard with DOS since it helpfully boots from USB > without UEFI to get in the way, a rare commodity these days! Finding a Hi Bill. Welcome to the group. Could you explain more about this machine? I did a search and it didn't look to me like this was a PC box that you could attach a monitor to. I saw a good price though - US$112. BFN. Paul.

WDA0208

13.03.2025, 00:44

@ kerravon

Introduction, a return to DOS

Post reply

> > Recently, I set up a Zimaboard with DOS since it helpfully boots from
> USB
> > without UEFI to get in the way, a rare commodity these days! Finding a
>
> Hi Bill. Welcome to the group. Could you explain
> more about this machine? I did a search and it
> didn't look to me like this was a PC box that
> you could attach a monitor to.
>
> I saw a good price though - US$112.
>
> BFN. Paul.

Paul,

The Zimaboard is a little single board computer device based on Intel x86 type architecture CPU. Think of Raspberry PI, but with an x86. It has 2 external SATA ports, USB port, 2 NICs, and a mini HDMI port for the monitor. Also an externalized PCIe slot to accept outboard PCIe cards! All in a very rugged, passively cooled case. It can run most any OS that will run on its Intel chipset, including: DOS, Windows, Linux, BSD, etc. I like it very much, and it runs FreeDOS very well!

~Bill

kerravon

Sydney, Free World South,
13.03.2025, 06:46

@ WDA0208

Introduction, a return to DOS

Post reply

> > I saw a good price though - US$112.
> >
> > BFN. Paul.
>
> The Zimaboard is a little single board computer device based on Intel x86
> type architecture CPU. Think of Raspberry PI, but with an x86. It has 2
> external SATA ports, USB port, 2 NICs, and a mini HDMI port for the
> monitor. Also an externalized PCIe slot to accept outboard PCIe cards! All
> in a very rugged, passively cooled case. It can run most any OS that will
> run on its Intel chipset, including: DOS, Windows, Linux, BSD, etc. I like
> it very much, and it runs FreeDOS very well!
>
> ~Bill

Thanks for that Raspberry Pi analogy.

US$90 for a 2 GB (a better amount of memory) machine:

https://shop.zimaspace.com/products/zimaboard-single-board-server?variant=39283928400070

And you didn't mention it has a memory card as well,
so you may not need to boot from USB stick.

Does it allow a keyboard that doesn't require the OS
to provide a driver (I am using PDOS/386)?

Thanks. Paul.

WDA0208

13.03.2025, 15:49

@ kerravon

Introduction, a return to DOS

Post reply

> > > I saw a good price though - US$112.
> > >
> > > BFN. Paul.
> >
> > The Zimaboard is a little single board computer device based on Intel
> x86
> > type architecture CPU. Think of Raspberry PI, but with an x86. It has 2
> > external SATA ports, USB port, 2 NICs, and a mini HDMI port for the
> > monitor. Also an externalized PCIe slot to accept outboard PCIe cards!
> All
> > in a very rugged, passively cooled case. It can run most any OS that
> will
> > run on its Intel chipset, including: DOS, Windows, Linux, BSD, etc. I
> like
> > it very much, and it runs FreeDOS very well!
> >
> > ~Bill
>
> Thanks for that Raspberry Pi analogy.
>
> US$90 for a 2 GB (a better amount of memory) machine:
>
> https://shop.zimaspace.com/products/zimaboard-single-board-server?variant=39283928400070
>
> And you didn't mention it has a memory card as well,
> so you may not need to boot from USB stick.
>
> Does it allow a keyboard that doesn't require the OS
> to provide a driver (I am using PDOS/386)?
>
> Thanks. Paul.

Paul,
That is correct, it has that internal memory storage card. I happen to have Linux on that, so am booting the FreeDOS from a USB. But one could certainly do as you said. FreeDOS on the Zimaboard has not had any difficulties recognizing my USB Keyboard and Mouse. In fact, they are Logitech wireless devices that connect through a USB receiver, works just fine! I think that as long as the mouse and keyboard present to the Zimaboard as standard USB HID devices in some way, then it just works.

~Bill

bretjohn Rio Rancho, NM, 14.03.2025, 16:18 @ WDA0208	Introduction, a return to DOS Post reply
	> That is correct, it has that internal memory storage card. I happen to have > Linux on that, so am booting the FreeDOS from a USB. Why don't you have a dual-boot system set up, where you wouldn't need to boot from USB but just select which OS to boot from a menu? There are both free and commercial versions of software to do that.

WDA0208

14.03.2025, 23:17

@ bretjohn

Introduction, a return to DOS

Post reply

> > That is correct, it has that internal memory storage card. I happen to
> have
> > Linux on that, so am booting the FreeDOS from a USB.
>
> Why don't you have a dual-boot system set up, where you wouldn't need to
> boot from USB but just select which OS to boot from a menu? There are both
> free and commercial versions of software to do that.

Yes, I could definitely set up a multiboot system. But, I am experimenting with many of things, so not ready to commit to permanent partitions on the Zimaboard yet. I'd rather keep it flexible and uncommitted for now.

~Bill