MS-DOS facts for kids

Starting MS-DOS

MS-DOS is a computer operating system created by Microsoft. Its name means "Microsoft Disk Operating System." It grew from an older system called QDOS, which stood for "Quick and Dirty Operating System."

MS-DOS was very popular on PCs before Microsoft Windows became common. It was the main system that Windows ran on top of until Windows XP came out. Even today, you might find MS-DOS used in some older computer systems.

MS-DOS is a text-based operating system. This means you use a keyboard to type commands. The computer then shows you information as plain text on the screen. Later versions of MS-DOS often had programs that used a mouse and simple graphics. This made it easier and quicker to use.

It is called a disk operating system because it was first loaded into a computer's memory using a floppy disk. This happened every time the computer was started up, a process called booting.

Images for kids

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  MS-DOS command prompt

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  MS-DOS (Compaq-DOS) version 1.12 (based on MS-DOS 1.25) for Compaq Personal Computer

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  MS-DOS 2.11 boot disk for the Leading Edge Model D in its sleeve

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  MS-DOS 3.3C for the PC-9800 series

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  MS-DOS version 5.0

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  German MS-DOS 6.2 Update

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  MS-DOS version 6.22

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  Japanese MS-DOS 6.2/V

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  The original MS-DOS advertisement in 1981

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  MS-DOS Prompt in Windows 95

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  Command Prompt in Windows 10

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  As of 2011^[update], MS-DOS is still used in some enterprises to run legacy applications, such as this US Navy food service management system.

See also

In Spanish: MS-DOS para niños