FreeDOS is an open source recreation of MS-DOS that allows you to run old and new DOS games and programs on a real PC or emulator. Today the project celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The origins of the FreeDOS project go back to 1994. Around this time, Microsoft announced that it would be phasing out its disk operating system (MS-DOS) as the company shifted its focus to Windows. Jim Hall began working on FreeDOS as an open source remake and sequel to MS-DOS with the goal of running all MS-DOS compatible software. He continues to oversee the project.
MS-DOS, IBM-DOS and other DOS derivatives were the most popular operating systems for personal computers from the first IBM PC in 1981 until around the mid-1990s. There is an extensive library of games and applications for DOS, including Microsoft Word, Fallout, DOOM, The Secret of Monkey Island, SimCity and early versions of Lotus 1-2-3. FreeDOS lets you stay connected to decades of computing history by running it on real hardware or in an emulator. DOSBox and its spin-off projects are also a popular way to run DOS software on modern computers.
But FreeDOS isn’t just about reviving the past. It has some more modern features like package management and live CD images. There are also ported versions of modern tools like Vim and Curl with built-in support for the FAT32 file system. This last feature was not included in the general version of MS-DOS, but only in the Windows 95-based DOS system. With the right hardware you can build a network and use a simple web browser.
The FreeDOS Project explains on its website: “FreeDOS is an open source DOS-compatible operating system that allows you to play classic DOS games, run older commercial software, and write new DOS programs. Any program should work with MS-DOS.” also work under FreeDOS. And yes, in 2024, many people actually prefer running classic operating systems like DOS, there is a large community of computer enthusiasts, and you can find many people online restoring old computers and installing FreeDOS.
Although Microsoft releases the source code of older versions of MS-DOS to preserve history, the latest open source version, MS-DOS 4.0, dates back to 1988, and many programs and games from the 1990s are unplayable . DR-DOS is a competing product with similar software compatibility, originally developed by Digital Research and released in the late 1990s.
However, DR-DOS has changed hands several times over the years, and using the code today can lead to legal problems. In contrast, FreeDOS has been open source since its inception and is still under active development.
FreeDOS can be downloaded from the official website. It doesn’t work well on most modern PCs because it doesn’t support UEFI or Secure Boot, but it can easily be installed in programs like VirtualBox and QEMU.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
