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Digital grab bag: Microsoft DOS 6.0

By Caroline Ferguson

For the average DOS/Windows user, Microsoft DOS 6.0 will not appear to be very different from its predecessors. The familiar command line is still there, as are most of the commands found in earlier versions. Nevertheless, DOS 6.0 offers an interesting mix of new and improved commands, much needed utilities, and new features that allow you to customize the DOS environment. The new commands continue the trend, begun with DOS 5.0, of making DOS easier to use, and the utilities offer users of both DOS and Windows features that have been available in separate applications for years.

Although the DOS 6.0 package has a few problems you should be aware of, on balance it provides improved functionality for both DOS and Windows users. An upgrade, DOS 6.2, expected before the end of the year, should remedy most of the problems in the current version.

New commands

Two useful commands have been implemented to help you through the complexities of Microsoft DOS 6.0 and your computer's configuration. MSD (Microsoft Diagnostics), helpful for troubleshooting, allows you to examine, and record important information about your system, such as amount of memory and device drivers. The HELP command now has mouse support which makes it easier to use. Typing HELP invokes a "table of contents" listing which allows you to browse the help information for all DOS commands using the mouse.

The disk-related commands allow you to manage your hard disk and the files on it. The command that has gotten the most press, both good and bad, is DOUBLESPACE. DOUBLESPACE compresses data on both hard drives and floppy disks in order to store more information. Depending on what type of files are being stored, you can get compression ratios as high as 2 to 1, effectively doubling the size of your hard disk or floppies. As usual, there is no such thing as a free lunch. InfoWorld magazine and many online services, such as CompuServe, have reported problems with DOUBLESPACE, ranging from file corruption to hard disks rendered inaccessible. Microsoft has disputed the reports saying that they have been unable to discover any "provable" bugs. The problems have, for the most part, been random, with no particular model of computer being the locus of difficulties. The Computing Resource Center recommends that you not use DOUBLESPACE until these problems have been resolved.

The DEFRAG command automatically reorganizes your hard disk to improve performance. This feature is also found in commercial applications, such as Norton Utilities, which may offer a more flexible defragmentation routine, for example more control of where certain files are located on the hard drive. DEFRAG should, however, satisfy most needs.

MOVE and DELTREE will likely be the most used of the new commands. MOVE does exactly what its name suggests: It moves files from one location to another--no more copying and then erasing duplicate files. DELTREE deletes a directory, its files, and any subdirectories within it with one command--useful but dangerous. Make sure you know exactly what will be removed before you use DELTREE.

The memory-related commands of DOS 6.0 automate many of the memory conservation features introduced in DOS 5.0. MEMMAKER automatically relocates TSRs (terminate-and-stay-resident programs, such as the memory resident portion of VI-SPY, RVS) and device drivers to high memory. In DOS 5.0 this relocation had to be done "by hand," and it was often a frustrating experience. As with DOUBLESPACE, there have been reports of problems with MEMMAKER, such as system lockups when TSRs and device drivers cannot fit in the memory locations assigned by MEMMAKER. Although these problems have not been as serious, the CRC recommends that you have a bootable disk on hand in case of MEMMAKER difficulties. It will allow you to reboot your system and undo the changes wrought by MEMMAKER.

SMARTMON allows you to monitor the performance of SMARTDRV, the disk cache of DOS 6.0, when you are using Microsoft Windows.

DOS 6.0 also provides sets of commands for specific types of computer users, including several valuable commands for users of portable computers. POWER implements memory management on portable computers. If your portable computer complies with the APM (Advanced Power Management) specification, you can conserve up to 25 percent of battery power. Also useful, but not restricted to users of portables, is INTERLINK, which allows you to move files from one computer to another.

Customizing features

Utilities

Microsoft Backup is a definite improvement over the original BACKUP command included with DOS. It supports both traditional backup media, i.e, floppy disks, and other types of media, such as network drives and Bernoulli disks. Microsoft Undelete indicates the relative possibility of recovering a file. Microsoft Anti-Virus is not recommended by the CRC. There have been questions about its effectiveness from respected computer virus researchers, there is a charge for upgrades, and telephone support, available only from a 900 number, costs $2 a minute. The full-featured antiviral program for DOS/Windows that the CRC recommends, supports, and distributes free of charge to the University is VI-SPY.

Is DOS 6.0 for me?

Should you upgrade from a previous version of DOS? If you are using DOS 5.0 and need the new functions, the answer is yes, although you may wish to wait until the release of DOS 6.2. If you have DOS 5.0 and have purchased separate utilities that offer the same or more functionality, then the answer is no. If you have DOS 4.0 or earlier and you have at least 1 Mbyte of memory, then upgrade. The new features make the upgrade worthwhile.