Windows 9x Notes

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Windows 95 and 98 include very different versions of MS-DOS which omit some commands. Some of these commands were not included as they were replaced by graphical versions that only run under Windows 95. Others were not included as they were infrequently used. Some of them were retained, but not as part of the "standard" Windows 95 install. They can be found on the Windows 95 CD in the \OTHER\OLDMSDOS directory or at Microsoft's website in the free downloads section. If you have Windows 95 OSR2+ or Windows 98 then the chances are that you only have QBASIC.EXE, QBASIC.HLP and HELP.COM so if you want the extra commands then you will need to download them from Microsoft's website.

A few other notes about Win9x: most older disk utilities such as Norton Disk Doctor, PC Tools and disk compression software such as Stacker are unsuitable for use with Win9x because they can damage the long file names used by Windows. Later versions of Win95 and Win98 introduced a new disk format called FAT32. It has a number of benefits but older disk utilities cannot read it. When using Win9x it is best only to use utilities that expressly say they can be used with Win9x.

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Command	Possible reason for omission	Available on Win95 CD?
append	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	Yes
graftabl	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	No
monoumb.386	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	Yes
romdrive.sys	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	No
assign	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	No
graphics	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	Yes
msav	All anti-virus software was removed because Win95 uses a different kernel	No
share	Does not work well (or at all) with Win95	No
backup	Replaced by MSBACKUP and later a graphical back up program	Yes
help	Supplemented/replaced by information in the Win95 resource kit	Yes
msbackup	Replaced by a graphical back up program	Yes
sizer	Part of MemMaker. Thought unnecessary with Win95's memory management	Yes
chkstate.sys	Part of MemMaker. Thought unnecessary with Win95's memory management	Yes
instsupp.bat	This installs the supplemental MS-DOS files properly in Win95	Yes
power	Replaced by Win95's own power management	No
smartmon	Replaced by System Monitor	No
comp	Replaced by FC	No
interlnk	Replaced by Win95 Direct Cable Connection	Yes
print	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	Yes
tree	Obscure, little used or dangerous command and only shows short file names.	Yes
dosshell	Removed from DOS 6+.	No
intersvr	Replaced by Win95 Direct Cable Connection	Yes
printer.sys	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	No
undelete	Does not work well with long file names.	Yes
edlin	Replaced by EDIT (and not before time!)	Yes
join	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	No
qbasic	Fairly obscure, although it can be useful	Yes
unformat	Does not work well with long file names.	No
ega.sys	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	No
loadfix	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	Yes
ramdrive.sys	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	No
vsafe	All anti-virus software was removed because Win95 uses a different kernel	No
expand	This was replaced by a different expand utility	Yes
memcard	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	No
recover	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	No
fasthelp	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	No
memmaker	Thought unnecessary with Win95's memory management	Yes
replace	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	Yes
fastopen	Obscure, little used or dangerous command and very dangerous	No
mirror	This only appeared in DOS 5	No
restore	Obscure, little used or dangerous command	Yes