Q68242: Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade vs. Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0

Article: Q68242
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 19-NOV-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system version 5.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

Microsoft MS-DOS is not a retail product. Microsoft licenses MS-DOS to original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to sell with their computers. This includes the
Microsoft MS-DOS packaged product, which some OEMs bundle with their machines.

Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 is also licensed to OEMs. Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 includes a
new installation program designed to set up a brand-new machine. If necessary,
Setup will partition and format the hard disk before installing MS-DOS. When
installing MS-DOS version 5.0 over an earlier version of MS-DOS on a hard disk,
SETUP.EXE will delete the previous MS-DOS files, rename your previous
AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files, and install MS-DOS 5.0, including new
AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files.

Note: This information is based on the Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 packaged product.
Depending on an OEM's licensing agreement with Microsoft, SETUP.EXE may be
changed by the OEM. For details on a particular OEM's SETUP.EXE, see your MS-DOS
5.0 documentation, or ask your OEM or dealer.

Microsoft is also introducing something new: the Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade.
Unlike Microsoft MS-DOS, the Upgrade is a Microsoft retail product, sold by
Microsoft in the same way as Word or Windows.

Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade is intended for those who have MS-DOS version 2.11 or
later and who want to upgrade their current MS-DOS system to version 5.0.
Because it assumes that you already have an MS-DOS system in place, the
Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade disks are not bootable. The Microsoft MS-DOS 5
Upgrade's SETUP.EXE will upgrade the current MS-DOS system to version 5.0, and
it will not partition, repartition, or format a hard disk while doing so.

Because of the issues involved in upgrading from any OEM's MS-DOS 2.11 (or later)
to MS-DOS 5.0, one of the features of the Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade is the
option to return to the previous version of MS-DOS. Should you decide, for any
reason, to return to the previous MS-DOS system, the UNINSTALL option will allow
you to do so easily.

The differences between Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade and Microsoft MS-DOS 5 are as
follows:

- Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade can be purchased in retail outlets. According to
  Microsoft licensing agreements, MS-DOS can be purchased only with a computer
  from the OEM, or as an upgrade from the OEM.

- The Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade SETUP.EXE program is different from the
  Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 SETUP.EXE.

- Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade allows you to uninstall and return to the previous
  MS-DOS system.

- Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade disks are nonbootable. Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0, like
  previous versions of MS-DOS, contains a bootable floppy disk.

- Several network redirectors ship with Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade to make it
  easier to upgrade a networked machine.

- Technical support for the Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade is available for the
  first 90 days of product ownership by calling (425) 646-5104. Technical
  support for the OEM version should be obtained from the OEM, or as an
  alternative, from Microsoft at (900) 896-9000.

For more information on installing MS-DOS version 5.0 over a previous version of
MS-DOS, query on the following words:

  "MSDOS" (without the quotation marks) and "5.0" (without the quotation marks)
  and "upgrade" (without the quotation marks) and "OEM" (without the quotation
  marks) and "installation" (without the quotation marks)

Additional query words: 5.00 noupd

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS500
Version           : MS-DOS:5.0

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