{"id":1677,"date":"2018-10-26T02:02:10","date_gmt":"2018-10-26T02:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.appservgrid.com\/paw92\/?p=1677"},"modified":"2018-10-26T08:12:40","modified_gmt":"2018-10-26T08:12:40","slug":"how-to-install-and-use-freedos-on-virtualbox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.appservgrid.com\/paw92\/index.php\/2018\/10\/26\/how-to-install-and-use-freedos-on-virtualbox\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Install and Use FreeDOS on VirtualBox"},"content":{"rendered":"

This step-by-step guide shows you how to install FreeDOS on VirtualBox in Linux.<\/p>\n

Installing FreeDOS on VirtualBox in Linux<\/h2>\n

In November of 2017, I interviewed Jim Hall<\/a> about the history behind the FreeDOS project<\/a>. Today, I\u2019m going to tell you how to install and use FreeDOS. Please note: I will be using VirtualBox<\/a> 5.2.14 on Solus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Note: I used Solus as the host operating system for this tutorial because it is very easy to setup. One thing you should keep in mind is that Solus\u2019 Software Center contains two versions of VirtualBox: virtualbox and virtualbox-current. Solus gives you the option to use the linux-lts kernel and the linux-current kernel. virtualboxis modified for linux-lts and virtualbox-current is for linux-current.<\/p>\n

Step 1 \u2013 Create New Virtual Machine<\/h3>\n

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Once you open VirtualBox, press the \u201cNew\u201d button to create a new virtual machine. You can name it whatever you want, I just use \u201cFreeDOS\u201d. You can use the label to specify what version of FreeDOS you are installing. You also need to select the type and version of the operating system you will be installing. Select \u201cOther\u201d and \u201cDOS\u201d.<\/p>\n

Step 2 \u2013 Select Memory Size<\/h3>\n

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The next dialog box will ask you how much of the host computer\u2019s memory you want to make available to FreeDOS. The default is 32MB. Don\u2019t change it. Back in the day, this would be a huge amount of RAM for a DOS machine. If you need to, you can increase it later by right-clicking on the virtual machine you created for FreeDOS and selecting Settings -> System.<\/p>\n

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Step 3 \u2013 Create Virtual Hard Disk<\/h3>\n

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Next, you will be asked to create a virtual hard drive where FreeDOS and its files will be stored. Since you haven\u2019t created one yet, just click \u201cCreate\u201d.<\/p>\n

The next dialog box will ask you what hard disk file type you want to use. This default (VirtualBox Disk Image) works just fine. Click \u201cNext\u201d.<\/p>\n

The next question you will encounter is how you want the virtual disk to act. Do you want it to start small and gradually grow to its full size as you create files and install programs? Then choose dynamically allocated. If you prefer that the virtual hard drive (vhd) is created at full size, then choose fixed size. Dynamically allocated is nice if you don\u2019t plan to use the whole vhd or if you don\u2019t have very much free space on your hard drive. (Keep in mind that while the size of a dynamically allocated vhd increases as you add files, it will not drop when you remove files.) I prefer dynamically allocated, but you can choose the option that serves your needs best and click \u201cNext\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Now, you can choose the size and location of the vhd. 500 MB should be plenty of space. Remember most of the programs you will be using will be text-based, thus fairly small. Once you make your adjustments, click Create,<\/p>\n

Step 4 \u2013 Attach .iso file<\/h3>\n

Before we continue, you will need to download<\/a> the FreeDOS .iso file. You will need to choose the CDROM \u201cstandard\u201d installer.<\/p>\n

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Once the file has been downloaded, return to VirtualBox. Select your virtual machine and open the settings. You can do this by either right-clicking on the virtual machine and selecting \u201cSettings\u201d or highlight the virtual machine and click the \u201cSettings\u201d button.<\/p>\n

Now, click the \u201cStorage\u201d tab. Under \u201cStorage Devices\u201d, select the CD icon. (It should say \u201cEmpty\u201d next to it.) In the \u201cAttributes\u201d panel on the right, click on the CD icon and select the location of the .iso file you just downloaded.<\/p>\n

Note: Typically, after you install an operating system on VirtualBox you can delete the original .iso file. Not with FreeDOS. You need the .iso file if you want to install applications via the FreeDOS package manager. I generally keep the ,iso file attached the virtual machine in case I want to install something. If you do that, you have to make sure that you tell FreeDOS you want to boot from the hard drive each time you boot it up because it defaults to the attached CD\/iso. If you forget to attach the .iso, don\u2019t worry. You can do so by selecting \u201cDevices\u201d on the top of your FreeDOS virtual machine window. The .iso files are listed under \u201cOptical Drives\u201d.<\/p>\n

Step 5 \u2013 Install FreeDOS<\/h3>\n

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Now that we\u2019ve completed all of the preparations, let\u2019s install FreeDOS.<\/p>\n

First, you need to be aware of a bug in the most recent version of VirtualBox. If you start the virtual machine that we just created and select \u201cInstall to harddisk\u201d when the FreeDOS welcome screen appears, you will see an unending, scrolling mass of machine code. I\u2019ve only run into this issue recently and it affects both the Linux and Windows versions of VirtualBox. (I know first hand.)<\/p>\n

To get around this, you need to make a simple edit. When you see the FreeDOS welcome screen, press Tab. (Make sure that the \u201cInstall to harddrive\u201d option is selected.) Type the word raw after \u201cfdboot.img\u201d and hit Enter. The FreeDOS installer will then start.<\/p>\n

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The first part of the installer will handle formatting your virtual drive. Once formatting is completed, the installer will reboot. When the FreeDOS welcome screen appears again, you will have to re-enter the raw comment you used earlier.<\/p>\n

Make sure that you select \u201cYes\u201d on all of the questions in the installer. One important question that doesn\u2019t have a \u201cYes\u201d or \u201cNo\u201d answer is: \u201cWhat FreeDOS packages do you want to install?. The two options are \u201cBase packages\u201d or \u201cFull installation\u201d. Base packages are for those who want a DOS experience most like the original MS-DOS. The Full installation includes a bunch of tools and utilities to improve DOS.<\/p>\n

At the end of the installation, you will be given the option to reboot or stay on DOS. Select \u201creboot\u201d.<\/p>\n

Step 6 \u2013 Setup Networking<\/h3>\n

Unlike the original DOS, FreeDOS can access the internet. You can install new packages and update the ones already you have installed. In order to use networking, you need to install several applications in FreeDOS.<\/p>\n

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First, boot into your newly created FreeDOS virtual machine. At the FreeDOS selection screen, select \u201cBoot from System harddrive\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Now, to access the FreeDOS package manager, type fdimples. You can navigate around the package manager with the arrow keys and select categories or packages with the space bar. From the \u201cNetworking\u201d category, you need to select fdnet. The FreeDOS Project also recommends installing mtcp and wget. Hit \u201cTab\u201d several times until \u201cOK\u201d is selected and press \u201cEnter\u201d. Once the installation is complete, type reboot and hit enter. After the system reboots, boot to your system drive. If the network installation was successful, you will see several new messages at the terminal listing your network information.<\/p>\n

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Note<\/h4>\n

Sometimes the default VirtualBox setup doesn\u2019t work. If that happens, close your FreeDOS VirtualBox window. Right-click your virtual machine from the main VirtualBox screen and select \u201cSettings\u201d. The default VirtualBox network setting is \u201cNAT\u201d. Change it to \u201cBridged Adapter\u201d and retry installing the FreeDOS packages. It should work now.<\/p>\n

Step 7 \u2013 Basic Usage of FreeDOS<\/h3>\n

Commons Commands<\/h4>\n

Now that you have installed FreeDOS, let\u2019s look at a few basic commands. If you have ever used the Command Prompt on Windows, you will be familiar with some of these commands.<\/p>\n