SUMMARY
This article provides a functional overview of the features included
in MS-DOS 6.22 and describes why you should consider upgrading.
• If you currently have MS-DOS 6.0 installed, refer to the "Why Step
Up to MS-DOS 6.22?" section of this article. This section describes
only those features and enhancements added since MS-DOS 6.0.
• If you currently have a version of MS-DOS earlier than 6.0, or if
you are using another operating system, refer to "Why Upgrade to
MS-DOS 6.22?" later in this article. This section describes all
features and enhancements added since MS-DOS 5.0.
WHY STEP UP TO MS-DOS 6.22?
MS-DOS 6.22 improves on the safety and ease of use provided by MS-DOS
6.0. This section describes features new to MS-DOS 6.22 and is designed
for those already running MS-DOS 6.
Safety Features and Enhancements
• MS-DOS 6.22 includes ScanDisk, a new utility that detects,
diagnoses, and repairs disk errors on uncompressed drives and
DriveSpace-compressed drives. ScanDisk can repair file system
errors (such as cross-linked files and lost clusters) and physical
disk errors. ScanDisk keeps a log of its repairs and allows you to
undo any changes it makes. DriveSpace runs ScanDisk to check the
reliability of your disk before it begins compression. You can also
run ScanDisk by typing scandisk at
the MS-DOS command prompt.
• DriveSpace includes DoubleGuard safety checking, which protects
your data by verifying data integrity before writing to disk. If
DoubleGuard detects that the memory DriveSpace is using has been
written to by another program, it notifies you and shuts down your
computer immediately to minimize damage to your data.
• The MS-DOS extended-memory manager, HIMEM, automatically tests your
system's memory when you start your computer. This test can
identify memory chips that are no longer reliable.
• Setup installs SMARTDrive as a read-only cache by default. Even
if write-caching is enabled, MS-DOS does not display the MS-DOS
command prompt until SMARTDrive has written its cache to your disk.
• The MOVE, COPY, and XCOPY commands ask you for confirmation before
copying a file over another file that has the same name. (To
maintain compatibility with the large base of MS-DOS batch files,
these commands do not prompt for confirmation if they are issued
from a batch file.)
Ease-of-Use Features and Other Enhancements
• SMARTDrive caches CD-ROM drives.
• DriveSpace automatically mounts compressed floppy disks and other
compressed removable media, even when Microsoft Windows is running.
• MS-DOS 6.22 allows you to easily uncompress a DriveSpace drive or
completely uninstall DriveSpace from memory.
• Interactive Start (F8) allows you to bypass or carry out individual
commands in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. (In MS-DOS 6.0, this capability
was limited to your CONFIG.SYS file.) This feature makes it easier
to troubleshoot your system configuration.
• The DISKCOPY command uses your hard disk as an interim storage
area, which allows you to copy from one floppy disk to another
without repeatedly swapping disks.
• Microsoft Defragmenter makes better use of your computer's extended
memory, so it can defragment larger disks and disks containing more
files and directories.
• The output of the DIR, MEM, CHKDSK, and FORMAT commands is easier
to read because it includes thousands separators when displaying
numbers greater than 999. For example, "1000000 bytes free"
displays as "1,000,000 bytes free."
WHY SHOULD I UPGRADE TO MS-DOS 6.22?
This section describes features added to MS-DOS since version 5.0. If
you already have MS-DOS 6.0, refer to "Why Should I Step Up to MS-DOS
6.22?" above.
The MS-DOS 6.22 Upgrade includes the following new or enhanced
features:
• Microsoft DriveSpace, with DoubleGuard
• Microsoft MemMaker
• Microsoft Backup
• Microsoft Anti-Virus
• Microsoft Undelete
• ScanDisk
• MultiConfig
• Interactive Start
• Microsoft Defragmenter
• MS-DOS Help
• Enhanced SMARTDrive
• Microsoft Diagnostics (MSD)
• Interlnk
• Enhanced Commands
The following paragraphs briefly describe these enhancements and their
benefits.
Microsoft DriveSpace with DoubleGuard
Microsoft DriveSpace increases your available disk space by
integrating compression into the operating system. You can use
DriveSpace to increase available space on both hard disks and floppy
disks. DriveSpace includes DoubleGuard safety checking, which
protects your data by verifying data integrity before writing to the
disk.
Microsoft MemMaker
Microsoft MemMaker is a memory-optimization program that makes it easy
to free conventional memory by moving device drivers and memory-
resident programs from conventional memory into the upper memory area
(UMA). If your computer has an 80386 or higher processor, you can use
MemMaker to increase available conventional memory so that programs
run faster and more efficiently.
Microsoft Backup
Microsoft Backup is a utility for backing up your hard disk drive.
MS-DOS 6.22 includes both Backup for MS-DOS, a program you can start
from the MS-DOS command prompt, and Backup for Windows, a program you
can use with Microsoft Windows.
Microsoft Anti-Virus
Microsoft Anti-Virus can identify and remove more than 1000 different
computer viruses. MS-DOS 6.22 includes both Anti-Virus for MS-DOS, a
program you can start from the MS-DOS command prompt, and Anti-Virus
for Windows, a program you can use with Microsoft Windows.
Microsoft Undelete
Microsoft Undelete enables you to choose one of three levels of
protection in case you accidentally delete a file. MS-DOS 6.22 includes
Undelete for MS-DOS, a program you can run from the MS-DOS command
prompt, and Undelete for Windows, a program you can use with Microsoft
Windows. For more information about Undelete, see the chapter
"Managing Your System" in the Microsoft MS-DOS "User's Guide" for
version 6.0.
ScanDisk
ScanDisk detects, diagnoses, and repairs disk errors on uncompressed
drives and DriveSpace-compressed drives. ScanDisk can repair file
system errors (such as cross-linked files and lost clusters) and
physical disk errors. ScanDisk keeps a log of its repairs and allows
you to undo any of the changes it makes. DriveSpace runs ScanDisk to
check the reliability of your disk before it begins compression. You
can also run ScanDisk yourself by typing
scandisk at the MS-DOS command prompt.
MultiConfig
MultiConfig allows you to define more than one configuration in your
CONFIG.SYS file. If your CONFIG.SYS file defines multiple
configurations, MS-DOS displays a menu that enables you to choose the
configuration you want to use each time you start your computer.
Interactive Start
Interactive Start gives you the ability to bypass startup commands
when you turn on your computer. This allows you to choose which
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT commands MS-DOS should carry out. By
controlling the commands your computer uses to start up, you can
locate problems more easily.
Microsoft Defragmenter
Microsoft Defragmenter reorganizes files on your hard disk to minimize
the time it takes your computer to access them.
MS-DOS Help
MS-DOS Help is a complete online reference to MS-DOS commands. The
reference includes information about how to type commands and their
parameters and switches, notes about commands, and examples of how to
use commands.
Enhanced SMARTDrive
The SMARTDrive program included with MS-DOS 6.22 speeds up your
computer by using a disk cache, which stores information being read
from your hard disk or CD-ROM drive. SMARTDrive can also be set to
cache information being written to your hard disk.
Microsoft Diagnostics
Microsoft Diagnostics (MSD) gathers and displays technical information
about your computer.
Interlnk
Interlnk enables you to easily transfer files between computers. With
Interlnk and a cable, you can access information on another computer
without using floppy disks to copy data from one computer to another.
Enhanced Commands
The following commands have been added or enhanced for MS-DOS 6.22:
• The MOVE command moves one or more files from one directory or
drive to another. You can also use the MOVE command to rename
directories.
• The CHOICE command allows you to prompt a user for input when
running a batch program. The CHOICE command allows you to display a
specified prompt, pause for user input, and return an error-level
parameter to the batch program.
• The DELTREE command deletes a directory and all of its files and
subdirectories.
• The DISKCOPY command uses your hard disk as an interim storage
area, allowing you to copy from one floppy disk to another without
repeatedly disk swapping disks.
• The output of the DIR, MEM, CHKDSK, and FORMAT commands is easier
to read, because it includes thousands separators when displaying
numbers greater than 999. For example, "1000000 bytes free"
displays as "1,000,000 bytes free."