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 and 5.0 and upgrade and OEM and installation