On Fri, 24 Sep 1999 08:10:25 -0700, Bob George wrote:
> Just a reminder that the inability to boot without DOS does not necessarily
> mean something's "not an OS". Witness NetWare 3.x and up. Arguably, one of
> the best uses for DOS is as a program loader for something better.
_BUT_ (and a big "but" it is), do DOS remain in memory after NetWare
loads up? Or does it get overwritten?
If it is over written, then NetWare is an OS. But if DOS remains in
the background... NetWare is not.
Examples:
Linux is an OS. Optionaly, it can use DOS to load. But once you start
loading Linux, DOS gets overwritten in memory and disappears for good.
Linux, therefor, is a full OS.
Windows 9x loads from DOS. But DOS remains in memory while Windows
starts, and even while you work. Infact, Windows 9x quit back to DOS
once finished. (though its hiding it by pasting an image in the video
buffer and locking the keyboard. There is a way to make windows
not lock the keys, which leave you free to use "mode co80" to
refresh the video and see the real picture.. that is, the good ol'
COMMAND.COM prompt.)
Therefor, Windows 9x is NOT an OS.
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