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Only a short time ago there was no computer operating system. Then there was DOS (MS-DOS). Next came Windows, totally reliant on DOS. Then Windows 95 came a long and could handle DOS better than DOS could. Windows 98 improved even on that. Soon Windows 2000 announced it's arrival and even newer Windows systems followed, all totally independent of any DOS needs and strictly "state of the art design". Soon most will ask "What, is DOS?" . . . If you are running Windows Me, and by the way "Me" stood for Millinium, shouldn't that have been the name for "Windows 2000"? Anyway Windows Me does not understand MS-DOS. But you can easily change that. Read below how to enable MS-DOS in Windows Me. UhOh, we blinked and Windows Me was gone. Now we have Windows XP (They say XP stands for XPerience, kind of corny, possibly it should have been for "Windows Xpert, after all if you have no "DOS" XPerience, a pre-requisite to becoming an Expert is understanding the computer path and all those things the mouse does in the background, what you can't see. And where can you learn what you did not learn in "DOS" in order to become an Expert? Certainly not in most houses of higher learning or most manuals, dumb or not. Do you have and old MS-DOS manual, say from version 3.1 up to at least version 5.0 which really turned on the lights for computer users. Follow up with version 7, the last version ever! Forget about all the Windows versions prior to Windows 95 because you did not miss a thing. But when Windows 95 came along, if you truly did already have an understanding of MS-DOS, in a short time you became a Microsoft Windows Xpert, still a better name than XP or Vista. And do you know this . . . if you truly knew Windows 95 you are now a Windows Vista Xpert. You know how to make the GUI (appearance) of Windows, all the way from Vista back to Windows 95, all look the same, All you need to learn new in any version are the few actually new functions over the last version. Well that is almost true, although you can make Windows Vista look almost identical to Windows 95 you must also learn the several old functions with new names and locations, example, now "My Computer" is just plain old "Computer", with the same basic functions. If you want to change your computer resolutions or most other "appearance functions", you still "right click" on an open area of the desktop but then you "left click "Personalize" instead of "Properties", and then you get a full screen sized window (with a lot of blank space), instead of the smaller window in XP and back, with the same basic functions. Those are the best two gripes about "what is new in Windows Vista". I don't doubt that under the hood, the engine parts you never see, are greatly improved. If Vista is really better that is where, under the hood, same value in all 4 versions. But I suppose advertising the truth is not always considered good marketing. Am I cynical about Microsoft, Bill Gates and Windows Vista? Never! Well not until Windows Vista (and Internet Explorer 7, another long story). The 7 or 8 years we were talking Windows XP and things to come, Windows XP got replaced with Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Advanced Home or just plain old Windows Vista Home Basic. If you happen to be in the "know", you will buy Windows Vista Advanced Home, third down the food chain, but in comparison to the other three it should be in distant "first place", at least if price is compared to Windows Vista Ultimate and all features are examined closely. Well, in the last few minutes Windows XP did not actually get replaced by Vista, it seems there are not enough dumbies around that wants it. What Next? Tune in tomorrow, or for sure when Microsoft announces "no more support for Windows XP!! |
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If you know something of DOS, you will have a greater understanding and appreciation of your computer and "Windows". The COEASE MS-DOS Control System will provide you with each of those qualities.
The COEASE Control System is a menu driven system requiring only short typed commands. "The Tour" is an interesting guided tour of many DOS functions, including a good variety of "DOS Graphics". If you have a working knowledge of DOS, you will appreciate the nostalgia. If you don't have the working knowledge it can soon be acquired. Both programs can be downloaded here, but require a password for installation. You get both programs for $39.00, and private coaching is available "in studio", by "e-mail", or "phone" with separate arrangement. Download: COEASESetup.exe (1.8MB and TheTourSetup.exe. (1/2Mb)
They each auto install from Windows 95/98/Me, and require only three minor configuration adjustments to fully function in a Windows 95/98 full screen DOS window, executed from a desktop shortcut. (For Windows Me see below)The easy to follow instructions are in the ImportantReadMe.doc, found in your Windows, "Start", "Programs" menu. The easiest way to install, download and watch what folder . . . find them with Windows Explorer, double click the file names, then just follow the prompts. They install in minutes.
Windows Me can be easily made "MS-DOS Enabled" Click here for easy to follow instructions and a quick download. Note . . . these instructions and download are "free", whether or not you use the COEASE System.
It is only fair to speak this final word . . . these MS-DOS programs were designed in a slower time with slower computers. And the ansi.sys is required for MS-DOS color. So I am sorry to say you can only acquire true appreciation of MS-DOS on an older compute, no faster than an 80486, or preferrably an 80386. They were written primarily by using a number of "batch" files. Many run automatically from one batch file through several others. On a modern very fast computer, you would only view fast data streaks, all black and white. You would see many statements saying "Press any key to continue..." showing another data streak when the key is pressed. Many still have old computer for various reasons, if you have one, "Enjoy"!
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