Here’s something sure to bring a nostalgic smile to the faces of longtime computer enthusiasts. FreeDOS, an open-source operating system compatible with MS-DOS that allows you to run legacy DOS programs and games, has officially unveiled version 1.4, bringing a range of enhancements, bug fixes, and refined documentation.
One of the standout developments includes a refreshed FreeCOM (the FreeDOS command.com shell), which now comes in version 0.86, boasts fixes for compatibility issues, along with support for multiple translations.
Likewise, core DOS commands have been updated. For instance, the new Xcopy 1.8b adds efficiencies for recursive copying by reducing stack usage, while Move 3.4 tackles potential stack overflows on recursive operations.
Additionally, Fdisk 1.4.3 addresses critical errors that, in earlier versions, could cause data corruption with certain partition configurations. Regarding networking, the integrated mTCP utilities have been honed for greater reliability. FDHelp has also evolved into version 1.1.0, bringing more comprehensive multilingual support.
Beyond the internal improvements, FreeDOS 1.4 refines and reconfigures some of its bundled software. Although previous distributions included several graphical desktops—OpenGEM, Seal, and oZone—Seal and oZone proved a bit too buggy for mainstream use, so they have been dropped.
Moreover, the new release replaces the BMP2PNG utility with DOSVIEW. As the name implies, DOSVIEW can view images in a variety of formats (BMP, PNG, PCX, TGA, JPG, TIF, GIF, PNM, PBM, PGM, PPM, PSD, and PIC) and convert files between them.
Lastly, although FreeDOS 1.4 benefits from many improvements, some last-minute updates did not make it into the distribution. For instance, the Blocek text editor 1.76 was released too late for inclusion and will instead appear in a future monthly test release.
Furthermore, the FreeDOS kernel remains the same as in version 1.3 since the new kernel is still undergoing critical testing. The team plans to integrate the updated kernel once it is fully ready, so for now, FreeDOS 1.4 will not run Windows for Workgroups in enhanced mode (though standard mode for Windows 3.1 works just fine).
For everyone eager to explore the updated operating system, visit the official FreeDOS 1.4 download page, where several installation options are available:
- Live CD image (ideal for virtual machines or quick installations)
- Floppy edition (intended for classic hardware that still uses floppies)
- USB installer (for setting up FreeDOS on physical hardware)
- Legacy CD installer (optimized for older systems)
I advise betting on the Live CD, which provides all the fundamental DOS utilities, including archivers, games, networking, and sound support. For more information, see the announcement.
