Originally 86-DOS, written by Tim Paterson of Seattle Computer Products, DOS was a rough clone of CP/M for 8086 based hardware. Microsoft purchased it and licensed it to IBM for use with Microsoft's IBM PC language products. In 1982, Microsoft began licensing DOS to other OEMs that ported it to their custom x86 hardware and IBM PC clones.
For IBM-specific releases, please see the IBM PC-DOS product page.
DOS 3.0 adds support for FAT16 partitions up to 32MB, 1.2MB floppy drives, and the IBM AT internal clock.
MS-DOS 3.0x is extremely rare. After the release of IBM PC-DOS 3.0, Microsoft dragged their feet providing MS-DOS 3.x to other OEMs, possibly to appease IBM. Most OEMs didn't get MS-DOS 3.x until 3.1.
Apricot and Compaq MS-DOS 3.0x versions are known to exist. Zenith and AT&T are suspected to exist.
Download name | Version | Language | Architecture | File size | Downloads |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Microsoft MS-DOS 3.00 [ACT Apricot Xi] (320K SSDD 3.5) [Incomplete] | 3.00 [ACT Apricot Xi] | English | 160.41KB | 3 | |
Microsoft MS-DOS 3.00 [Compaq OEM] (5.25-360k) | 3.00 [Compaq OEM] | English | 235.35KB | 7 | |
Microsoft MS-DOS 3.06 [ACT Apricot Xi] (320K SSDD 3.5) [Incomplete] | 3.06 [ACT Apricot Xi] | English | 148.68KB | 1 |