Why don't motherboard makers integrate DOS into BIOS?

[MadRat]

My old Commodore 64 had DOS in its ROM. Why don't motherboard makers shadow a DOS ROM/FlashRAM into main system RAM right off the start to speed up startups?

DOS fits on a like 100k for the basic commands. The first half-meg of memory holds most of the utilities. I'd think an integrated solution would speed things up on startup. A simple jumper could be used to turn it off for the Linux users out there.

 

[Digobick]

Don't forget about the Windows NT/2000/XP users out there. Once Windows XP comes out, DOS will hopefully be gone for good.

 

[purplecow]

Why do you want to be rid of DOS so eagerly? DOS can be very useful, and I like this guy's idea!

 

[Vegito]

The good old tandy 1000 hx/sl/tl/2500 had built in non-flash dos.. thing boots in about 5 seconds....

 

[sandorski]

Certainly not a bad idea, especially for initial setup(fdisking etc). Microsoft would probably demand a royalty though. Unless they decided to use a non-Microsoft OS.

 

[TravisBickle]

have you walked into a store selling DOS 6 on the shelves lately? $$ !
PCs are versatile, configurable. who wants a static OS in a BIOS chip? who sticks with DOS nowadays anyway? booting from HD, DOS does not take much time. I'm not paying MS so that my troubleshooting excursions to DOS can be 20 seconds quicker.
the C64 was a fun machine, but didn't even have a proper BASIC. I don't use that now.

 

[Eug]

This of course already exists with PDAs. The OS is in ROM. And again, I wouldn't want to use say DOS 6.22. I would want an OS that's suited for the purpose of the computer.

I wouldn't mind having Windows 2000 sp2 and Office 2000 in ROM, but that just a little too rich for my blood.

 

[Atropos]

DOS rocks, I don't think that it will ever truely leave. Its useful in many situations where WinNT/9x just isn't. DOS in BIOS = SWEET!.

 

[vash]

Licensing (sp?) and ROM is why it isn't in the BIOS. Pretty simple. DOS would be useful a while ago, but with newer drive file systems, it would take more to drivers for DOS to read the newer drive partitions.

I would like to see DOS in ROM, but I'd want something more useful -- mainly hardware diagnostics.

vash

 

[TunaBoo]

My epox 8k7A has a bios flash utility built into the bios. I had never seen this before, and I think it is SWEEEEEEEET

 

[MWink]

I remember reading somewhere that DOS could not be stored in ROM because it was too "complex".

 

[BreakApart]

Sorry, i fail to see the benefits of having DOS on the motherboard.

IF DOS was on the mainboard:
1. What version DOS to use? (They would have to pay royalties)
2. Wouldn't that be 1 more thing that could break/be corrupted? (Virus target)
3. Will DOS help me partition and/or format NTFS? How about Linux Drives? etc. etc.
4. Wouldn't it only be useful for partioning FAT16 or Fat32 drives? (The majority of "Home" users wouldn't see a benefit-since they would use a restore disk when redoing the computer, or bring the computer to a tech anyway?)
5. Floppy disks cost pennies. (what's so tough about using the floppy approach?)

(I) applaud your creative thinking, but this DOS idea would benefit less than 5% of all computer users-(techs/tweakers). But could effect, as in make things more troublesome for 80% of computer users.


Sorry if this appears to be a flame. I'm simply pointing out the negatives of this approach before some creative mainboard company decides to try this.

 

[GregMal]

The answer to your question is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$..MONEY....
It was alot cheaper to put DOS on 1 or 2 floppies than chips.....
Greg

 

[Budman]

MadRat,

Would that be a SMP version of dos too?

 

[XMan]

Maybe they could integrate FDISK and FORMAT?

 

[TunaBoo]

Make a bootable CD with all your DOS stuff. Will cost ya like 12 cents, and will work forever

 

[grant2]

1. What version DOS to use? (They would have to pay royalties)

Who cares what version? Just pick one and add whatever modern functionality is needed. You could use PCdos or a freeware dos if it exists.

2. Wouldn't that be 1 more thing that could break/be corrupted? (Virus target)

on ROM it would be more reliable than most parts of the board. Certainly your bios would die first.

3. Will DOS help me partition and/or format NTFS? How about Linux Drives? etc. etc.

If NTFS or linux drives support isn't included (as it could be) then just turn it off

4. Wouldn't it only be useful for partioning FAT16 or Fat32 drives? (The majority of "Home" users wouldn't see a benefit-since they would use a restore disk when redoing the computer, or bring the computer to a tech anyway?)

See above

5. Floppy disks cost pennies. (what's so tough about using the floppy approach?)

Formatting the disk, copying files, storing it somewhere safe, digging it out when you need it, waiting a minute for it to boot...

...

this is a GREAT idea. It would make setting up a new computer super fast & easy. You wouldn't even need to buy a floppy for your computer any more thanks to zip drives, cd roms, and high speed internet. Unfortunately, it's true that it would only be appreciated by a small amount of people and would require some investment by the mobo maker to assemble a "modern" dos.

 

[HansXP]

BreakApart has some very good points that I definitly agree with. It's an interesting idea, but I don't think it's practical, especially considering that all new OSes won't be DOS based or even use a file system DOS can understand.



<< Would that be a SMP version of dos too? >>



LOL!



<< Maybe they could integrate FDISK and FORMAT? >>



How about a partion manager integrated into the BIOS? Would let you create/delete partitions and maybe even format them with common file systems (FAT32/NTFS/ext2) It wouldn't depend on an OS or a specific file system, and would be pretty practical to implement.

 

[TravisBickle]

contrary to public opinion, president bush does not have a red nuclear button in his study, like the flashing telephone in Batman. if he had, we'd be strontium dogs already. :disgust:
by the same reasoning, a formatting BIOS is also a tad too dangerous for my liking... I've used a compaq where access to the BIOS was denied except to the administrator. perfectly understandable. putting an extra step in the way of a potentially destructive and infrequently needed process is not a hindrance...

 

[Killbat]

I don't see making a version of DOS available from the BIOS as useful enough to bother implementing, however I DO see putting several simple utilities in the BIOS as a good idea.
What if you had a handful of useful functions in the BIOS such as managing partitions on IDE drives, maybe formatting those partitions with a variety of file systems, or at least writing an assortment of boot records? Imagine if you could repair your MBR from the BIOS.
BIOS->Utilities->Write boot record to IDE->Device 0->Windows NT/2k
So easy!

 

[HansXP]

Well think about it, is it really very hard for anyone to slip in a DOS disk right now and fdisk/format your drives? The only think this would do is make it more convenient. It could be locked down as well as, if not better than, the regular BIOS screens. It's not necessary for me to have, but it seems that FDISKing and formatting capabilities are one of the main reasons some of these people want DOS in ROM.

 

[jimmystu]

??

 

[Budman]

???

 

[HansXP]

Are those ?? responses to my post?? I was responding to TravisBickle's post, if that's what you're wondering.

 

[Budman]

??? was my reply to jimmystu's ??.