Releases/Beta2

The FreeDOS Beta 2 "Marvin" distribution was released 28 October 1998.

Codename

When Jim started the FreeDOS Project, Jim was a physics student at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Marvin was a UWRF VAX system that was being de-commissioned at about the time Jim announced FreeDOS Beta 2.

History

This Wayback snapshot says the Beta 2 install instructions were written 29 Oct 1998, but may have been written after the fact. Assume 28 Oct 1998 for Beta 2 release date.

Announcement

WELCOME TO THE FREEDOS "BETA 2.0.1" (MARVIN) DISTRIBUTION!
----------------------------------------------------------

A few notes on the new FreeDOS Beta 2.0.1 distribution:

- This "Beta 2" (Marvin) distribution does not contain all of the
up-to-date software that you will find on the FreeDOS maintainers
list. In fact, the "Beta 2" distribution is missing a few of the more
recent programs such as the desktop. This is because the "Beta 2"
release was assembled before these new programs or releases were
posted.

- A Beta 3 release _is_ being planned.

- Floppy access with this kernel is still a little slow. If you think
the install program has locked up on you, but the floppy drive light
is on, just sit tight for a little while and things will start working
again.

- One other thing: I didn't have time to do all the testing I wanted to
with this release. Specifically, FDISK and FORMAT are broken!  Please
download the updated programs from the FreeDOS maintainers list at
www.isd.net/jhall1/freedos/lists/

- If you have problems with the install boot floppy, please send me an
email (jh...@isd.net) and let me know what's happened.