The FreeDOS Beta 9 distribution was released on 28 September 2004.
Codename
Unlike previous iterations in the FreeDOS Beta distributions, this version did not have a codename. The FreeDOS Beta 9 RC1 (release candidate 1) was the last distribution to use a codename.
History
This Wayback snapshot shows a news item dated "2004-09-29 05:43" that says "Bernd Blaauw has posted the FreeDOS Beta9 (Final)."
That news item was pulled from the Sourceforge news servers (we used their news posting service) and I'm pretty sure that their servers were GMT. I would have written that in US/Central, 6 hours ahead, so just shy of midnight on 28 Sep 2004. Assume 28 Sept is more correct, since that date shows up elsewhere on the Internet.
Release candidates
Service releases
Release notes
FreeDOS beta9-final (2004-09-28) Readme file Table of Contents: --------------------------------- I) How to view this document II) What to get, platform dependant III) How to boot up IV) Installation V) Post-installation disk/RAM layout and configuration files VI) Using FreeDOS VII) Updates and help --------------------------------- I - How to view this document This document is posted online and thus may incidentally not comply with the DOS specification of keeping line width below 80 characters. We recommend using a HTML viewer or the FreeDOS program PG, which supports line wrapping, found at www.ibiblio.org/pub/micro/pc-stuff/freedos/files/util/file/pg/ --------------------------------- II - What to get, platform dependant The FreeDOS distribution is available in several ways. Users only wanting to use the kernel don't need to download the entire distribution. Owners of a computer older than 80386 often don't have a cdrom drive in their systems. FreeDOS Beta9 Release Candidate #5 is offered for: Platform: what to download: --------------------------------------------------------------------- 8086/80186/80286 : - download diskette distribution if available fdos.org/ripcord/beta9-final/disksets - alternative #1: download ODIN (One Disk INstaller) odin.fdos.org/odin7x86.zip - alternative #2: download zipfile and split onto disks: fdos.org/ripcord/beta9-final/binfiles.zip - alternative #3: get FreeDOS install disk fdos.org/ripcord/beta9-final/fdos1440.img 80386 or newer : - download the bootable freedos cdrom fdos.org/ripcord/beta9-final/fdbootcd.iso We recommend to boot from the cdrom as our cdrom driver is still in experimental stage (atapicdd.sys , ALPHA status) if you cannot boot from cdrom, please download bootdisk fdos.org/ripcord/beta9-final/fdos1440.img replace our cdrom driver with the vendor-supplied one if desired. < e.g www.opus.co.tt/dave/indexall.htm > You may need to write the bootdisk image to a diskette using one of several available programs found at: www.fdos.org/ripcord/rawrite/ (RAwrite downloadable from : fdos.org/ripcord/beta9-final/rawrite.exe ) If the target diskette contains information, it will be erased when writing the image contents to the diskette. The .iso file (ISO9660 filesystem) can be written to a blank recordable medium <CD-R(W) or DVD+/-R(W)> using a cd writing program that can write a disk image. Most used is Ahead's Nero Burning Rom, and the Unix/Linux program CDrecord Make sure contents of the fdbootcd.iso file is stored on the written medium, not the file itself. In other words, you should see a file called autorun.inf and the directories called FREEDOS and ISOLINUX. --------------------------------- III - How to boot up Virtually all computer systems that FreeDOS can be installed on support booting from another medium than the harddisk. This is required for installing FreeDOS to your harddisk. Old computers support diskette booting, recent computers also support starting up from cdrom (the so called El Torito standard dating from 1995) If you cannot boot from cdrom or do not know how to set up your BIOS settings (most systems use DEL, ESC, F2 or F10 keys to access the BIOS) to allow booting from cdrom, please boot from diskette. If you are able to get your system to allow booting from cdrom, that's the easiest and best way of installing FreeDOS. Type "1" at the BOOT: prompt and then you'll see FreeDOS starting. You should now see another menu. Select option 1 to load memory and cdrom drivers. the CDROM is accessed and then you can select what to do next (Install FreeDOS, Run FreeDOS, Create bootdisk), but more about that later. First the floppy explanation. For booting from diskette, insert the diskette to which you have written the contents of FDOS1440.iIMG using WinImage or Rawrite for example. You should now see a boot menu with 2 options: *Select 1 (default and started if waiting 10 seconds) to gain access to additional options for recent computers only (386 or newer). In the follow-up menu: *entering 1 followed by ENTER boots up a fasterversion of the bootdisk (bootdisk is read into system RAM and then started) *entering 2 followed by ENTER allows you to test your system's RAM for potential errors, using the Memtest86+ program, now at version 1.26 *entering 3 followed by ENTER starts the Smart Boot Manager. it is here that you can select to boot from the cdrom device. see above at cdrom description how to go on. *Select 2 (most compatible) to load FreeDOS from the cdrom. see below on how to work with FreeDOS once you see the menu that offers driver and cdrom loading. Working with FreeDOS: you'll see 3 menu entries, so you need to select the correct one. Option 1 loads FreeDOS in default configuration, loading all drivers which can spead up the installation process. Option 2 loads FreeDOS in safe mode. This mode is useful for things like updating system BIOS and/or firmware, or troubleshooting if you are an experienced DOS user. It's possible to continue the installation procedure by typing SETUP. Almost no drivers will be loaded. -if the cdrom is found, you'll be presented with a new menu (1: Install, 2:Run from cdrom, 3:Create Bootdisk). -if the cdrom is not found, you'll be presented an error message (cdrom driver not loaded, cdrom not found) you get the chance of redetecting cdrom drive (insert correct cdrom), doing a diskette install (if made available by the FreeDOS project), changing source location of FreeDOS cdrom contents or disksets contents (enter correct directory) or giving up (you're on your own then). see chapter IV - Installation for further info. --------------------------------- IV - Installation
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