The MS-DOS 6.22 Boot Disk: A File-by-File Breakdown

The MS-DOS 6.22 Boot Disk:

A File-by-File Breakdown

Ever tinkered with the idea of customizing a boot disk? Then understanding the inner workings of a boot disk is crucial. Today, we'll dissect an MS-DOS 6.22 boot disk, unveiling the essential files that bring it to life. This serves as the foundation you'll need to tailor a boot disk to your specific needs.

Source:

A huge shoutout to allbootdisks.com for providing the initial file list that forms the foundation of this exploration.

Boot Disk File Manifest

The following table details the files found on an MS-DOS 6.22 boot disk, including their size and type:

File Name	Size (KB)	File Type
ATTRIB.EXE	11,208	Application
AUTOEXEC.BAT	45	MS-DOS Batch File
C.BAT	34	MS-DOS Batch File
CD1.SYS	34262	System file
CD2.SYS	16504	System file
CD3.SYS	19984	System file
CD4.SYS	41302	System file
CHKDSK.EXE	12241	Application
COMMAND.COM	54645	MS-DOS Application
CONFIG.SYS	377	System file
DELTREE.EXE	11111	Application
DOSKEY.COM	5861	MS-DOS Application
DRVSPACE.BIN	66294	BIN File
EDIT.EXE	69662	Application
EDIT.HLP	17898	Help File
EDIT.INI	192	Configuration Settings
EMM386.EXE	120926	Application
FDISK.EXE	29336	Application
FIND.EXE	6770	Application
FORMAT.COM	22974	MS-DOS Application
HIMEM.SYS	29136	System file
IO.SYS	40,774	System file
LABEL.EXE	9,390	Application
MEM.EXE	32,502	Application
UNDELETE.INI	235	Configuration Settings
UNFORMAT.COM	12,738	MS-DOS Application
XCOPY.EXE	16,930	Application

ATTRIB.EXE A utility that allows you to view and modify file attributes (read-only, hidden, etc.). Common uses include making hidden files visible, setting files to read-only to prevent accidental modification, and marking files as archive bits to be backed up.

AUTOEXEC.BAT A batch file that is automatically executed whenever you boot up your computer. It's like a startup script, containing commands that configure system settings, load device drivers, and launch specific programs at startup. Because it runs automatically, it's a convenient way to automate repetitive tasks at system startup.

CD1.SYS CD-ROM driver, version 1. This file provides the necessary instructions for the operating system to interact with the CD-ROM drive. It acts as a translator between the operating system and the CD-ROM drive hardware, allowing you to access data on CDs.

CD2.SYS Possibly another CD-ROM driver or an alternative version of CD1.SYS.Having two CD-ROM driver files might indicate: Support for multiple CD-ROM drives installed in the system. The presence of a secondary or alternative driver for the primary CD-ROM drive.

CD3.SYS Potentially a driver for a different type of optical drive, such as a DVD-ROM drive. While MS-DOS primarily dealt with CDs, CD3.SYS suggests the presence of a more versatile optical drive that could read DVDs.

CD4.SYS Another possibility is a driver for a secondary CD-ROM drive installed in the system. The larger file size compared to CD1.SYS or CD2.SYS might indicate a different driver for a secondary CD-ROM drive model.

CHKDSK.EXE This is a vital utility for checking and repairing disk errors. It can scan your disk for problems like lost clusters, bad sectors, or file system inconsistencies. CHKDSK can also be used to fix these errors, potentially saving you from data loss or system instability.

COMMAND.COM this is the heart of the MS-DOS user experience. It's the command prompt interpreter, the program that translates your typed commands (like DIR, COPY, or FORMAT) into actions the computer can understand.

CONFIG.SYS This is a configuration file that loads device drivers and sets system parameters at boot time. Think of it as giving specific instructions to MS-DOS before it even displays the command prompt. CONFIG.SYS plays a crucial role in loading additional hardware support or customizing your system environment.

DELTREE.EXE This handy utility allows you to delete entire directory trees (folders and all their subfolders and files) at once. It's a powerful tool for cleaning up unwanted data or removing stubborn folders that won't delete otherwise.

DOSKEY.COM This is a command line history and macro utility. DOSKEY lets you recall previously used commands using the up and down arrow keys, saving you time from retyping them. It also allows you to create macros, which are shortcuts for running a series of commands with a single keystroke.

DRVSPACE.BIN This file is most likely associated with DriveSpace, a disk compression utility that was sometimes included with MS-DOS. DriveSpace could compress your hard drive to save storage space, but it's not commonly used in modern systems.

EDIT.EXE This is a basic text editor included with MS-DOS. It allows you to view and modify text files. While not feature-rich by today's standards, EDIT.EXE was a valuable tool for creating simple configuration files or editing text documents in the pre-graphical user interface era.

EDIT.HLP This file likely contains the help documentation for the EDIT.EXE text editor. It would have provided basic instructions on how to use the editor's features, like navigating the text, inserting or deleting characters, and saving your work.

EMM386.EXE This is an Expanded Memory Manager (EMM) driver. While HIMEM.SYS provides access to memory above 1MB, EMM386.EXE manages how applications use that expanded memory.

FDISK.EXE This is a powerful disk partitioning tool. It allows you to create, delete, and format partitions on your hard drive. Caution: Using FDISK incorrectly can damage your hard drive, so proceed with care.

FIND.EXE This is a handy text search utility. You can use it to search for specific text strings within files.

FORMAT.COM This is a utility used to format a disk for use with MS-DOS. Formatting erases all data on the disk, so be sure to back up anything important before using FORMAT.

HIMEM.SYS This file is a device driver that provides access to memory above the first 1MB in a PC. Early PCs had a memory limit of 1MB, and HIMEM.SYS helped utilize memory beyond that limit. It often worked in conjunction with a memory manager like EMM386.EXE (mentioned below).

IO.SYS is a critical system file with a size around 40,774 bytes in MS-DOS 6.22, acts like the operating system's maestro. It's responsible for booting up the system and laying the groundwork for MS-DOS to function. Here's a breakdown of its key functionalities:

LABEL.EXE This utility allows you to create or modify the volume label of a disk. A volume label is a user-friendly name assigned to a disk drive.

MEM.EXE This application displays information about your system's memory usage. It can be helpful for troubleshooting memory-related issues.

UNDELETE.INI This configuration file stores settings for the MS-DOS Undelete utility (undelete.exe), which attempts to recover accidentally deleted files.

UNFORMAT.COM This is a data recovery utility. It attempts to recover data from a disk that has been accidentally formatted. However, success rates can be low, so don't rely solely on this for critical data recovery.

XCOPY.EXE This is a versatile file copying utility. It allows you to copy files and folders, including subdirectories. XCOPY offers more options than the simple COPY command available in MS-DOS.