Partially... The 386-enhanced mode of Windows 3.1
and the normal mode of Windows for Workgroups 3.11
rely heavily on undocumented internal properties
of MS DOS. For example DR DOS only became
compatible after they won a lawsuit against
Microsoft (because MS had made Windows deliberately
break on DR DOS even in normal mode, which is not
100% related to the 386 mode problem). Microsoft was
forced to disclose information about compatibility
issues after that, but not to the public.
If you can help us finance such a lawsuit... ;-).
Apart from that, you can already run Windows 3.1
in standard mode (Win /s). For Windows for Workgroups,
you can only run the "no VXDs / debugging mode", which
is very similar to the standard mode of Windows 3.1,
but in BOTH cases you canNOT yet open DOS boxes from
within Windows.
We know that stolen source codes of old MS DOS
versions are floating around online from time to
time, but it would be illegal to use stolen code
to improve FreeDOS anyway. Apart from that, it is
much easier to download an illegal copy of MS DOS
binaries (io.sys, msdos.sys) than to recompile a
fifteen-year old version from sources, right?
We are not interested in getting the MS source
codes. This is clearly stated in our FAQ. Just
writing this to avoid possible suggestions like
"Hey, I have an idea how to solve feature request
1188911..." from some shady people :-P.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
You might be able to use code from DOSBox, since it can
start Windows 3.11 in enhanced mode already, but still with
some problems, like a DOS box in Windows won't work correctly.
Update: When you load SHARE, you can
use DOS boxes inside Windows 3.x in
standard mode with the normal 2036
stable kernel.
You can even run 386 mode and Windows
for Workgroups 3.11 with the unstable /
development kernel "2035-cvs" now. This
feature should be available in the next
major kernel version 2037. The devel
kernel can be found on the FDOS page:
Logged In: YES
user_id=309160
Partially... The 386-enhanced mode of Windows 3.1
and the normal mode of Windows for Workgroups 3.11
rely heavily on undocumented internal properties
of MS DOS. For example DR DOS only became
compatible after they won a lawsuit against
Microsoft (because MS had made Windows deliberately
break on DR DOS even in normal mode, which is not
100% related to the 386 mode problem). Microsoft was
forced to disclose information about compatibility
issues after that, but not to the public.
If you can help us finance such a lawsuit... ;-).
Apart from that, you can already run Windows 3.1
in standard mode (Win /s). For Windows for Workgroups,
you can only run the "no VXDs / debugging mode", which
is very similar to the standard mode of Windows 3.1,
but in BOTH cases you canNOT yet open DOS boxes from
within Windows.
We know that stolen source codes of old MS DOS
versions are floating around online from time to
time, but it would be illegal to use stolen code
to improve FreeDOS anyway. Apart from that, it is
much easier to download an illegal copy of MS DOS
binaries (io.sys, msdos.sys) than to recompile a
fifteen-year old version from sources, right?
We are not interested in getting the MS source
codes. This is clearly stated in our FAQ. Just
writing this to avoid possible suggestions like
"Hey, I have an idea how to solve feature request
1188911..." from some shady people :-P.
Logged In: YES
user_id=1120398
You might be able to use code from DOSBox, since it can
start Windows 3.11 in enhanced mode already, but still with
some problems, like a DOS box in Windows won't work correctly.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/dosbox
Logged In: YES
user_id=309160
Update: When you load SHARE, you can
use DOS boxes inside Windows 3.x in
standard mode with the normal 2036
stable kernel.
You can even run 386 mode and Windows
for Workgroups 3.11 with the unstable /
development kernel "2035-cvs" now. This
feature should be available in the next
major kernel version 2037. The devel
kernel can be found on the FDOS page:
http://fdos.org/kernel/
Eric