MS-DOS 6

(Redirected from MS-DOS 6.20)
MS-DOS 6
Version of MS-DOS
MS-DOS-6.22-Default.png
MS-DOS 6.22
Version6.x
CodenameAstro
Release date1993-03
Replaces
MS-DOS 5
Replaced by
MS-DOS 7

MS-DOS 6 is a family of versions of MS-DOS, initially released in March 1993, with updates being released until June 1994.

MS-DOS 6.00[edit | edit source]

MS-DOS 6.00 was released in 1993. This version included many new utilities and features:

  • Disk defragmenter
  • Disk compression
  • Anti-virus (MSAV and MWAV)
  • A new backup system
  • PC-PC file transfer tools

It was heavily criticized as buggy by the press, primarily due to file corruption issues with DoubleSpace (disk compression utility based on Vertisoft's DoubleDisk) and the lack of tools to repair such issues.[1]

List of known builds[edit | edit source]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Setup[edit | edit source]

MS-DOS 6.20[edit | edit source]

MS-DOS 6.20 was released in November 1993. Microsoft skipped the 6.10 version number as a marketing response to IBM PC-DOS 6.10, which was released at the same timeframe. After complaints from users about data loss, DoubleSpace was finalized. The SCANDISK program has been added, and DISKCOPY and SmartDrive have been improved.

List of known builds[edit | edit source]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

PC/AT[edit | edit source]

PC-98[edit | edit source]

FM TOWNS[edit | edit source]

MS-DOS 6.21[edit | edit source]

MS-DOS 6.21 was released in March 1994 specifically to remove DoubleSpace due to legal injunction by Stac Electronics over the use of Stacker code in DoubleSpace; during the interim period, the replacement software, DriveSpace was not yet ready.[2]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

MS-DOS 6.22[edit | edit source]

MS-DOS 6.22 was generally available in June 1994, three months after 6.21. MS-DOS 6.22 shipped with "Enhanced Tools", including a disk compression tool known as DriveSpace, which was free from Stacker code. An included supplemental disk also ships with copies of tools dropped from the previous version of MS-DOS, which includes the DOS Shell and EDLIN.

List of known builds[edit | edit source]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Setup[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. MS-DOS 6.0, WinWorld.
  2. MS-DOS 6.21, WinWorld.