FreeDOS 1.1 - TEST RELEASE - RELEASE CANDIDATE

THIS IS A TEST RELEASE - THIS IS NOT THE FINAL FREEDOS 1.1 DISTRIBUTION!

PLEASE ONLY DOWNLOAD THIS VERSION IF YOU INTEND TO TEST AND PROVIDE
FEEDBACK. DO NOT DOWNLOAD IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A STABLE VERSION.


FreeDOS is a free DOS-compatible operating system for IBM-PC
compatible systems. FreeDOS is made of up many different, separate
programs that act as "packages" to the overall FreeDOS Project.

Right now the main use is running old games and software, but you
might encounter it on some freshly sold computers, motherboard setup
CDs, BIOS flashing diskettes, embedded hardware and other uses.

While FreeDOS itself is basically just the DOS-C kernel as created by
Pat Villani, over the years many people have added programs (often
licensed as GPL, other times as freeware, public domain or a custom
license) to form a distribution so you actually get some additional
drivers and programs to run.


What´s new since 1.0 (2006):

• FreeDOS kernel 2040 (Bart Oldeman, Jeremy Davis and others. Should fix fat32 file corruption).
  
• mtcp (Michael Brutman), a suite of high-performance TCP/IP applications for any x86 computer.
  
• an initial attempt at USB controller support (Bret Johnson). So far only UHCI (Intel/Via USB1.1 12mbit/1.5mbit).
  
• new Syslinux features (see installation notes, below) including free CD-driver for non-emulation booted CD/ISO.
  
• generic PCI IDE cache/cdrom driver (Jack R. Ellis) including PIO/UDMA modes for (P)ATA/SATA harddisks and CD.
  
• new installation menu when starting from CD, intended to reduce amount of menus you have to respond to.
  
• universal BIOS backup program, see http://www.flashrom.org .
  
• updated memory drivers (HMA&XMS, UMB&EMS) with many thanks to Japheth, Jack, Michael Devore and Tom Ehlert
  
• 4DOS 8.00 command interpreter has been added, many thanks to Luchezar Georgiev for updating JPSOFT´s code
  
• installation scripts have been streamlined.
  
• very limited USB flash disk support (often showing up as C: )
  
• many new versions of many programs. Features and fixes as usual.