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Document ID: DETR-3UFP7Y |
Aptiva-PS/1 - Upgrading from PC-DOS 6.3 to PC-DOS 7.0
Applicable to: United States
Upgrading from IBM PC-DOS 6.3 to IBM PC-DOS 7.0 should not pose any particular problems for most systems. The DOS 7.0 upgrade will replace the files that were in the DOS directory and continue to function as before.
Here are some of the differences between the two versions:
1. Better Help functions, selectable either from within Windows or by entering HELP from the DOS command line. The material is much more detailed than that provided with DOS 6.3. The complete DOS command reference is available in the HELP files.
2. A full version of Stacker 4.0 is included in DOS 7.0. Stacker can convert a SuperStor compressed drive to Stacker format for better compression and overall performance. Stacker 4.0 by itself would be between $50 and $80 at your local software store, but it's included with DOS 7.0. Refer to item #7 below for more information on converting SuperStor compression to Stacker compression.
3. A more up-to-date version of Anti-Virus and backup software is included with DOS 7.0. Backups done with 6.3 can be handled with the DOS 7.0 version.
4. A much better memory optimization method is included in the base DOS system in 7.0. It has not been unusual to find that an extra 20k or 30k of conventional memory can be obtained just by installing DOS 7.0. There have been numerous reports of 610k free, some reports of 620k free, and even a few that reported over 630k free, all without having to do anything except to boot up the system. Naturally, this will depend on what hardware and device drivers you have installed on the system, but the typical installation will usually have better memory optimization on average.
5. DOS 7.0 is available on CD-ROM as well as on diskettes.
6. DOS 7.0 comes with a much more advanced batch language, called REXX. This is a much more sophisticated language than the DOS BATCH or even BASIC. You can use it to do simple tasks, similar to DOS BATCH usage, or to do some very complex tasks that would normally require other programming languages, such as C or Assembler or Pascal. While the REXX feature is not for everyone, it is available for doing complex and repetitive tasks in an easy to use manner.
7. If you have compressed the hard drive with SuperStor in the DOS 6.3 version, the primary change that you might wish to make would be to change the SuperStor compressed disk to Stacker format. This is not necessary, since the SuperStor compressed disk can still be read by the system. However, Stacker does provide a better compression ratio in most cases and Stacker can be set up to convert the SuperStor compressed disk to Stacker compression.
If you do wish to change the SuperStor compressed drive to Stacker format, enter the command:
SSETUP
at the DOS prompt and follow the on-screen directions for converting the compression method.
These are the basic differences and enhancements between DOS 6.3 and 7.0. There are some other differences that may be useful for ThinkPad and laptop system owners, such as full PCMCIA support, or enhanced PenDOS support. These are normally not used on desktop systems, but the upgrade can be a benefit if they are.
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Hint Category |
DOS/Windows 3.x, Software Installation/Configuration | |
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Date Created |
23-04-96 | |
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Last Updated |
25-01-99 | |
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Revision Date |
10-12-99 | |
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Brand |
IBM Aptiva | |
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Product Family |
Aptiva, DOS, Notebook N33, Notebook N45, Notebook N51, PC 300, PC 700, PS/1, PS/2, PS/Note, ThinkPad 300, ThinkPad 500, ThinkPad 700, ThinkPad 701, ValuePoint | |
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Machine Type |
2011, 2121, 2123, 2133, 2155, 2168, 2144 | |
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Model |
C01; C34; M01; NEA; T35; U35; A62; A82; A94; B82; C42; C92; G42; M82; S92; 081; 087; 131; 137; K37; N31; N81; 11E; 13T; 14C; 16E; 17A; 18A; 18T; 19C; 21C; 23C; 28A; 46M; 51D; D50; G11; G13; G43; G46; G49; G50; G53; M40; M46; P11; P13; P43; P50; P53; R04; R05; R06; R09; R38; R42; R43; R44; R84; R86; R87; RO3; S11; S13; S43; S45; S47; S48; S50; S53; W11; W13; W42; W43; W45; W50; W53; 20E; 22T; 24C; 24M; 28V; 39E; 41T; 43C; 45V; 48E; 50T; 52C; 55V; 72E; 74T; 76C; 78C; 79C; 81A; 82E; 84T; 86C; 87C; CC1; D53; G14; G44; G52; G54; G72; G76; G78; G82; NM1; P14; P44; P57; P71; P74; P76; P78; P84; R14; R15; R16; R17; R18; R51; R52; R57; R58; R62; R63; R67; R71; R89; R93; R96; R97; S14; S44; S54; S70; S75; S76; S78; S80; W14; W44; W48; W54; W67; W76; W77; W78; Z33; 31E; 33T; 37C; 38C; 51E; 54T; 56C; 57C; 88V; BB1; G57; G87; OR1; OR3; OR4; OR5; P89; R28; R29; R31; R74; R78; R82; R98; S55; S85; SR1; US1; W52; W82; 1R2; 66P; 67P; 86P; OR8; 1R1; 1R3; 1R5; 22P; 24P; 25P; 27P; 29P; 63P; 82P; 83P; OR6; OR7; OR9; 1R0; 26P; 62P; 2R0; P30; 2R3; S15 | |
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