How to install software under DOS? - China DOS Union Forum

How are software installed under DOS? I haven't installed one before and am afraid of making mistakes, so I want to ask you all first. Are there any tips or precautions?

Software under DOS is almost not obtained through the installation method. In general, when you need a certain program, first download it and place it in a certain directory. Switch to this directory under DOS and execute it. (This directory is best on a FAT - formatted partition), and you can also set this directory in the path variable.

[ Last edited by fastslz on 2008 - 2 - 3 at 03:17 PM ]

Anyway, you don't need ./configure --prefix=/usr/bin and then make or something like that. Generally, it's green. Setup is actually just like cp/unzip and so on. You can execute it directly.

Different "installation" methods exist under DOS, Windows, and Unix (POSIX), as listed below:

For DOS: Most software can be directly unzipped and then executed by entering the directory. A few (such as some games and larger software) need to be installed using the SETUP or INSTALL command.

For WIN: Most software requires clicking SETUP for installation. A few are green software that can be directly unzipped and run.

For Unix: The vast majority of software needs to be compiled from the source code. In the command line, enter./configure, make, make install in sequence, and then it can be run after compilation and installation.

By the way, the command to copy files under DOS should be copy instead of cp. AlexZhang seems to be too familiar with POSIX systems.

It seems that I've been using Unix machines at school...
I'm a bit unfamiliar with DOS when I come back,
And sometimes I still need to use Cygwin under Windows...

By the way, POSIX is an API standard, not entirely representing Un*x

Originally posted by AlexZhang at 2008-2-5 11:11 AM:
It seems that I was using Unix machines at school...
Back home, DOS is a bit unfamiliar,
Sometimes I still need to use cygwin under Windows...

By the way, POSIX is an API standard, not entirely representing Unix

My school also uses Unix machines (and Macs). Every time I start up, I must open several terminals, but it doesn't make me unfamiliar with DOS and WIN.

Strictly speaking, POSIX and Unix are not concepts at the same level. POSIX is an interface standard used by the system, and Unix-like operating systems are all based on this standard. Various Unix-like systems are either fully compatible with POSIX or almost compatible with POSIX. From your above statement "not entirely representing Unix", there may be some deviation in understanding, because they are not in the same category at all, and there is no question of who represents whom. Compared with the term "Unix system", the term "POSIX system" is a more abstract concept, distinguishing the actual OS from the system standard. However, in ordinary use, since the two correspond to each other to a large extent at their respective levels, they are often used interchangeably.

Originally posted by Wengier at 2008-2-5 11:37 AM:

My school also has Unix machines (and Macs). Every time I start up, I have to open several terminals, but it doesn't make me unfamiliar with DOS and WIN.

Strictly speaking, POSIX and Unix are not at the same level...

The school is extremely "poor"....
We are in the network center....using Sun's servers from the 90s....super low clock frequency, we are generally 400MHz...and have to use Solaris 10,,,,
Poor and have no money to buy machines....have money to hold "school anniversaries" every year....
I just went to Wikipedia to check POSIX, and indeed my understanding was wrong.

Floor1　dos08	Posted 2008-02-03 15:03
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How are software installed under DOS? I haven't installed one before and am afraid of making mistakes, so I want to ask you all first. Are there any tips or precautions?

Floor2　fastslz	Posted 2008-02-03 15:16
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Software under DOS is almost not obtained through the installation method. In general, when you need a certain program, first download it and place it in a certain directory. Switch to this directory under DOS and execute it. (This directory is best on a FAT - formatted partition), and you can also set this directory in the path variable. [ Last edited by fastslz on 2008 - 2 - 3 at 03:17 PM ]

Floor3　AlexZhang	Posted 2008-02-04 11:05
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Anyway, you don't need ./configure --prefix=/usr/bin and then make or something like that. Generally, it's green. Setup is actually just like cp/unzip and so on. You can execute it directly.

Floor4　Wengier	Posted 2008-02-04 11:34
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Different "installation" methods exist under DOS, Windows, and Unix (POSIX), as listed below: For DOS: Most software can be directly unzipped and then executed by entering the directory. A few (such as some games and larger software) need to be installed using the SETUP or INSTALL command. For WIN: Most software requires clicking SETUP for installation. A few are green software that can be directly unzipped and run. For Unix: The vast majority of software needs to be compiled from the source code. In the command line, enter./configure, make, make install in sequence, and then it can be run after compilation and installation. By the way, the command to copy files under DOS should be copy instead of cp. AlexZhang seems to be too familiar with POSIX systems.

Floor5　AlexZhang	Posted 2008-02-05 11:11
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It seems that I've been using Unix machines at school... I'm a bit unfamiliar with DOS when I come back, And sometimes I still need to use Cygwin under Windows... By the way, POSIX is an API standard, not entirely representing Un*x

Floor6　Wengier	Posted 2008-02-05 11:37
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Originally posted by AlexZhang at 2008-2-5 11:11 AM: It seems that I was using Unix machines at school... Back home, DOS is a bit unfamiliar, Sometimes I still need to use cygwin under Windows... By the way, POSIX is an API standard, not entirely representing Unix My school also uses Unix machines (and Macs). Every time I start up, I must open several terminals, but it doesn't make me unfamiliar with DOS and WIN. Strictly speaking, POSIX and Unix are not concepts at the same level. POSIX is an interface standard used by the system, and Unix-like operating systems are all based on this standard. Various Unix-like systems are either fully compatible with POSIX or almost compatible with POSIX. From your above statement "not entirely representing Unix", there may be some deviation in understanding, because they are not in the same category at all, and there is no question of who represents whom. Compared with the term "Unix system", the term "POSIX system" is a more abstract concept, distinguishing the actual OS from the system standard. However, in ordinary use, since the two correspond to each other to a large extent at their respective levels, they are often used interchangeably.

Floor7　AlexZhang	Posted 2008-02-05 12:20
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Originally posted by Wengier at 2008-2-5 11:37 AM: My school also has Unix machines (and Macs). Every time I start up, I have to open several terminals, but it doesn't make me unfamiliar with DOS and WIN. Strictly speaking, POSIX and Unix are not at the same level... The school is extremely "poor".... We are in the network center....using Sun's servers from the 90s....super low clock frequency, we are generally 400MHz...and have to use Solaris 10,,,, Poor and have no money to buy machines....have money to hold "school anniversaries" every year.... I just went to Wikipedia to check POSIX, and indeed my understanding was wrong.