How to Install MS DOS 7.1

Want to install a vintage version of MS DOS on your PC? You can download MS DOS 7.1 and other old operating systems from WinWorld and copy them to bootable media—we'll show you how!

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Downloading MS DOS 7.1

  1. 1
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    Go to winworldpc.com.
    • It is possible to download from other sources but winworldpc is a trusted website which also provide MS-DOS programs.
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    2
    Click Library.
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    Click MS-DOS in the DOS section.
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    Click the tab 7.1.
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    Choose which file you want to download.
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    Choose a mirror site (any will do) and wait for the download to finish.
    • If the download doesn't start, allow your browser to allow websites to know where you've come from.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Installing MS DOS 7.1

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    Insert the CD or floppy disk, with MS-DOS 7.1 on it, into your computer and start it.
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    2
    Press Enter.
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    Click Next.
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    Click Next.
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    Make sure the 'I agree.' box is checked and click Next.
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    Click Continue.
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    7
    Click Create a FAT32/16/12 Primary Partition.
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    Leave all the disks in their drives and click Reboot now.
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    Press Enter.
    • The next few steps will look exactly the same as the last few (to a point) but it's vital that you repeat them.
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    Click Next.
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    Click Next.
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    Make sure the 'I agree.' box is checked and click Next.
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    Click Continue.
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    Click Yes.
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    Decide where you want MS-DOS 7.1 to install and click Next.
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    Click Yes.
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    Image titled MS DOS 7.1 install 10.png
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    Consider installing the add-ons. The next few steps are all down to personal preferences but it is recommended that you do install all the add-ons as it makes using MS-DOS easier.
    • 'Full installation' and 'Install Add-Ons' were checked and the Next was clicked.
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    18
    Click Yes.
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    Confirm that the above settings are correct and click OK.
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    20
    Click Continue if you wish to install additional add-ons (this was selected in the tutorial).
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    Click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    Decide whether you want to install drivers for your sound cards (Yes was chosen here).
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    Click Yes.
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    Choose your sound card and click Continue.
    • Sound Blaster AWE Pnp was chosen in this tutorial.
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    Click OK.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click OK.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click OK.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click OK.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click OK.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click OK.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click OK.
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    Click Yes.
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    41
    Click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    46
    Click Yes.
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    47
    Click Yes.
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    48
    Click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click No.
    • It will put you in an endless loop if you click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click Yes.
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    Click Enable both UMB and EMS.
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    Click Load both.
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    Ensure all the options are checked and click Continue.
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    Choose your keyboard and click Continue.
    • UK users, check the 850 box.
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    Choose the keyboard layout you would like and click Continue.
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    Click OK.
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    Remove the setup disk and click Yes to reboot the computer.
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    Press any key to continue.
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    The setup is now complete and you can now explore all that MS-DOS 7.1 has to offer.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Shutting Down

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    1
    Make sure the DOS prompt shows only C:\
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    Type, without the quotation marks, "shutdown".
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    Type S. Your computer should now shutdown.
  4. 4
    To restart the computer, type 'shutdown' then press r or press the following keys Ctrl Alt Delete.
    • Do NOT move the mouse whilst the computer is restarting or it will crash on boot up.
  5. 5
    To cancel the shutdown/restart process, press c.
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Warning

  • Do not press F10 to shut MS-DOS 7.1, it causes very strange behaviour from the computer.
  • MS-DOS 7.1 was not made by Microsoft so there are unlikely to be future updates for it.
  • When downloading anything, always scan it with an anti virus software (even from genuine websites). Sometimes they can be hacked and instead of the genuine software being downloaded, a virus could be downloaded instead
  • This is a heavily modified version of MS DOS and it's unclear how stable and reliable the operating system is so back up your hard drive constantly if you decide to use the operating system.
  • If you purchase a used floppy disk for a program for MS DOS, be wary as sometimes they contain viruses.
  • Repeated to stress importance: Do NOT move the mouse whilst the computer is restarting or it will crash on boot up.

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References

  1. https://winworldpc.com/product/ms-dos/7x
  2. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware/UEz0wn4_DFM

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 51,600 times.
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Co-authors: 6
Updated: June 13, 2022
Views: 51,600
Categories: Computers and Electronics
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