Does windows 98 require dos to function properly?

Answer 1

Windows 98 is amongst the last of the DOS kernel OSs. So in a way it does need some DOS files to boot, but that's all. It has the capability to run DOS applications and use specific configuration files (Autoexec.bat and Config.sys) as needed, but DOS is not a requirement to install prior to installing or running Windows 98. This is unlike Windows 3.1 and older where DOS and Windows were installed separately. However all Windows versions prior to Windows 2000 and the exception of NT require three DOS files in order to boot:
-> IO.sys
-> Msdos.sys
-> Command.com

The previous posts can be a little misleading. Windows 2000 - Vista are NOT DOS based. They are NT Kernel based which unlike DOS isolates hardware and software to its own memory spaces. Though you can access command prompts and still make configuration files in these versions, they are emulations to provide legacy support for older DOS softwares that weren't designed for isolated and independent memory spaces.

Answer 2

No, not really. DOS was the basic operating system before Windows was even thought of... Yes its true, back in the old days, there was no GUI (graphical user interface) with pictures you clicked on with a mouse. It was all a black screen with a A:> or C:> prompt and you typed DOS commands to make something happen.

With all version of Windows (from 98, all the way up to 2000 and XP and probably Vista - haven't tried Vista yet), DOS is still an underlying part of the Windows Operating System. But is it necessary, absolutely not. There is an icon to go to a DOS prompt (or you can click Start, Run, command (or cmd for Win2k/XP). This lets you run some functions in a DOS environment, but most people never need to use DOS functions when running Windows. But can you disable DOS from working on a Windows Operating System such as 98, nope.... It's built into it.

So with that in mind, not sure why you asking if you need DOS for Win 98 to run correctly. It's not like theres an option in Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Windows Environment to disable DOS.....

Answer 3

Somewhat contratry to what Joel says, Windows 98 does not run on top of DOS.

Windows 95, 98 and Me do share some software from MS-DOS which they evolved from. However, these pieces are included as part of Windows 98 and are really only used to boot-strap the actual OS.

Also should be noted that once Windows 98 is fully loaded it is using its own drivers for disk access, and does not use any pieces of DOS to access the hardware, again contrary to what Joel suggests.

The last Microsoft Windows to require a separate installation of DOS, was the Windows 3.x series.

Answer 4

DOS is "Disk Operating System"
it is the stuff that runs behind the scenes as you click away on your screen. If you don't have DOS, you don't have an operating system.

So, yes you NEED it!

Answer 5

oh click on the pop up that tells you to place in activex..on each and every occasion your attempting to place in some thing unwell ask you that so look on the perfect of the window and click on setting up activex