How to Return to MS-DOS After Installing PC DOS 6.1 (108788)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22
This article was previously published under Q108788
This information applies to both Microsoft DoubleSpace and Microsoft DriveSpace. For MS-DOS 6.22, use DRVSPACE in place of DBLSPACE for commands and filenames.

SUMMARY

To upgrade from IBM PC DOS 6.1 to MS-DOS 6.2, or to return to your previous version of MS-DOS, follow the appropriate procedure (based on your system configuration and the options you chose when you installed IBM PC DOS 6.1) below.

MORE INFORMATION

Your Hard Disk Drive Is Not Compressed and You Want to Install

MS-DOS 6.2 Upgrade

Run MS-DOS 6.2 Upgrade Setup. For example, put MS-DOS 6.2 Upgrade Setup Disk 1 in drive A, type a:setup at the IBM PC DOS command prompt, and then press ENTER.

You Did Not Create an Uninstall Disk, Your Hard Disk Drive Is Not

Compressed, and You Want to Return to MS-DOS 6.0

  1. Use the MOVE command to change the C:\DOS directory to another name. For example, type move c:\dos c:\pcdos at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.
  2. Run MS-DOS 6 Upgrade Setup. For example, put MS-DOS 6 Upgrade Setup Disk 1 in drive A, and type a:setup at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.
  3. After Setup is finished and has rebooted your system, delete the IBM PC DOS 6.1 files and directory. For example, type deltree /y c:\pcdos at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.
You Did Not Create an Uninstall Disk, Your Hard Disk Drive Is Not

Compressed, and You Want to Install MS-DOS 6.2 Upgrade

Put the MS-DOS 6.2 Upgrade Setup Disk 1 in drive A and type a:setup at the IBM PC DOS 6.1 command prompt.

You Did Not Create an Uninstall Disk, Your Hard Disk Drive Is Not Compressed, and You Want to Return to MS-DOS 6 Upgrade So That You Can Then Install MS-DOS 6.2 Step-Up)

  1. Move the C:\DOS directory to another name. For example, type move c:\dos c:\pcdos at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.
  2. Run MS-DOS 6 Upgrade Setup. For example, put MS-DOS 6 Upgrade Setup Disk 1 in drive A, and type a:setup at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.
  3. After Setup is finished and has rebooted your system, delete the IBM PC DOS 6.1 files and directory. For example, type deltree /y c:\pcdos at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.
  4. Run MS-DOS 6.2 Step-Up Setup. For example, put MS-DOS 6.2 Step-Up Disk 1 in drive A, and type a:setup at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.
Your Hard Disk Drive Is Compressed, Your System Does Not Have a Partition

Less Than 32 Megabytes, and You Want to Return to MS-DOS 6.0

  1. If you have enough free space, run SSUNCOMPRESS.EXE to remove the IBM PC DOS 6.1 compression software.

    If you do not have enough free space, refer to the section of this article titled "Your Hard Drive Is Compressed, Your System Has a Partition Less Than 32 Megabytes or Insufficient Free Space to Run SSUNCOMPRESS.EXE, and You Want to Return to MS-DOS 6.0."
  2. Use the MOVE command to change the C:\DOS directory to another name. For example, type move c:\dos c:\pcdos at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER. EX.
  3. Run MS-DOS 6 Upgrade Setup. For example, put MS-DOS 6 Upgrade Setup Disk 1 in drive A, and type a:setup at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.
  4. After Setup is finished and has rebooted your system, delete the IBM PC DOS 6.1 files and directory. For example, type deltree /y c:\pcdos at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.
NOTE: If you try to use your Uninstall disk and one or your drives is compressed, your system will be left with an unusual configuration (that is, it will contain two DOS systems). Your compressed volume file (CVF) gets modified whether or not you chose to install SuperStor during the IBM PC DOS 6.1 installation. For this reason, you must remove the compression software before returning to MS-DOS 6.0, even if you have an Uninstall disk.

You Did Not Create an Uninstall Disk, Your Hard Disk Drive Is Compressed, Your System Has a Partition Less Than 32 Megabytes or Insufficient Free

Space to Run SSUNCOMPRESS.EXE, and You Want to Return to MS-DOS 6.0.

You must use the following procedure because the IBM PC DOS 6.1 SSUNCOMPRESS.EXE fails (in the middle of the uncompress process) on a partition with less than 32 megabytes.

  1. Back up your data on all the compressed drives.
  2. Run SSTOR to determine which drives are compressed and which are not. Write this information down.
  3. Restart your computer using your MS-DOS 6 Upgrade Setup Disk 1.
  4. Press F5 when you see the "Starting MS-DOS..." prompt.
  5. Type format <drive>: /s, where <drive> is the startup host drive. For example, "format h: /s."
  6. Type format <drive>: on all host drives, where <drive> is the host drive.
  7. Run MS-DOS 6 Upgrade Setup. For example, put MS-DOS 6 Upgrade Setup Disk 1 in drive A, type a:setup at the MS-DOS command prompt, and then press ENTER.
  8. Type dblspace to run DoubleSpace and compress drive C.
  9. Run DoubleSpace again.
  10. From the Tools menu, choose Compress.
  11. Select the drives that were compressed under IBM PC DOS 6.1 and compress them.
  12. Install the program you used to back up your data.
  13. Restore your data.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/22/1999
Keywords:KB108788
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