Ask HN: DOS Based "Multitaskers"

Posted by alexshendi on Saturday October 18, 2025 @12:32PM
from the ask-hn dept.

Dear Auntie HN,

I recently tried QuarterDeck DesqView for multitasking (16 bit real mode) applications. It installed allright, but I couldn't get it to multitask PC-Scheme (More precisely PCS/Geneva 4.02PL1) properly. Could you recommend any alternative DOS Versions or task switchers better suited to that?

Programs I didn't try * MS multitasking DOS (to which the source was released not long ago) * DRDOS * Any other variant of DOS?

IMHO the experience under OS/2 was best.

Thanks!

( 2 comments | 3 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: DOS Based "Multitaskers" by brudgers on Sunday October 19, 2025 @05:22PM (#45638118)

Windows 3.1?

Since you mention OS/2.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: DOS Based "Multitaskers" by mindcrash on Monday October 20, 2025 @01:31PM (#45646631)

MS-DOS 4.0 maybe? It's the only version with multitasking built straight into the kernel.

It has been open sourced a while ago: https://github.com/microsoft/MS-DOS

[ Parent | on HN ]