DesertFOXMar 2, 2025

Something I just discovered today:

When I am running Microsoft's ScanDisk (from MS-DOS 6.22) on top of PC-DOS 7, it gives me this rather bizarre warning message addressing a possible issue with long files names. Somehow, in 1994, it already possessed some pre-emptive knowledge about the upcoming MS-DOS 7, a.k.a. Windows 95, which would introduce long file names. Interesting!

#MSDOS #PCDOS #Microsoft #ScanDisk #RetroComputing #History

Show threadBen S.
@dfx I wonder if this is the result of a hallway conversation at Microsoft lol
Mar 2, 2025 at 9:59pmWeb
Show threadDesertFOXMar 2, 2025
@HunterZ Well, I guess it is only logical, but I still think it's fascinating to find this stuff so many years later.
Show threadSturmflutMar 2, 2025
@dfx @HunterZ It certainly is! I wonder how it detects this. Since there is a "may" involved probably simple heuristics.
Show threadDesertFOXMar 2, 2025

@Sturmflut @HunterZ

"IF DOS.VERSION >= 7.0" ... but that's only my assumption.

Show threadBen S.Mar 2, 2025
@dfx @Sturmflut yeah probably just a version check. Could use DOSVER to fool it into thinking it's running under 6.22 and see if the same thing pops up.