Virtual PC (1996) 22 Virtualization Windows OS2 MacOS

Virtual PC started off originally as an x86 emulator for PowerPC Macintosh to run MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows. Connectix, the company that made it, was purchased by Microsoft. Virtual PC was then retooled into a virtualization tool for x86 systems. Microsoft discontinued Virtual PC in favor of a server-oriented virtualization product called Hyper-V.

• 4.x

Wolfenstein 3D (1992) 21 DOS

An early first person shooter developed by ID Software. In this game you play a captured spy that must defeat Nazi soldiers to escape from Castle Wolfenstein.

• All

Microsoft OS/2 SDK (1987) 19 DOS OS2

The Microsoft OS/2 SDK includes pre-release builds of OS/2, beta development tools, sample code, and loads of documentation. These were released prior to the OS/2 1.0 and 1.1 releases. Microsoft charged $3,000 in 1987 for the SDK. It was criticized as overpriced, buggy, and slow.

• 1.00-1.01
• 1.02
• 1.03
• 1.04
• 1.05
• 1.06
• 1.10
• 2.0

Microsoft FORTRAN (1977) 18 DOS

This is Microsoft's implementation of the FORTRAN scientific-oriented high level programming language. It was one of their early core languages developed for the 8-bit computers and later brought to the 8086 and IBM PC. For the IBM OEM version, see the IBM Fortran Compiler. In 1993 Microsoft rebranded the product as Microsoft Fortran Powerstation. (Note: -80 refers to the 8080/Z80 platform, not the language specification version)

• 3.x
• 4.x
• 5.x

OS/2 1.x (1986) 17 OS2

OS/2 was originally a joint effort between IBM and Microsoft. It grew out of efforts to create a Multitasking MS-DOS. It was intended to be the future OS for IBM's new PS/2 series. At release it competed against Microsoft's Windows GUI shell, but most users continued to use DOS. OS/2 1.x was used as the basis for Citrix Multiuser | 1.x | 2.x | 3.x | 4.x | All |

• Pre-Release
• 1.0
• 1.1
• 1.2
• 1.3

QNX (1982) 17 DOS

QNX is a compact Unix-like real-time operating system that was originally designed for the IBM PC and later used in embedded devices. The versions here are for IBM PC compatibles.

• 0.x

Microsoft Pascal (1981) 17 DOS OS2

The Microsoft Pascal Compiler is Microsoft's implementation of the ISO Pascal language for DOS, Xenix, and OS/2. It was among Microsoft's early language products provided for DOS. It was superseded by Microsoft QuickPascal. The Microsoft Pascal Compiler was licensed to IBM, who sold it as the IBM Pascal Compiler.

• 1.1x
• 2.x
• 3.0x
• 3.1x
• 3.2
• 3.3x
• 4.0

Framework (1984) 17 Word Processor Spreadsheet Graphics Communications Database DOS

Originally created by Forefront Corporation for Ashton-Tate and first released in 1984, Framework was an early integrated office suite for DOS. It has a built in word processor, spreadsheet, database, outliner, graphing, and telecommunications.

• 1.0
• Premier 1.x
• II
• III
• XE
• IV

FoxBASE (1987) 17 Database DOS Unix MacOS

FoxBASE, a relational database from Fox Software, started off in 1984 as a clone of dBase II that boasted many speed improvements. FoxBASE+ adds feature parity and compatibility with dBase III Plus. It was later aquired by Microsoft and became FoxPro

• Plus 1.x
• Plus 2.x

Clipper (1990) 16 DOS Windows

Clipper, from Nantucket Corp and later Computer Associates, started out as a native code compiler for dBase III databases, and later evolved in to a full fledge database language and application development environment.

• 5.x

MS CD Extensions (MSCDEX) (1997) 15 DOS

MSCDEX is the real-mode MS-DOS file system redirector used in conjunction with your CD-ROM driver for accessing CD drives. The CD-ROM driver, which is provided by your CD-ROM drive manufacturer, provides the hardware and protocol specific software interface to your drive. MSCDEX interfaces with this driver to present the raw CD-ROM data as a file system accessible as a DOS drive letter.

• 1.25

XTree (1985) 15 Utility DOS

XTree is an easy to use text-mode file manager. It pioneered the use of a GUI-like hierarchy tree, and provides many integrated file viewers. It competed against many other file managers including Gazelle Q-DOS and Norton Commander

• 1.x
• 2.x
• Pro 1.x
• Pro Gold 1.x
• Gold 2.x
• Easy
• Gold 3.x

Sidekick (1984) 15 Utility PIM DOS OS2

Borland Sidekick is a DOS based PIM (Personal Information Manager) and one of the first widely-used TSR (terminate and stay resident) programs. The key feature of Sidekick was that one could use Sidekick's utilities while using most other MS-DOS applications. This was important because MS-DOS had no built-in multi-tasking or task switching capabilities.

• 1.x
• Plus
• 1.0 for OS/2
• 2.0

McAfee VirusScan (1995) 14 Utility DOS Windows OS2

McAfee VirusScan was a very popular and reliable virus scanner during the late 90s. Notably, they distributed a free shareware version of their product. VirusScan was often pre-loaded with OEM computers.

• 2.x
• 4.x

Breadbox Ensemble (2001) 13 DOS

First released in 2002, Breadbox Ensemble from Breadbox Computer Company, was a commercial office application suite for DOS that was based on GEOS/Geoworks and New Deal Office.

• 4.x

86-DOS (1981) 13 DOS

86-DOS is a "quick and dirty" operating system clone of CP/M created by Seattle Computer Products for their 8086 S-100 systems. It was later bought by Microsoft and used as the basis for IBM PC-DOS and MS-DOS

• 1.00

Microsoft Flight Simulator (1982) 13 DOS

Flight Simulator is simulation "game" in which you pilot an airplane around the world. It started off as subLOGIC Flight Simulator on the Apple II, but was OEMed by Microsoft for the IBM PC. It was very popular, and one of few early games to provide a "3d" experience.

• 1.x
• 2.x
• 3.x
• 4.x
• 5.x

Autodesk AutoCAD (1984) 12 Graphics Engineering DOS

AutoCAD, from Autodesk and first released in 1982, is a powerful Computer Aided Design tool. It was, and still is, often considered the standard for CAD tools. Primarily for the IBM PC platform, it was ported to x86 machines with higher video resolutions such as the Zenith Z-100 and NEC APC. Intermittently, versions for the Macintosh appeared. Later versions use a dongle copy protection.

• 1.x (DOS)
• 2.x (DOS)
• r10 (DOS)
• r11 (DOS)

The Print Shop (1984) 12 Publishing DOS

The Print Shop is a home oriented publisher capable of creating calendars, banners, greeting cards and other printable goods. It started off on the Apple II and Commodore 64 where it became popular for its simplicity and ease of use. From day one, it featured interactive editing, on-screen artwork/layout selection, print previewing, and a library of customizable clipart.

• For IBM PC (DOS)
• The NEW PS (DOS)
• Deluxe

Lattice C (1984) 12 DOS

Lattice C was originally released by Lifeboat Associates in June 1982 for the IBM PC. Microsoft repacked Lattice C as "Microsoft C 2.0", however Microsoft C 3.0 and later used Microsoft's internally developed product instead. Lattice C was ported to MVS, VMS, Unix, OS/2, Amiga, Atari ST, and Sinclair.

• 2.x
• 3.x

QRAM (1990) 12 Utility DOS

QRAM is a memory management tool for 8088, 8086, and 286 based PCs. It can work with LIM 4.0 EMS memory cards, shadow RAM, and even VGA memory to free up or add to the base 640k memory. It also provides XMS compatible extended memory services, so it can replace Microsoft's himem.sys.

• 1.x
• 2.x

GW-BASIC (1987) 11 DOS

GW-BASIC is a version of BASIC that was supplied with MS-DOS and as a replacement for IBM ROM basic. GW-BASIC replaced the earlier BASIC-86 supplied with some non-IBM OEM MS-DOS 1.x and 2.x. MS-DOS 5.0 and later replaced GW-BASIC with QBasic , a stripped down version of QuickBasic.

• 3.x

Dr Halo (1985) 11 Graphics DOS

Dr Halo, by Media Cybernetics, is a DOS based image editor. It was sometimes distributed as a value-added tool with mice or video cards. Its image editing capabilities were fairly weak, and its main strength came from its adaptability to new hardware, positioning it mainly as an entry-level product provided with new hardware.

• II
• III
• IV

Microsoft Project (1984) 11 Planning DOS

Microsoft Project is a project management chart and gantt chart generator. It is a Microsoft Office family member, and built on the Office code, although it has never shipped with any Office suite.

• 1.0 for DOS
• 2.0 for DOS
• 3.0 for DOS
• 4.0 for DOS

LapLink (1987) 11 Communications DOS

LapLink, from Traveling Software Inc., enables users to easily and quickly move files between two DOS computers using only a serial null-modem cable or a special parallel port connector. No other hardware is needed. Laplink was extremely popular.during the late 80s and early 90s. It was infinitely easier to set up any two arbitrary PCs (often portables or laptops) with LapLink than other methods, such as DOS based networking. MS-DOS 6 bundled a similar set of file transfer tools called INTERLNK and INTERSVR.

• 2.x
• 3.x
• 4.x
• 5.x