LANtastic (1990) 19 DOS Windows

Lantastic is an easy to use, low cost networking system targeted at small networks and home users. It was very popular and highly rated in the early 1990s. Unlike most LAN networking software of the time, Lantastic required only installation and minimal, straightforward, configuration. Lantastic gives users the ability to share printers and files on a hard drive or CD-ROM. It is considered a "peer-to-peer" network, as there is no need for a dedicated server. Any computer may be configured as a server as well as a client. Lantastic was also very memory efficient, using minimal DOS memory in both workstation and sever modes, enabling users to run most popular DOS applications while Lantastic was running. Lantastic supported Ethernet, ARCNET and Token Ring networks. Artisoft also sold networking kits that included both network adapters and the Lantastic software. Lantastic was avaialble for DOS, Windows, and OS/2. At the time it competed against Novell Netware Lite, and many other small LAN oriented products.

• 5.0
• Z
• 6.x
• 7.0

LapLink (1987) 9 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.

• 5.x

Lemmings (1994) 2 DOS

Lemmings is a puzzle platform game originally published for the Amiga in 1991. The objective is to guide a group of humanonid lemmings through mazes to the exit. You must dtermine how to assign a limited amount of 8 unique skills to specific lemmings. These kills allow a lemming to alter the terrain, affect behavior of others, or to clear obsticles. It was a highly popular game in the early 1990s and came in several sequels and spin-offs.

• 3D

LinkRight (1994) 0 Communications DOS OS2

LinkRight is a serial/parallel port file transfer utility for OS/2, and includes a DOS version. The included LinkRight Cloner tool copies a complete OS/2 partition including boot information. It is similar to LapLink, and can use a "LapLink" parallel cable.

• 1.x

Logitech Mouseware (1987) 5 DOS Windows

Logitech mice and pointing devices were popular competition to Microsoft or Microsoft clone mice. Logitech mice often had extra features that required Logitech drivers, and early Logitech mice were not Microsoft or Mouse Systems protocol compatible.

• 7.x
• 8.x

Lotus 1-2-3 (1983) 53 Spreadsheet DOS

Lotus 1-2-3 was an early spreadsheet application available for MS-DOS. It became extremely popular in the late 1980s, displacing the former leader VisiCalc. Lotus had difficulties adapting 1-2-3 to the Windows environment, and was overtaken by Microsoft Excel. Spreadsheet functionality was also included in Lotus Symphony. Later versions were included in Lotus SmartSuite.

• 4.x (DOS)

Lotus Approach (1993) 0 Database DOS

Lotus Approach, originally from Approach Software Corporation, is a relational database management system. Approach promises "instant productivity" with its WYSIWYG form and report designer, and is compatible with many existing database formats. Approach started off as an independent product, was purchased by Lotus, and later IBM. It was included in Lotus SmartSuite for Microsoft Windows.

• 2.x

Managing Your Money (1989) 5 Financial DOS

Managing Your Money is your easy-to-use personal finance manager. MYM has all you'll need to take control of your finances. You can automate your checking account, track credit investments, reduce your debts, plan your savings, decide whether to refinance your mortgage, and much more. You don't have to use all this at first or ever. But it's nice to know its all here when you need it. It is sometimes titled as "Andrew Tobias' Managing Your Money".

• 11.0
• 12.0

Max Blast (1999) 2 DOS

Max Blast is a utility for setting up Maxtor hard drives. It includes a partitioning tool, BIOS overlay, bad sector re-mapping, and an advanced diagnostic program. It also includes 32-bit mode IDE drivers for Windows 3.1.

• Plus 1.x
• Plus II

MAXLLF - Maxtor Low Level Format Utility (1996) 4 DOS

MAXLLF is a utility for low level formatting IDE (PATA) hard disks drives. Technically, on newer IDE drives this simply wipes the drive, but also forces bad/weak sectors to re-map to spares. Supports CHS and LBA up to 127GB and works with any brand of drive (not just Maxtor).

• 1.1

McAfee VirusScan (1995) 2 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

Memory Commander (1992) 0 Utility DOS

Memory Commander, from V Communications, Inc, is a memory manager similar to QEMM or 386MAX, but can expand the DOS base memory beyond 640K with some kinds of applications.

• 4.x

MetaWare High C/C++ (1991) 3 DOS

MetaWare High C/C++ is a very robust cross platform compiler for DOS, Unix, OS/2, Windows, and Windows 32. Originally a C compiler targeting CP/M and DOS, 'Metaware High C/C++ was later extended to support OS/2 and the 80386 architecture. After the failure of Metaware it was taken over by MQX Embedded who re-targeted it at the embedded market. MQX Embedded is now Synopsys and the product is now referred as Synopsys Metaware Compiler with no OS/2 version.

• 3.3x

Micro Focus Cobol (1993) 1 DOS

Micro Focus COBOL is a powerful high-speed COBOL language compiler that supported cross platform development between DOS, Windows, OS/2 and Unix. It features an interface developer for both GUIs and text mode, a code debugger, a code analyzer, and later versions included support for object oriented code development. It claimed it made COBOL programmers more efficient, while speeding up migration from mainframes to personal computers.

• 3.x

Microsoft COBOL (1980) 6 DOS Windows

Cobol is a high level language designed for use in business that uses English-like commands. Microsoft got its early start by producing language products such as this one. Their other early language products included Microsoft Fortran, Microsoft Pascal, Microsoft Basic, and Macro Assembler. This product was also licensed to IBM as IBM Cobol Compiler.

• 5.0

Microsoft Diagnostics (1989) 5 DOS

Microsoft Diagnostics is a DOS-based diagnostic troubleshooting tool

• 3.x

Microsoft Flight Simulator (1982) 25 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.

• 5.x

Microsoft Mail (1991) 0 Communications DOS

There were two distinct "Microsoft Mail" products. One for AppleTalk Networks, and one for PC Networks.

• 3.2

Microsoft Mouse (1984) 46 DOS Windows

These are drivers provided by Microsoft for the Microsoft BusPort, serial, and PS/2 mice. Introduced in 1983, The Microsoft Mouse is historically important as it was one of Microsoft's earliest hardware products (The other being an Apple II Z-80 CP/M card). The first Mouse for the IBM PC was actually from Mouse Systems, not Microsoft. However, most clone mice emulated Microsoft's serial protocol and DOS driver software interface. The first application designed to make full use of the mouse was Microsoft Word for DOS, and they hyped a product called "Microsoft Windows" (not released until several years later) that was to compete against the upcoming Apple Macintosh and the Mouse Systems based Viscorp Visi On.

• 9.x
• 11.x

Microsoft Space Simulator (1993) 0 DOS

Microsoft Space Simulator is a space flight simulator program for MS-DOS. It was one of the first general-purpose space flight simulators and it incorporated concepts from astrodynamics and celestial mechanics.

• 1.0

Microsoft Windows Boot Disk (1995) 402 DOS

These disks are original boot floppy disk media for use with Microsoft Windows CD-ROMs. Not all Windows 9x/ME CDs are bootable, not all CDs included boot disks, and DOS will not see a CD-ROM drive unless a driver is loaded. OEMs were expected to provide compatible CD-ROM with the boot media provided with their systems. However towards the very late 90s, most vendors standardized on IDE/ATAPI CD-ROM hardware and the use of the OEM Adaption Kit (OAK) driver. If your CD drive is not IDE compatible (such as an MKE or Panasonic interface) you must manually add your own driver. Note: you can use the Windows 98 boot disk with Windows 95 to make things easier. If you have any UNTOUCHED OEM boot disks with different drivers, please submit them.

• 95 RTM
• 95 OSR2.x
• 98 FE
• 98 SE
• ME

Microsoft Word (1983) 96 Word Processor DOS Windows MacOS

The Microsoft Word word processor was first introduced for MS-DOS in 1983. Its design made use of a mouse and WYSIWYG graphics. Its crude WYSIWYG/mouse support was a direct response to the Apple Lisa/Mac, and VisiCorp Visi On. Initially it competed against many popular word processors such as WordStar, Multimate, and WordPerfect. Word for DOS was never really successful.

• 6.x

MicroStation (1991) 1 Graphics DOS

First released in 1985, MicroStation is a computer aided design program originally written to read and later write Interactive Graphics Design System (an early single-purpose hardware/software CAD system) design files. It was influenced by Bentley System's 1984 graphics terminal based PseudoStation software. The file format, and therefore the software, became a standard in government agencies.

• 5.0.x

MoneyCounts (1989) 1 Financial DOS

MoneyCounts is a simple and powerful personal accounting software program from Parsons Technology. This was popular for PCs in the 80s and in 1995 was sold to Intuit, makers of Quicken.

• 8.0

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