Hi, PS> VMWare is Windows Emulation Software so really PS> can not be compared to Standalone versions of PS> DOS. Emulation questions are best asked in PS> the appropriate Linux/Mac/Windows Forum. Here's a surprizing statement, the W32 version of `VMWare WorkStation v5' doesn't feel like regular Win NT/W2K/W2K3/XP DOS Boxes at all! It hides the underlying environment to a point the virtual machine has its own CMOS Setup utility, the serial ports become available to "PURE" DOS communication SoftWare, the NIC Packet-Driver works normally, a partition can be formatted and have a DOS system installed using the `Sys.COM' command, euh... the memory can be handled using an ordinary DOS memory manager, etc., etc. In short, if it happens to be operating in full screen mode it can be quite easy to forget that all this actually depends on a W32 platform. Any question related to DOS under this type of HardWare Emulator environment, or even the `VMWare WorkStation v5' SoftWare for that matter, would simply sound most INNAPROPRIATE in a W32 forum! The quest for purity becomes so twisted a 64-Bits DOS machine may seem a natural DOS plaform while the very same individual is ready to discard another type of machine (with its specific driver requirements, etc.) because it's a radical change. Well, if it looks, works and feels like "PURE" DOS this close why shouldn't i be satisfied with it?!? Perhaps when someone has booted from a DOS CD or disquette, formatted the partition, installed a DOS system, managed memory resources and loaded a few peripheral drivers, euh... perhaps when that guy is able to convince me he went thru it all and we're not talking about OS bashing here, then i'll listen to arguments against the `VMWare' emulator. In the meantime, "Sys" commands in a W32 DOS Box and under such DOS setup don't compare at all!... Salutations, Michel Samson a/s Bicéphale

Apologies for previous comments but JW has clarified the situation: http://www.computing.net/dos/wwwboard/forum/15875.html