Overview of FAT32/LFN DOS
PTS-DOS 32, PTSDOS 2000 PRO version 7.01 revision 9 and MSDOS 7.1x/8 (which underpins Windows 95B/98/98SE/ME) natively support installation on FAT32 formatted partitions, as well as FAT12/16. The majority of DOS software will install on either a FAT12/16 or 32 formatted partition.
Files on a FAT32 formatted hard drive can be read/write from a DOS installed on a FAT12/16 formatted drive by using the DR-DOS DRFAT32 TSR Driver, though the maximum recognised partition size is 2GB and hard drive 8G. Alternatively Datalight ROM-DOS and PCDOS 7.1 revision0 (Symantec's Norton Ghost) natively supports FAT32 drives but both have limitations. The best option for FAT32 read/write support is either OpenDOS / DR-DOS with the 7.01.xx update or PTS-DOS 32.
PTS-DOS 32
Updated PTS-DOS 2000 version 6.70, supporting install on FAT32, large hard drives, up to 4Gb of memory and the ability to boot from Flash, Disk on Chip. DOS Navigator file manger which replaces the earlier versions DOS utilities is available for download from their website. PTS-DOS 32 has compatability with MSDOS 6.22/7.1 typing 'ver' states "Emulated version 7.10".
www.phystechsoft.com
PTS DOS 2000 PRO (FAT16/32)
Two versions of this update to PTS-DOS 2000 version 6.70 are included in the software package, version 6.80 revision 9 FAT16 and version 7.01 revision 9 FAT32 (maximum 8GB partition), as well as RitLabs DOS Navigator file manger, Partition Manager Easy and Drive Backup. Element5 or BTSoftware
OpenDOS 7.01.xx
This is an ongoing project and I quote "The aim of this project is to enhance the capabilities of DR-DOS/OpenDOS 7.0x and to add support for new standards to extend the life of this popular PC operating system", this is not a stand-alone version but intended to replace the current operating system base files to achieve compatibility to newer hardware. DRDOSProjects
DRDOS 8.x (temporarily removed)
Commercial updated version of 7.03 supporting install on FAT32, large hard drives, and the ability to boot from ROM or Flash. Version 7.03, HTML Viewer, TCP/IP Stack and Bootable DOS are also available. Device Logics
FreeDOS
FREEDOS is currently Beta9 but the aim for version 1.0 is to be compatible with MSDOS version 5 plus adding support for large hard drives and FAT32. It will boot from Flash if the Motherboard BIOS has this feature implemented and boot from ROM may also be feasible. www.freedos.org
Datalight ROM-DOS
Primarily aimed at the Embedded PC Market it is available in both MS-DOS 6.22 and 7.1x compatible versions, a suite of Networking Utilities is also available. Unfortunately the downloaded files requires a Windows PC to undertake the WinImage extraction. www.datalight.com
WinDOS version 7.xx
Please be aware that versions of MS-DOS 7.xx touted on the internet are illegal copies due to licensed files from Windows 9x, and in somes case FreeDOS and DR-DOS, being incorporated. I personally would avoid these versions.
Windows 9x incorporate a DOS subsytem equivelent to MS-DOS version 7.xx. Though it can be accessed from within Windows via the MSDOS Prompt, it can also be accessed prior to loading Windows by hitting the F8 key and choosing Command Prompt.
Alternatively it can be booted to the DOS C:\_ Command Prompt, see Ctyme and X86:
MSDOS version 8
Microsoft MSDOS version 8 underpins Windows ME and is intergrated into the GUI, therefore running this version as a stand alone O/S is more difficult than above. If you are using Windows XP the MSDOS boot disk is based on this version, and is ideal as a basis for a minimal O/S.