# MS-DOS 4.0

> version of the MS-DOS operating system

**Wikidata**: [Q97870394](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q97870394)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ms-dos-4-0

## Summary
MS-DOS 4.0 is a version of the MS-DOS operating system developed by Microsoft and published in 1988. It is a distinct product from the multi-tasking version of MS-DOS 4.0 released in 1986 and was originally distributed on 5¼-inch floppy disks.

## Key Facts
*   **Developer:** Microsoft (American multinational technology corporation).
*   **Publication Date:** 1988.
*   **Instance of:** Operating system (software that manages computer hardware resources).
*   **Distribution Format:** 5¼-inch floppy disk.
*   **License:** MIT License.
*   **Distinguished From:** Multi-tasking MS-DOS 4.0 (released in 1986).
*   **Aliases:** Also known as 单任务MS-DOS 4.0 (Single-tasking MS-DOS 4.0).
*   **Copyright Status:** Copyrighted.

## FAQs
### Q: When was MS-DOS 4.0 released?
A: MS-DOS 4.0 was published in 1988. This release is distinct from the multi-tasking version of MS-DOS 4.0 which appeared in 1986.

### Q: Who developed MS-DOS 4.0?
A: MS-DOS 4.0 was developed by Microsoft, an American multinational technology corporation headquartered in Redmond, United States.

### Q: How was MS-DOS 4.0 distributed?
A: The operating system was distributed using 5¼-inch floppy disks.

### Q: Is MS-DOS 4.0 the same as the multi-tasking version?
A: No, this version is explicitly different from "Multi-tasking MS-DOS 4.0," which was released in 1986.

## Why It Matters
MS-DOS 4.0 represents a specific iteration in the evolution of personal computing operating systems managed by Microsoft. As an operating system, its primary role is to manage computer hardware resources, acting as the foundational interface between the user and the machine. The existence of two different versions labeled "4.0" (one multi-tasking in 1986 and this version in 1988) highlights a complex period in operating system development where different architectural approaches were being tested and marketed.

This version is notable for its specific distribution method via 5¼-inch floppy disks, the standard physical medium for software deployment in the late 1980s. Furthermore, the entity is currently identified as being under the MIT License, a significant detail regarding its code availability and usage rights. It serves as a historical marker for software development practices, distinguishing itself from concurrent multi-tasking experiments to serve as a distinct, copyrighted system for general use.

## Notable For
*   **Distinction from Multi-tasking version:** It is explicitly cataloged as being different from the 1986 Multi-tasking MS-DOS 4.0.
*   **Licensing:** It is associated with the MIT License.
*   **Physical Media:** It was distributed specifically on 5¼-inch floppy disks.
*   **Developer Origin:** Created by Microsoft, a major entity in the technology industry with over 180 sitelinks connected to its operating systems.

## Body
### Development and Classification
MS-DOS 4.0 is classified as an operating system, a type of software designed to manage computer hardware resources. It is an edition or translation of the broader MS-DOS family (identified in databases as Q47604). The software was created by Microsoft, a technology corporation founded on April 4, 1975, and headquartered in Redmond, United States.

### Version History and Distinctions
A critical aspect of MS-DOS 4.0 is its differentiation from other versions with similar names. Records indicate a clear distinction between this version and the "Multi-tasking MS-DOS 4.0," which was released in 1986. The subject of this entry is the version published in 1988, which is sometimes referred to by the alias "Single-tasking MS-DOS 4.0" (单任务MS-DOS 4.0).

### Technical Specifications and Distribution
The software is identified as version 4.0. During its initial release, the primary distribution format was the 5¼-inch floppy disk. The software is listed as copyrighted, though current structured data indicates a license value of the MIT License.