The best abandonware applications
Abandonware DOS is not only about games. Some of the most fondly remembered software for old PCs is an application. These applications, both for DOS and early versions of Windows, played pivotal roles in shaping the personal computing landscape. They introduced users to various productivity tools, multimedia experiences, and the potential of GUI-based interfaces.
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Microsoft Word
Windows XP/98/95Windows 3.x1983 word processor
3D Studio 3
DOS1993 graphics editor
Before Pixar made you cry with a lamp and a toy cowboy, there was 3D Studio 3 on DOS. Released in 1993, this was the go-to tool for aspiring animators who didn’t mind waiting three hours to render a spinning cube. It came wi...
Rawcopy
DOS1992 utility, gaming software
GW-BASIC 3
DOS1988 programming
GW-BASIC (short for Gee Whiz BASIC) is a dialect of the BASIC programming language that was developed by Microsoft. It's one of the early implementations of BASIC and was included as the default programming environment in early ve...
Dungeon Master's Assistant Vol 1
DOS1988protected gaming software
Borland Turbo Pascal 2.0
DOS1983 programming
Borland Paradox 4.5
DOSWindows XP/98/951993 database
Borland Turbo Pascal 1.0
DOS1983 programming
Melody Maker 3
DOS1992 sound software
Microsoft Cobol
DOS1982 programming
Microsoft Word 5.5 for DOS
DOS1990 word processor
PC Paintbrush
DOS1984 graphics editor
Quattro Pro v4
DOS1991 spreadsheet
Virtual Reality Studio
DOS1991 gaming software
Volkswriter 3
DOS1982 word processor
WinFrotz
Windows XP/98/952002freeware gaming software
Word Perfect 5
DOS1989 word processor
Adventure Game Studio (AGS)
Windows 10/11LinuxMac OS1997freeware gaming software
Adventure Game Studio (AGS) is a software development tool that enables users to create point-and-click adventure games. It was originally created by Chris Jones and has been used by game developers to produce a variety of 2D adve...
Borland Eureka: the Solver
DOS1987 programming
Borland Eureka: the Solver is an abandoned text-based application developed by Borland Software Corporation and released in 1987 for DOS. The product is designed to solve complex problems, generate tables and plots, and perform wh...
IBM Assistant 2.0
DOS1986 word processor, spreadsheet, utility
Norton Commander 1.0
DOS1986 file management
Norton Commander was a file manager and editor application released by Peter Norton Computing for DOS. Norton Commander used a text-based user interface with side-by-side panels and featured copy, delete, editing and preview ...
Norton Desktop
DOS1992 utility
Borland Turbo Pascal 3.0
DOS1986 programming
Netscape Navigator 4
Windows XP/98/95Windows 3.x1997 browser
Netscape Navigator was one of the earliest web browsers that played a crucial role in popularizing the World Wide Web. It was developed by Netscape Communications Corporation and released in 1994. Netscape Navigator was among the ...
Doszip Commander
DOS2007freeware file management
DeskMate
DOS1984 utility, spreadsheet, word processor
Deskmate is a software suite developed by Tandy Corporation that provided a graphical user interface (GUI) and a set of applications for personal computers. It was often bundled with Tandy's TRS-80 and Tandy 1000 series of compute...
Music Time Deluxe
Windows XP/98/951996 sound software
The Patcher 6.1
DOS1993 utility, gaming software
Dungeon Master's Assistant Vol 2
DOS1989protected gaming software
Cartooners
DOS1989 graphics editor
Cartooners lets you live out your childhood dream of being a one-person animation studio… minus the caffeine addiction. It’s a charming sandbox where you can draw your own characters, animate them, and build little sk...