To say that everyone that missed the years leading up to Microsoft's release of Windows also caused them to miss logging onto Local Bulletin Boards (BBS) and uploading and/or downloading files, applications, utilities, and computer games - also missed a part of growing up loving computers. But this webpage will allow you to experience those missing years.
Create a temporary manila file folder on your Windows Desktop or on removable media and name it BBS. Open the folder and create seven (7) more folders inside of the BBS folder. Name these seven folders Diamond, Ruby, Emerald. Sapphire. WinCollect, Games1, and Games2
Select any of the Bulletin Board file indices by right-clicking the link and click on the menu option 'Save Target As' and navigate to the matching inside folder (send to) to store the Index file(s). From a Command Prompt window - create the following Batch file - use the Index Name and save a copy to the respective file folders: (Diamond is shown as an example)
Follow this syntax to create the Batch file 'DIAMOND.BAT':
1) Type on copy con DIAMOND.BAT (press the ENTER Key to return)
2) Type on edit allfiles.bbs (press the ENTER Key to return)
3) Hold the Ctrl Key and simultaneously press the Z Key - (press ENTER to create the file).
4) Create the other six (6) batch files and place the appropriate batch file in each folder.
If you had rather use the MS-DOS EDIT utility then that is your option, but again you will miss an exercise in doing it like it was done when MS-DOS was the Operating System! With the newly- created batch file inside of the file folder, click on Diamond.bat to open the file index in the MS-DOS utility EDIT which can be advanced by clicking the PAGE DOWN key or by clicking the Down Cursor Key. There is a neat way to close the EDIT pane by clicking the ALT key to hi-lite the FILE button - followed by clicking the ENTER key -- followed by clicking the UP ARROW cursor key - and closed by clicking the ENTER key. These four steps can be seen in the following series of screen snapshots:
Press ENTER to exit EDIT and return to your Windows Desktop.
The following constitutes the complete listings of files contained on the subject ZIPs: