The MS-DOS 5.0 project started in December 1989. Codenamed "Lifeboat", it is based on MS-DOS 4.00 code. It was the first version of MS-DOS to use beta builds.[1][2][3]
Several MS-DOS 5.00 betas were released before the final launch:
| Builds | Description | Desktop Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Build 70 | Build 70 is MS-DOS 5.00 Pre-Beta 1 Build. | |
| Build 112 | Build 112 is MS-DOS 5.00 Pre-Beta 1 Build. | |
| Build 223 | Build 223 is MS-DOS 5.00 Beta 1 Build. | |
| Build 224 | Build 224 is MS-DOS 5.00 Beta 1 Build dated to 06-07-1990. Dosshell is split into three parts: Color Manager, File Manager and Program Manager. | |
| Build 225 | Build 225 is MS-DOS 5.00 Beta 1 Build. | |
| Build 226 | Build 226 is MS-DOS 5.00 Beta 1 Build. | |
| Build 227 | Build 227 is MS-DOS 5.00 Beta 1 Build. | |
| Build 333 | Build 333 is MS-DOS 5.00 Beta 2 Build dated to 08-15-1990. Is the first MS-DOS 5.00 Builds to have Task Swapper | |
| Build 392b | Build 392b is MS-DOS 5.00 Beta 2 Build. | |
| Build 409c | Build 409c is December 1990 build of MS-DOS 5.00. |  |
| Build 432 | Build 432 is January 1991 build of MS-DOS 5.00. | |
| Build 460 | Build 460 is late January 1991 build of MS-DOS 5.00 dated January 30, 1991 | |
| Build 490 | Build 490 is early February 1991 build of MS-DOS 5.00 dated February 7, 1991 |  |
| Build RC1 | Build RC1 is first Release Candidate Builds dated on Feb 28, 1991. | |
| Build RC3 | Build RC3 is the first third Release Candidate builds. | |
| Build RC3A | Build RC3A is the Release Candidate dated on March 8, 1991. | |
| Build RC10 | Build RC10 is dated at March 22, 1991. It seems to be the final Release Candidate. |