Which operating system became the standard for IBM-compatible computers?

The correct choice is MS-DOS, which stands for Microsoft Disk Operating System. This operating system became the de facto standard for IBM-compatible personal computers in the early years of the personal computing revolution. When IBM introduced its first personal computer in 1981, it used MS-DOS because it provided a simple, effective command-line interface for managing files and running applications.

MS-DOS was instrumental in establishing an ecosystem of software applications, as many developers created software specifically for this operating system. This dominance set the stage for Microsoft Windows to eventually build on the MS-DOS foundation, but initially, MS-DOS was essential for the basic operation of IBM-compatible hardware in its early days. Over time, as Windows evolved into a graphical user interface operating system, it started to overshadow MS-DOS, but the significance of MS-DOS as the standard operating system for these computers cannot be understated.