Windows ME : An Overlooked Operating System

[mycrisoft]

Released in 2000, Windows ME never received the widespread acceptance accorded to other members of the Windows family. The last Microsoft OS (operating system) based on Windows 9x consumer code, WinME appeared to be little more than a stop gap measure to fill a void while Microsoft pursued Windows XP development projects, with the goal of creating a consumer and professional OS based of the Windows NT kernel.

Although Microsoft considered it a full-fledged release, many disgruntled users viewed WinME as an overdue and overpriced bug fix for Windows 98.
WinME brought the look and feel of Windows 2000 to the consumer Desktop, although the cosmetic changes were subtle: new Desktop icons, new Control Panel options, and Start Menu modifications. GUI (graphical user interface) tweaks are an expected part of the evolution of an OS; other changes in WinMe were more obvious and welcome.

The new PCHealth system in WinME ensures users can't accidentally move or delete important system files and services. For example, if you delete all the apps in your Program Files folder, WinME makes a compressed backup copy first so you can restore the files later.

System Restore, part of PCHealth, lets WinME store information about how it was configured. If you need to return your system to an earlier configuration, use System Restore to return to a specific Restore Point. This alone is reason enough to upgrade. System Restore works on the Window Registry, drivers, DLLs (dynamic-link libraries), and applications.

Automatic updates take the Windows Update function found in previous OSes and automates it. Whenever you're connected to the Internet, WinME checks for new drivers, patches, and updates. You can also the Windows Update system manually.

WinME includes a new Help and Support center. In previous Windows OSes, clicking the Help button brought up a series of dialog boxes to click through before you could get to your question. WinME introduced a simple, Web-like help page with easy-to-follow menus and an improved search function. The help files are updated whenever you use Windows Update to update your system, so they're always current.

Advanced multimedia capabilities include Windows Media Player 7 and Windows Movie Maker. A standardized Windows Image Acquisition architecture aids in transferring images from scanners and digital cameras to your PC.

The Home Networking Wizard makes installing and configuring a home network a simple process. This feature includes UPnP (Universal Plug and Play). If toasters, refrigerators, or other network-aware household appliances ever become available, they'll be able to communicate with your PC.

In an attempt to create a more stable OS, Microsoft removed support for most legacy DOS code. You can still run most DOS programs, but unlike older versions of Windows, you can't boot directly into DOS.

[The Doctor]

I ran on Windows ME from the day it was released until October 10, 2008, when I made the switch to PCLinuxOS. ME remains one of the most unjustly hated, berated operating systems in computer history. Windows ME was what the 9x kernel should have been.

Anyone can use XP, but it takes a real geek to run on ME.

[scumble]

Actually, justly hated.

It takes a real geek to run on ME...

just what most computer users want, an operating system that needs specialist knowledge to keep running! Actually, even from the geeky point of view, ME was crap. It was obviously rush-released, to bridge the gap until XP was ready - and it shows. Unobtainable ME-only drivers, including motherboards (unless you are ready to spend days sourcing drivers and workarounds). Unexplained freezing and crashing, insufficient bug fixes, it stands proudly among the ranks of Microsoft's worst operating systems: Win 1.0 (withdrawn almost immediately due to massive bug), Win 98, (Win 98SE was actually Win 99), and Vista.

Win 98 could never have been ME, it took time to find where they went wrong with '98, more time to develop it, and they were busy first fixing '98, and then developing XP. Most computers then that ran '98 didn't have the resources for ME either.

[slavezero]

I strongly believe that Windows 98 is the most stable OS that Microsoft created. Win Me on the other hand is the worst on the MS OS family. They also did a good job fixing bugs in XP. With Vista they will solve the problems by releasing another version - Win7. but will it really solve the issues with Vista? Are we seeing another "Win ME" with Vista?