Microsoft Windows Me FAQs

Windows Me FAQs What is Windows Me?
Windows Me is a new consumer operating system for PCs, and it is intended to replace Windows 98 in the summer of 2000. This new operating system may also come pre-installed on retail PCs as well around the same time.

How is the Windows Me different from Windows 98?
Windows Me, from a software and customer perspective, is not very different from Windows 98. There are some minor differences in networking protocols and locations of certain features between the two operating systems. Newer multimedia enhancements, easier home networking, enhanced stability, and new Internet tools are among the additions Windows Me will provide over Windows 98.

Are there any significant changes in Windows Me affecting storage?
The same file system preparation techniques and installation methods used in Windows 95/98 apply to hard disc storage in Windows Me. The predominant file system used for larger drives, FAT32, has not changed in Windows Me.

What market is intended for Windows Me?
Microsoft is marketing Windows Me to be the replacement for Windows 98 in the home PC environment. Windows 98, and now Windows Me, are the best operating system choice for the all-purpose home computer, as both products are priced similarly. However, Windows 98 is used in home and corporate desktop environments and Windows Me is targeted to the home user only, as Windows 2000 is now being targeted to the corporate desktop and workstation.

What are the differences between Windows Me and Windows 2000?
Windows Me is structurally based on the 16-bit DOS (Disk Operating System) code base, although it is a native 32-bit operating system. The underlying technology of Windows Me is very similar to the software platform on which Windows 95/98 was built. Windows 2000, in contrast, was designed from the Windows NT software platform, and on a completely different code structure. Windows NT and Windows 2000 are native 32-bit operating systems built upon a 32-bit code base. Some customers state that Windows NT-based operating systems, such as Windows 2000, are more stable in important corporate desktops and workstations and critical computing systems than the “Win9x” operating system. Although the “look & feel” of Windows Me and Windows 2000 is strikingly similar, the backend processing of both operating systems and the underlying code is very different between the two.

Are there any networking protocol changes in Windows Me?
As of March 2000, beta releases of Windows Me had shown Microsoft had discontinued native support for some networking protocols which are present in Windows 95/98 and Windows NT/2000. The main reason for this regarded the target market for Windows Me – the home PC. Because the majority of home PCs do not require a full suite of separate networking protocols (IPX/SPX. Banyan Vines, etc.), it is believed Microsoft considered discontinuing support of some commonly used corporate and business networking protocols from Windows Me, as they are usually unnecessary for the home PC user.

However, as of April 2000, a large amount of user feedback swayed Microsoft’s decision to remove some of these networking protocols, and native Novell Netware support was added back to Windows Me. For exact descriptions of the networking support changes in Windows Me from earlier versions of Windows, please contact Microsoft for the most updated information.

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Microsoft Windows Me FAQs (Part II)

Windows Me Is there support for a “rollback” feature that guarantees a working system in case of Windows Me failure?
There is a feature in Windows Me called “System Restore” – this feature allows Windows Me to revert to an earlier “known working” configuration of the Windows Me installation if the current configuration becomes corrupted and makes Windows Me unbootable or unusable. For further information on this feature and how it is used, please contact Microsoft.

Will Windows Me still run my older 16-bit applications and DOS applications?
Microsoft has stated that Windows Me will have complete compatibility for older 16-bit applications that run in DOS, Windows 3.xx, and Windows 95/98.

Will this be the last Windows operating system based on DOS?
Microsoft has stated that Windows Me will indeed be the last operating system based on the 16-bit DOS code base.

How do I make a bootable floppy or bootable hard drive with Windows Millennium (WinMe)?
Right clicking on a drive (floppy or hard drive) in My Computer or Windows Explorer only allows for formatting, WinMe no longer offers an option to copy system files and make the drive bootable. Use the following procedures for making a drive bootable.

Floppy: Making a WinMe Startup Disk is the only way to make a bootable floppy with WinMe. The WinMe Startup Disk is made the same way as in Win95/98 (My Computer-Control Panel-Add/Remove Programs-Startup Disk Tab-Create Disk).

Hard Drive: Using the SETUP command contained on the Distribution CD is the only way to make a bootable hard drive with WinMe. Although the WinMe Startup Disk still includes the FORMAT and SYS commands, you will receive the following notices when trying to use FORMAT C: /S or SYS C: “Microsoft Windows no longer supports the FORMAT /s command” or “Cannot find the system files in the standard locations on drive c:. SYS can only be used on drive c: to attempt repair of an already existing installation of Windows. Use Windows SETUP (Distribution CD) to make drive c: bootable”.

Will my Windows 95/98 programs run under Windows Me?
Because Windows Me shares so many common features and inherent programming structure with Windows 95/98, most, if not all, programs and applications from the previous versions of Windows 95/98 will work under Windows Me. However, contacting your software vendors and/or Microsoft for software application compatibility before purchasing Windows Me is a good idea.

Will Windows Me be available to purchase in retail stores, or will it be available only pre-installed on new PCs?
Windows Me should become available in retail stores sometime during the late Spring or early Summer months of 2000. It is believed that during this same time, many retail PC manufacturers will begin offering Windows Me pre-installed on many computer systems.

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