Windows ME

Microsoft Windows Me was the last operating system released by Microsoft in the Windows 9x line that is running on MS -DOS. The abbreviation Me is the official spelling Millennium Edition ( German for Millennium Edition).

History

Originally Windows 98 should be the last operating system in the Windows 9x line are; a successor to Windows NT 5.0, the later Windows 2000, should merge the NT and 9x lines. The development of NT 5.0, however, was affected by massive delays that could move the publication of a successor in the distance. In March 1999, Microsoft organized its corporate structure and new split from the previous Windows team that was involved in the development of Windows 2000, a team of developers from, which should focus on Windows for home users. The public interpreted this first as a plan to develop a version of Windows 2000 for home users, but on April 7, 1999, Microsoft announced a complete surprise to now but a successor to Windows to release 98, which was known as the Millennium. This sudden reversal had several reasons. The system requirements of Windows 2000 were still too high for home users, and the hardware and software support was not as good as Windows 9x. In addition, the target group of home users require the developer 's view, none of the advanced features of Windows 2000, such as a directory service, the only ballooned the operating system.

Shortly thereafter, the developers were trying to gather ideas that could be incorporated in the new product. This resulted in the first preliminary version of the operating system, which was presented on 23 July 1999. The goals continued the development team, were better multimedia support, a deeper integration with the Internet and easier setup of home networks. The product should work without the user must delve deeper with the operating system. To ensure this, the operating system should (English Activity Center ) include so-called activity centers. These should be an intuitive HTML-based operation, even more rarely used functions, such as editing images easier. Due to problems with the integration of these activity centers in the operating system, however, the concept had to be discarded; only the Windows Help and System Restore make last remnants of the activity centers dar.

In September 1999, the first beta test of the operating system followed. Detailed reports about the operating system, Microsoft turned, however, on the ground, this beta version not yet imagine the functional state of the final dar. This changed on 24 November 1999, when the second beta version of the operating system was released. The development stopped shortly thereafter, as the developers decided to port the TCP / IP protocol stack of Windows 2000, which claimed a lot of time. On 1 February 2000, finally, Microsoft announced the final name of the operating system, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition on. The close concentration to home users brought to the operating system during the development of a critique of numerous journals. Originally, the operating system should not be distributed to MSDN subscribers, but what Microsoft changed after protests. Also, the NetWare client would now still be part of the operating system.

On 11 April 2000 followed by a third beta test. Problems with the Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer made ​​for delays in the development process, so that the RTM stage was not achieved as originally planned in May, but only on 19 June 2000. The release of the operating system followed on 14 September 2000. Operating system cost, just like Windows 98 before, 209 USD and 109 USD as a full version and upgrade version. For Windows 98, it was a special offer, so that they could purchase for 60 USD, the upgrade version already.

The Mainstream Support for Windows Me ended on 31 December 2003. Originally, the Extended Support should end a year later, however, Microsoft extended support Windows Me along with Windows 98 until 30 June 2006.

Architecture

Microsoft initially claimed that Windows Me, similar to the operating systems of the Windows NT - series, no longer was based on DOS. This turned out to be false, however, quickly, although Microsoft numerous ways to access the MS -DOS mode, remote from the operating system. The existing Windows Me MS- DOS was modified with the aim of a shorter start time. The AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files are ignored by the operating system and only Definitions of environment variables are evaluated by these settings are copied to the Windows registry. The formerly independent files HIMEM.SYS and SmartDrive were integrated into the IO.SYS and compress them so that they will load faster into memory. The Windows registry database itself has also been improved; from the previous it up and make the Classes.dat was split, containing the contents of the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT hive. Thus, only the necessary parts of the registry are loaded during the startup process.

Windows Me includes several new programming interface, designed especially to meet the needs of home users. Windows Image Acquisition (WIA ) is used for the automatic recognition of scanners and digital cameras, about to start the wizard to scan an image. Also send pictures by e -mail directly from the scanner without having to save the image to your hard drive is so possible. About DirectPlay Voice can talk directly to each other, provided the game for this interface was programmed players through a microphone. Using Universal Plug and Play ( UPnP) compatible devices can be configured by the operating system.

Description

From the first time the operating system is loaded, a wizard that guides the user through the first steps of setting up the operating system. The Merlin character, a magician from Microsoft Agent, during this process serves as a help function. In addition to a tutorial on how to use the mouse, these are in particular the region setting and entering the product key. After the boot process flows seamlessly into a welcome screen that presents the new features of Windows Me.

The user interface of Windows Me is largely in the Windows 2000 counterpart. Windows Me includes Internet Explorer 5.5 and Windows Media Player 7.0, which is very different from the previous version. New is the Windows Movie Maker, a simple video editing program, can be recorded and edited with the video. From Plus! the Compressed Folders feature, the zip files was adopted for Windows 98 also supported with no third-party programs. The games were also made in addition to the Plus! dating game Spider Solitaire, as well as the game 3D Pinball: Space Cadet from Windows NT 4.0, some simple online games added, which can be played only on the Internet. A new wizard simplifies setting up a home network. The help function has been completely redesigned in Windows Me, now it unites the help files of all Windows components and also allows the points of support requests via the Internet.

Similar to Windows 2000 Windows Me contains the System File Checker, monitors important system files of the operating system and replaces them with backup copies when they are changed or deleted. The newly introduced System Restore backs up on a regular basis when applications are installed or if the user desires the most important files of the operating system and allows, if necessary, to restore to an earlier stand replaces the older program Microsoft Backup, which nevertheless on the Windows Me CD is available. About the new Automatic Updates feature, the operating system can be automatically kept up to date.

System

The minimum requirements to install Windows Me features an Intel Pentium processor with 150 MHz, 32 MB RAM, 320 MB free hard disk space, CD -ROM drive and a floppy disk drive, a VGA - compatible graphics card and a sound card and that speaker. In addition to the full version and an upgrade was available, with an existing Windows 95 or Windows 98 could be upgraded to Windows Me.

The CD- ROM of Windows Me is not bootable, and it is settled no boot disk. On a new PC to install Windows Me is impossible without a second operating system such as Windows 98 to purchase.

Resonance

The response to Windows Me was first mixed. It has been criticized that many new features of Windows Me, such as the new Internet Explorer are also available for older operating systems, so there would be less incentive to upgrade the operating system. Also criticized was the fact that the Windows Media Player and Movie Maker would not let uninstall, and the legal although precisely at this time Microsoft consequences threatened due advantage of its monopolistic position in the browser war.

Soon after the release, however, the opinion tipped heavily into negative because numerous errors in the operating system installed Windows Me a bad reputation a. A security vulnerability has been known on the day of publication, could be crashed by Windows Me. Especially compatibility problems with applications and drivers made ​​for discontent among users. However, new features of Windows Me were affected by the error; System Restore turned around due to an error, a service after September 8, 2001, and so newer restore points were no longer working.

570543
de