Windows Me

Windows Me (Millennium Edition) is the hybrid 16/32-bit operating system which appeared on October 14, 2000.

Windows Me continues a line Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE. At the heart of Windows Me there is Windows 98 kernel.

Innovations

• The configuration of loading is transferred to the register

Windows Me does not process the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files at start. These files are left only for backward compatibility with different applications.

• New features of system recovery

The new feature of System Restore is intended automatically to trace and remember the changes made in system files and the register of Windows. System Restore allows to cancel the changes which caused instability of a system. It is reached at the expense of periodic creation of so-called recovery points (Restore Point) that gives the chance to return a system to a status for that time when it functioned steadily. System Restore traces the most part of system files with the expansions .exe, .vxd, .dll, .com, and .sys, but does not conduct tracking the files created by the user.

• Function of protection of the system files System File Protection (SFP)

The task of System File Protection consists in observation of that files, crucial for system operation, were not accidentally deleted or replaced with older versions (or the versions which are not certified by Microsoft). Any software product can substitute the system file only if the new file is delivered together with the directory signed with the electronic signature of Microsoft. If the software product, including own products of Microsoft, tries to replace the protected Windows Me file with older version, then the "native" vrsiya of the file will be automatically recovered. If the program installer or the user rewrites or deletes the protected file, SFP in the background will recover the original version of the file. It is necessary to notice that SFP does not give any error messages in case of similar transactions.

• New Hibernate mode

Theoretically, this mode allows to remember a system status and the activated applications before switching off of the computer. Having turned on the computer next time, it is possible to work with the same data and programs which were open at Hibernate activation.

• New network capabilities:
  • Advanced core of a stack of TCP/IP
  • New master of a home network.
  • Enhanced capabilities of dialup access and manager of connections
  • Program of diagnostics of network
  • The improved support of network devices

• Support of UPnP-devices (UPnP – Universal of the Plug and Play)
• New format of a help system
• Automatic update via Windows Update
• The interface is partially processed
• The new version of the browser - Internet Explorer 5.5 and the player - Windows Media Player 7 is added.
• Support of the new equipment is added
• Support of a real mode of MS-DOS is deleted
• Work with USB- and Firewire-devices is improved

System Requirements

Minimum hardware requirements necessary for the Windows Millennium Edition (Me) installation:

• The Pentium-compatible processor with clock rate 150 MHz or above
• 32 MB OF THE RAM
• At least 320 MB of free disk space
• CD - or the DVD driver
• Mouse of Microsoft Mouse or the compatible specifying device
• Video adapter and VGA monitor or higher resolution

See Also

• Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft corporation

Links

• The minimum hardware requirements for the Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition installation
• Overview of opportunities Windows ME
• Windows Me FAQ