Software Review
Windows ME Upgrade CD ROM
by T. R. Cardwell

My daughter's computer (my old box) bit the dust and I had to spring for another one. Turned out the new Compaq had Windows ME installed from the factory.
No disk was included, but it sure did work smooth. I especially liked the way it automatically went out on the Net and "grabbed" updates and waited until you wanted to install them. The operating system took anything my daughter threw at it and performs as if nothing has happened. It provides an automatic backup on the HD and uses its utilities to keep the system running flawlessly. Its response time is great and boots well. It handles multi-tasking better than Windows 98 and doesn't flinch or crash as often.
I jumped at the chance to install it on my computer. I thought if I could get mine running as well as my daughter's, I'd have fewer headaches. I also liked the idea of how it went and got the updates, rather than me having to remembering to do it.
Well -- I wish I could report that things went smoothly! They did NOT. I've tried installing Windows ME 11 times. I've joined four different forums and sent numerous e-mails to Microsoft. It failed to upgrade my version of Windows 98. The final conclusion from Microsoft was to do a "naked" install. That means reformatting the HD and installing Windows ME and having to reinstall ALL my programs. I refuse to go through an ordeal like I did when I installed Windows 98! So if anyone needs a "clean" copy of Windows ME, just let me know.
So, I opted to try out Windows XP. It takes five hours to install and if you don't pay attention to what it tells you on the front end about what equipment will not work after installation, you will get caught in a jam. I lost the ability to use my modem, since Windows XP can't "find" or "install" my PCI bus. I had no scanner since the company would rather sell a new one instead of updating drivers.
After these two experiences, I am VERY disappointed in Microsoft. Backward compatibility used to be something a customer could bank on from them. Bill Gates promised to never leave us "in the dust" when upgrading. Seems his message got lost along the way. If I have programs and equipment made obsolete overnight after installing the latest operating system, I will be slow to gravitate to the new platform. New technology just for the sake of being NEW is no longer attractive to me.
Equipment and software are not cheap. It takes a lot of twisting and turning and effort to get things working the way they should without failures. Microsoft's operating systems and attempts to copy Apple's interface have always been buggy, even after they claim to have the largest Beta tester database in the world.

MicroSoft Corp. Redmond, WA produces WINDOWS ME. www.microsoft.com