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Windows Me
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{{short description|Microsoft personal computer operating system released in 2000}} {{Distinguish|Windows 2000}} {{use mdy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox OS | name = Windows Millennium Edition | version of = [[Windows 9x]] | logo = Microsoft Windows Millenium Edition Logo.svg | logo_size = 200px | screenshot = WindowsME.png<!-- When taking screenshot, please resize your window (e.g. 640Γ480), disable your extensions and use the default theme. --> | caption = Windows Me desktop, including taskbar and shortcuts | developer = [[Microsoft]] | source_model = [[Closed source]] | license = [[Proprietary software]] | supported_platforms = [[IA-32]] | kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel]] | preceded_by = [[Windows 98]] (1998) | succeeded_by = [[Windows XP]] (2001)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hoffman |first1=Chris |title=Windows Me, 20 Years Later: Was It Really That Bad? |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/688861/windows-me-20-years-later-was-it-really-that-bad/ |website=How-to-Geek |access-date=7 February 2022 |date=21 August 2021 |archive-date=February 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207205524/https://www.howtogeek.com/688861/windows-me-20-years-later-was-it-really-that-bad/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | release_version = 4.90.3000 | discontinued = yes | RTM_date = {{Start date and age|2000|6|19}} | GA_date = {{Start date and age|2000|9|14}}<ref name="winme-availability">{{cite web|title=Microsoft Announces Immediate Availability Of Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me)|url=http://news.microsoft.com/2000/09/14/microsoft-announces-immediate-availability-of-windows-millennium-edition-windows-me/|website=News Center|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=September 14, 2000|access-date=January 28, 2017|archive-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227105752/https://news.microsoft.com/2000/09/14/microsoft-announces-immediate-availability-of-windows-millennium-edition-windows-me/|url-status=live}}</ref> | release_date = {{Start date and age|2000|9|14}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Windows Me: Microsoft Releases New Operating System Built From the Ground Up for Home PC Users|url=http://news.microsoft.com/2000/09/14/windows-me-microsoft-releases-new-operating-system-built-from-the-ground-up-for-home-pc-users/|website=News Center|date=September 14, 2000|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=January 28, 2017|archive-date=December 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215000934/https://news.microsoft.com/2000/09/14/windows-me-microsoft-releases-new-operating-system-built-from-the-ground-up-for-home-pc-users/|url-status=live}}</ref> | marketing target = Consumer | website = {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000902091149/http://microsoft.com/windowsMe/ |date=September 2, 2000 |title=Windows Me}} | support_status = Mainstream support ended on December 31, 2003<br />Extended support ended on July 11, 2006<ref name=supportend>{{cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle?p1=6519|title=Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition|work=Microsoft Support Lifecycle|access-date=2016-05-24|publisher=Microsoft|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090626/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle?p1=6519|url-status=live}}</ref> | date = January 2009<!-- approximate date of template insertion for dating hidden maintenance categories --> }} '''Windows Me'''{{refn|group=note|Pronounced like the pronoun "me"}} ('''Millennium Edition''') <!--Attention! Do NOT change to "was". This violates [[MOS:TENSE]], which specifies that all articles on operating systems are written in present tense, even if discontinued.-->is an [[operating system]] developed by [[Microsoft]] as part of its [[Windows 9x]] family of [[Microsoft Windows]] operating systems. It was the successor to [[Windows 98]], and was released to manufacturing on June 19, 2000, and then to retail on September 14, 2000. It was Microsoft's main operating system for home users until the introduction of its successor [[Windows XP]] on October 25, 2001.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/top-10-things-you-must-know-about-win-xp/ | title=The 10 top things you MUST know about Win XP | publisher=[[CNET Networks]] | work=[[ZDNet]] | date=October 25, 2001 | access-date=July 22, 2008 | first=David | last=Coursey | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208055856/http://www.zdnet.com/article/top-10-things-you-must-know-about-win-xp/ | archive-date=December 8, 2015 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Windows Me was targeted specifically at home PC users, and included [[Internet Explorer 5.5]] (which could later be upgraded to [[Internet Explorer 6]]), [[Windows Media Player]] 7 (which could later be upgraded to Windows Media Player 9 Series), [[DirectX]] 7 (which could later be upgraded to DirectX 9) and the new [[Windows Movie Maker]] software, which provided basic video editing and was designed to be easy to use for consumers; it is the last [[MS-DOS]]-based Windows version as all consumer versions starting with Windows XP moved to the [[Windows NT]] kernel.<ref name=presspass /> Microsoft also incorporated features first introduced in [[Windows 2000]], which had been released as a business-oriented operating system seven months earlier, into the graphical user interface, [[Windows Shell|shell]] and [[Windows Explorer]]. Although Windows Me was still ultimately based around [[MS-DOS]] like its predecessors, access to [[real-mode]] DOS was restricted to decrease system [[Booting|boot]] time.<ref name="realmode">{{cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/269524|title=Overview of Real Mode Removal from Windows Millennium Edition|date=January 14, 2006|website=Microsoft Help and Support|publisher=Microsoft|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210180456/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/269524|archive-date=December 10, 2006|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref> Windows Me was initially positively received when it was released; however, it soon garnered a more infamous reputation from many users due to numerous stability problems.<ref name="cwworstwindows"></ref><ref name="pcworldworsttech">{{cite web |last1=Tynan |first1=Dan |date=26 May 2006 |title=The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/125772/worst_products_ever.html?page=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329095850/https://www.pcworld.com/article/125772/worst_products_ever.html?page=2 |archive-date=March 29, 2018 |access-date=17 February 2021 |website=PCWorld |publisher=IDG |language=en}}</ref><ref name="forbesworstwindows"></ref> In October 2001, Windows XP was released to the public, having already been under development at the time of Windows Me's release,<ref name="forbesworstwindows">{{cite web|last1=Collins|first1=Barry|title=20 Years Ago Microsoft Released The Worst Windows Ever: Windows Me|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/barrycollins/2020/09/05/20-years-ago-microsoft-released-the-worst-windows-ever-windows-me/?sh=3dc5fc8a6baa|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329130059/https://www.forbes.com/sites/barrycollins/2020/09/05/20-years-ago-microsoft-released-the-worst-windows-ever-windows-me/?sh=3dc5fc8a6baa|archive-date=March 29, 2021|access-date=16 February 2021|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> and incorporated most, but not all, of the features of Windows Me, while being far more stable. Mainstream support for Windows Me ended on December 31, 2003, followed by extended support on July 11, 2006.<ref name="endofsupport">{{cite web |last1=Montalbano |first1=Elizabeth |title=Microsoft support for Windows 98, ME to end in July |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2561853/microsoft-support-for-windows-98--me-to-end-in-july.html |website=Computerworld |access-date=16 February 2021 |language=en |date=13 April 2006 |archive-date=March 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329130119/https://www.computerworld.com/article/2561853/microsoft-support-for-windows-98--me-to-end-in-july.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
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