Editing Windows Me (section)

==Development history==
At the 1998 Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, Microsoft CEO [[Bill Gates]] stated that Windows 98 would be the last iteration of Windows to use the Windows 9x kernel, with the intention for the next consumer-focused version to be based on the Windows NT kernel, unifying the two branches of Windows. However, it soon became apparent that the development work involved was too great to meet the aim of releasing before the end of 2000, particularly given the ongoing parallel work on the eventually-canceled [[Windows Neptune|Neptune]] project. The Consumer Windows development team was therefore re-tasked with improving Windows 98 while porting some of the look-and-feel from Windows 2000. Microsoft President Steve Ballmer publicly announced these changes at the next Windows HEIC in 1999.<ref name="supersite_me_gold">{{cite web|url=http://winsupersite.com/windows/road-gold-development-windows-me|title=The Road to Gold: The development of Windows Me|last=Thurrott|first=Paul|date=5 July 2000|website=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129115834/http://winsupersite.com/windows/road-gold-development-windows-me|archive-date=29 November 2014|access-date=23 May 2019}}</ref>

On July 23, 1999, the first [[alpha version]] of Windows Me was released to testers. Known as Development Preview 1, it was very similar to Windows 98 SE, with the only major change being a very early iteration of the new Help and Support feature that would appear in the final version. Three more Development Previews were released over the subsequent two months.<ref name="supersite_me_gold"/>

The first [[beta version]] was released to testers and the industry press on September 24, 1999, with the second coming on November 24 that year. Beta 2 showed the first real changes from Windows 98, including importing much of the look-and-feel from Windows 2000, and the removal of real-mode DOS. Industry expert Paul Thurrott reviewed Beta 2 upon release and spoke positively of it in a review.<ref name="beta2">{{cite web |last1=Thurrott |first1=Paul |title=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows: Windows "Millennium" Beta 2 Reviewed |url=http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/millennium_b2.asp |website=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows |access-date=18 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816180143/http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/millennium_b2.asp |archive-date=16 August 2000 |date=16 August 2000}}</ref> By early 2000, Windows Me was reportedly behind schedule, and an interim build containing the new automatic update feature was released to allay concerns about a delayed-release.

In February 2000, Paul Thurrott revealed that Microsoft had planned to exclude Windows Me, as well as new releases of [[Windows NT 4.0]], from CD shipments for [[MSDN]] subscribers. The reason given in the case of Me was that the OS was designed for consumers. However, Thurrott alleged that the real motivation behind both case was to force [[software developers]] to move to [[Windows 2000]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itprotoday.com/windows-78/microsoft-using-msdn-force-developers-down-win2k-path|title=Microsoft using MSDN to force developers down Win2K path|date=February 9, 2000|website=IT Pro|access-date=October 23, 2020|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026224607/https://www.itprotoday.com/windows-78/microsoft-using-msdn-force-developers-down-win2k-path|url-status=live}}</ref> Three days later, following a write-in and call-in campaign by hundreds of readers, Microsoft announced that Windows Me (including development versions) would ship to MSDN subscribers after all. Microsoft also apologized personally to Thurrott, claiming he received misinformation, though in a follow-up article he stated that it was "clear that the decision [...] actually changed".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itprotoday.com/windows-78/msdn-relents-millennium-and-nt-40-heads-subscribers|title=MSDN relents: Millennium and NT 4.0 heads to subscribers!|date=February 12, 2000|website=IT Pro|access-date=October 23, 2020|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027165246/https://www.itprotoday.com/windows-78/msdn-relents-millennium-and-nt-40-heads-subscribers|url-status=live}}</ref>

Beta 3 was released on April 11, 2000, and this version marked the first appearance of its final startup and shutdown sounds, which were derived from [[Windows 2000]]. Previous beta releases up until that point used the same startup and shutdown sounds from Windows 98.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thurrott |first1=Paul |title=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows: Windows Millennium Edition ("Windows Me") Beta 3 Reviewed |url=http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/millennium_b3.asp |website=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows |access-date=18 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000510004755/http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/millennium_b3.asp |archive-date=10 May 2000 |date=10 May 2000}}</ref>

===Release===
Although Microsoft signed off on the final build of Windows Me on June 28, 2000, after trialing three Release Candidate builds with testers, the final retail release was pushed back to September 14 for reasons that were not clear.<ref name="supersite_me_gold"/>

Shortly after Windows Me was released to manufacturing on June 19, 2000,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.microsoft.com/2000/06/19/microsoft-windows-millennium-edition-released-to-manufacturing-2/#sm.0000lm387012ryfgctcampr0x7y2u |title=Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Released to Manufacturing |date=June 19, 2000 |publisher=Microsoft.com |access-date=2016-12-29 |archive-date=December 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230203425/http://news.microsoft.com/2000/06/19/microsoft-windows-millennium-edition-released-to-manufacturing-2/#sm.0000lm387012ryfgctcampr0x7y2u |url-status=live }}</ref> Microsoft launched a marketing campaign to promote it in the U.S., which they dubbed the ''Meet Me Tour''. A national partnered promotional program featured the new OS, [[Original equipment manufacturer#Computers|OEMs]] and other partners in an interactive multimedia attraction in 25 cities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/19449/microsoft-to-hit-the-road-with-meet-me-tour.html |title=Microsoft to hit the road with 'Meet Me' tour |publisher=Windowsitpro.com |date=2000-08-29 |access-date=2010-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204170508/http://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/19449/microsoft-to-hit-the-road-with-meet-me-tour.html |archive-date=2010-02-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Windows Me was released for retail sale on September 14, 2000.<ref name=presspass>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2000/sept00/availabilitypr.mspx|title=Microsoft Announces Immediate Availability Of Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me)|date=2000-09-14|work=Microsoft PressPass – Information for Journalists|access-date=2008-08-02|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109133113/http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2000/sept00/availabilitypr.mspx|archive-date=2012-01-09|url-status=dead}}</ref> At launch time, Microsoft announced a time-limited promotion from September 2000 to January 2001 which entitled Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE users to upgrade to Windows Me for $59.95 instead of the regular retail upgrade price of $109. Non-upgrade versions cost $209, the same as Windows 98 on its release.<ref name="MePromoPrice">{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2000/jul00/promopricingpr.mspx |title=Microsoft Announces Promotional Pricing For Windows Millennium Edition Upgrade |publisher=Microsoft.com |access-date=2010-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504162638/http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2000/jul00/promopricingpr.mspx |archive-date=2010-05-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Nearly over a year after Windows Me's release, Microsoft released its successor [[Windows XP]] on October 25, 2001, which included the [[ZIP (file format)|ZIP folders]] and the [[Microsoft Spider Solitaire|Spider Solitaire]] game from Windows Me by default while also providing [[Internet Explorer 6]], the updated version of Internet Explorer 5.5 from Windows Me, all while being based on the more stable and reliable [[Windows NT]] kernel, which on XP was an evolution of the one found in [[Windows 2000]].