Editing Windows Me (section)

==New and updated features==
===User interface===
Windows Me featured the [[Windows Explorer#Windows Me and Windows 2000|shell enhancements]] inherited from [[Windows 2000]] such as personalized menus, customizable Windows Explorer toolbars, auto-complete in Windows Explorer address bar and Run box, Windows 2000 advanced file type association features, displaying comments in shortcuts as tooltips, extensible columns in Details view (IColumnProvider interface), icon overlays, integrated search pane in Windows Explorer, sort by name function for menus, ''Places bar'' in common dialogs for ''Open'' and ''Save'', cascading [[Start menu]] [[special folder]]s, some Plus! 95 and Plus! 98 themes, and updated graphics. The notification area in Windows Me and later supported [[HiColor#16-bit highcolor|16-bit high color]] icons. The Multimedia control panel was also updated from Windows 98. ''Taskbar and Start Menu'' options allowed disabling of the drag and drop feature and could prevent moving or resizing the taskbar, which was easier for new users.

===Hardware support improvements===
* Faster boot times: Windows Me features numerous improvements for improving [[Hard reboot|cold boot]] time, pre and post-logon boot times and time required for resuming from hibernation.<ref name="FastBoot1">{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/fast-boot.mspx|title=Improving "Cold Boot" Time for System Manufacturers|date=2001-12-04|website=Windows Hardware Developer Central|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125012228/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/fast-boot.mspx|archive-date=2009-01-25|url-status=dead|access-date=2010-08-26}}</ref> Processing of real mode configuration files, <code>[[CONFIG.SYS]]</code> and <code>[[AUTOEXEC.BAT]]</code>, is bypassed at startup and essential real mode drivers like <code>[[HIMEM.SYS]]</code> and <code>[[SMARTDRV.EXE]]</code> are embedded into <code>[[IO.SYS]]</code>.<ref name="FastBoot1" /> The registry is loaded only once; for efficient loading, the registry is split into three files instead of two (<code>[[SYSTEM.DAT]]</code> and <code>[[USER.DAT]]</code>), with the new file <code>[[CLASSES.DAT]]</code> containing the contents of the hive <code>HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT</code> required for boot loaded initially.<ref name="FastBoot1" /> Plug and Play device enumeration is more parallelized than in Windows 98.<ref name="FastBoot1" /> Boot time is not affected due to unavailability of a DHCP server or other network components.<ref name="FastBoot1" /> There are also optimizations to prevent boot slowdown due to [[BIOS]] [[Power-on self-test|POST]] operations.<ref name="FastBoot1" />
* [[USB human interface device class|USB Human Interface Device Class]]: Generic support for 5-button mice is also included as standard<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/gg454511.aspx|title=Windows and the 5-Button Wheel Mouse|date=December 4, 2001|website=[[Microsoft Developer Network]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314033300/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/gg454511.aspx|archive-date=March 14, 2013|access-date=April 17, 2019}}</ref> and installing [[IntelliPoint]] allows reassigning the programmable buttons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/254660|title=Fourth and Fifth Mouse Buttons Not Recognized by Windows|website=Microsoft Support|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126125329/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/254660|archive-date=November 26, 2012|access-date=April 17, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Windows Image Acquisition]]: Windows Me introduced the Windows Image Acquisition [[Application programming interface|API]] for a standardized method of allowing Windows applications to transparently and more easily communicate with image acquisition devices, such as [[digital camera]]s and [[Image scanner|scanners]]. WIA intended to improve the configuration and the user interface for interacting with scanners and such devices, (which were previously supported by the [[TWAIN]] standard) and simplify writing device drivers for developers. WIA also includes support for USB still image capture device classes such as scanners and cameras through the [[Picture Transfer Protocol]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/wia/-wia-startpage|title=Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)|date=May 31, 2018|website=Microsoft Docs|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=April 17, 2019|archive-date=April 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415052518/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/wia/-wia-startpage|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Improved power management and suspend/resume operations: The OEM version of Windows Me supports OS-controlled ACPI S4 sleep state<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.activewin.com/interviews/microsoft/7.shtml |title=Interview with Nicolas Coudière, Chief Product Manager: Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) |publisher=Activewin.com |access-date=2010-08-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025093556/http://activewin.com/interviews/microsoft/7.shtml |archive-date=2010-10-25 }}</ref> ([[Hibernate (OS feature)|hibernation]]) and other power management features without manufacturer-supplied drivers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/winpowmgmt.mspx#EUE |title=Windows Power Management |publisher=Microsoft.com |date=2001-12-04 |access-date=2010-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040713182635/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/winpowmgmt.mspx#EUE |archive-date=2004-07-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* USB and FireWire support improvements: Windows Me is the only operating system in the Windows 9x series that includes generic drivers for [[USB mass storage device]]s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/bus/USB/USBFAQ_intro.mspx#E2DAC|title=USB FAQ: Introductory Level|date=2004-07-04|website=Windows Hardware Developer Central|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409202106/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/bus/USB/USBFAQ_intro.mspx#E2DAC|archive-date=2008-04-09|url-status=dead|access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref> and USB printers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/usbprint.mspx#EXB |title=USB Printers – Architecture and Driver Support |publisher=Microsoft.com |date=2005-11-02 |access-date=2010-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822090207/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/usbprint.mspx#EXB |archive-date=2010-08-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Support for FireWire [[Serial Bus Protocol 2|SBP-2]] scanners and storage devices is also improved.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg454506#E3AAC|title=IEEE1394 and the Windows platform|date=2001-12-14|website=[[Microsoft Developer Network]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108214828/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg454506#E3AAC|archive-date=2011-11-08|access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref>
* The {{Not a typo|[[Windows Multimedia API|waveOut]]}}, [[DirectSound]], and [[DirectShow]] APIs support non-[[PCM]] formats such as [[Dolby AC-3|AC-3]] or [[Windows Media Audio|WMA]] over [[S/PDIF]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463249|title=Non-PCM Wave Formats and WDM Audio Drivers|date=December 4, 2001|website=[[Microsoft Developer Network]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302091804/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463249|archive-date=March 2, 2013|access-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref>

===Media===
* [[Windows Movie Maker]]: This utility is based on [[DirectShow]] and [[Windows Media]] technologies to provide Microsoft Windows computer systems with basic video capture and edit capabilities. It provides users with the ability to capture, edit, and re-encode media content into the [[Windows Media]] format, a tightly compressed format that requires a minimal amount of storage space on the computer's hard disk when compared to many other media formats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/communities/movie.mspx |title=Microsoft Windows Movie Maker Community |publisher=Microsoft.com |access-date=2010-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824062216/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/communities/movie.mspx |archive-date=2010-08-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Windows Media Player]] 7: The new version of the Windows multimedia player software introduces jukebox functionality featuring the Media Library, support for CD burning, an integrated media encoder, and the ability to transfer music directly to portable devices. Another new feature is its radio tuner that can be used to search for and connect to radio stations over the internet. Users can also customize the look and feel of the user interface through interactive skins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://winsupersite.com/article/product-review/windows-media-player-7-reviewed|title=Windows Media Player 7 reviewed|last=Thurrott|first=Paul|access-date=January 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901190139/http://www.winsupersite.com/article/product-review/windows-media-player-7-reviewed|archive-date=September 1, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Windows Me can be upgraded to Windows Media Player 9 Series, which was later included in [[Windows XP#Service Pack 2|Windows XP SP2]].
* [[Windows DVD Player]]: The software [[DVD player]] in Windows Me is a redesigned version of the one featured in Windows 98 which, unlike its predecessor, does not require a dedicated decoder card for DVD playback. Instead, it supports software decoding through a third-party decoder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272985|title=Description of DVD Player in Windows Millennium Edition|date=2007-01-29|publisher=Support.microsoft.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109042429/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272985|archive-date=2011-01-09|url-status=dead|access-date=2010-08-26}}</ref>

===Networking technologies===
* Net Crawler: Windows Me introduced a net crawling feature<ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/276322|title=How to Disable Net Crawl Functionality|date=2007-01-29|website=Microsoft Support|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423121641/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/276322|archive-date=2008-04-23|url-status=dead|access-date=2014-05-21}}</ref> which automatically searches out and creates shortcuts to network shares and printers in ''My Network Places''. This can be controlled using the ''Automatically search for network folders and printers'' option. Shortcuts that are added by the net crawler but not detected again on the network in a reasonable time period are aged out and deleted.
* New [[TCP/IP]] Stack: Windows Me includes the [[Windows 2000]] networking stack and architecture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/WinMe/maintain/netcomp.mspx?mfr=true|title=MS Windows Millennium Edition: Networking Components|website=[[Microsoft Technet]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061124202407/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/WinME/maintain/netcomp.mspx|archive-date=2006-11-24|url-status=dead|access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref>
* The Home Networking Wizard is designed to help users to set up a computer that is running Windows Me for use on a small [[home network]]. This includes setting up [[Internet Connection Sharing]] (ICS) on a computer running Windows Me so the computer can share a connection to the Internet with other computers on the home network.
* [[Dial-up]] Networking component was updated in Windows Me and provides several enhancements while maintaining the desired features of prior releases of the operating system. The user interface had been reworked to provide all configurable parameters in one convenient location. The user interface now included three new tabs: ''Networking'', ''Security'' and ''Dialing''. To improve dial-up networking, Windows Me includes built-in support for the Connection Manager dial-up client. Using the Connection Manager Administration Kit (an optional networking component in Windows 2000 Server), network administrators can pre-configure and deploy dial-up networking connections, by means of a Connection Manager service profile, to Windows Me–based client machines.
* [[Network Driver Interface Specification]] (NDIS) version 5.0 for Windows Me was enhanced to provide programming interface parity with NDIS version 5.0 in Windows 2000 (the programming interfaces used by network device drivers are the same for both platforms.)
* [[Universal Plug and Play]]: Windows Me introduced support for Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). Universal Plug and Play and NAT traversal APIs can also be installed on [[Windows 98]] and [[Windows 98 SE]] by installing the Windows XP Network Setup Wizard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa939488(WinEmbedded.5).aspx|title=Network Setup Wizard Down Level Setup|date=October 18, 2010|website=[[Microsoft Developer Network]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=April 5, 2019|archive-date=October 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022192342/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa939488(WinEmbedded.5).aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

===System utilities===
* [[System Restore]]: Windows Me introduced the "System Restore" logging and reversion system, which was meant to simplify troubleshooting and solve problems. It was intended to work as a rollback and recovery feature so that if the installation of an application or a driver adversely affected the system, the user could undo the installation and return the system to a previously working state. It does this by monitoring changes to Windows system files and the [[Windows registry|registry]]. System Restore protects only the operating system files, not documents, and therefore is not a substitute for a backup program.
* [[System File Protection]]: First introduced with [[Windows 2000]] (as [[Windows File Protection]]), and expanding on the capabilities introduced with [[System File Checker]] in Windows 98, [[System File Protection]] aimed to protect system files from modification and corruption silently and automatically. When the file protection is in effect, replacing or deleting a system file causes Windows Me to silently restore the original copy. The original is taken from a hard drive backup folder (<code>%WinDir%\Options\Install</code>) or from the Windows Me installation CD, if the cached copy of files on the hard disk has been deleted. If no installation CD is in the drive, a dialog box alerts the user about the problem and requests that the CD be inserted. [[System File Protection]] is a different technology from [[System Restore]] and should not be confused with the latter. [[System Restore]] maintains a broad set of changed files including added applications and user configuration data stored repeatedly at specific points in time restored by the user, whereas [[System File Protection]] protects operating system files with no user input.
* [[MSConfig|System Configuration Utility]] allows users to manually extract and restore individual system files from the Windows Me setup files. It has also been updated with three new tabs called "Static VxDs", "Environment" and "International". The ''Static VxDs'' tab allows users to enable or disable static [[VxD|virtual device drivers]] to be loaded at startup, the ''Environment'' tab allows users to enable or disable [[environment variable]]s, and the ''International'' tab allows users to set international language keyboard layout settings that were formerly set via the real mode MS-DOS configuration files. A ''Cleanup'' button on the ''Startup'' tab allows cleaning up invalid or deleted startup entries.
* [[System Monitor]] has been updated with a Dial-Up Adapter section. Users can now monitor items such as Connection Speeds, Bytes Received or Transmitted / Second.
* [[SCANDISK]] runs from within Windows upon an improper shutdown before the [[Windows Shell]] loads.
* [[Automatic Updates]]: The Automatic Updates utility automatically downloads and installs critical updates from the [[Windows Update]] Web site with little user interaction. It is set up to check Windows Update once every 24 hours by default. Users can choose to download which update they want, although high-priority updates must be downloaded and installed.
* Compressed Folders: Windows Me includes native support for [[ZIP (file format)|ZIP]] files through the 'Compressed Folders' Explorer extension. This extension was originally introduced in the [[Microsoft Plus!|Plus! 98]] collection for Windows 98, but is included in the base operating system in Windows Me.
* A new ''Help and Support'' program has also been added, replacing the [[HTML Help]]-based documentation in Windows 2000 and Windows 98. The Help and Support Center is entirely HTML-based and takes advantage of a technology called Support Automation Framework (SAF), that can show support information from the internet, allows collecting data for troubleshooting via WMI and scripting and for third parties to plug into Windows Help and Support.<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/winme/bulk/oem/health/Support_Automation_Framework_56k/MS_Studio_PCHFest_Support_Automation_Framework.ppt Support Automation Framework]{{dead link|date=August 2010}}</ref> Several other support tools also shipped with Windows Me.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/servicedesks/webcasts/en/wc020101/wct020101.asp&sd=dell |title=Windows Millennium Edition support tools webcast |publisher=Support.microsoft.com |access-date=2010-08-26 |archive-date=August 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814153912/http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=%2Fservicedesks%2Fwebcasts%2Fen%2Fwc020101%2Fwct020101.asp&sd=dell |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Windows Me also includes Internet Explorer 5.5, which supports a new Print Preview feature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://winsupersite.com/windows/windows-millennium-edition-windows-me-beta-3-reviewed|title=Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me) Beta 3 Reviewed|publisher=SuperSite for Windows|date=12 April 2000|access-date=2014-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129115848/http://winsupersite.com/windows/windows-millennium-edition-windows-me-beta-3-reviewed|archive-date=2014-11-29|url-status=dead}}</ref> It also shipped with the [[MSN Messenger]] Service.

===Accessibility features===
* [[Virtual keyboard|On-Screen Keyboard]]: Originally introduced with Windows 2000, On-Screen Keyboard makes it possible to input characters using the mouse instead of the keyboard.
* The ''Mouse'' Control Panel incorporates [[IntelliPoint]] features, namely ClickLock (selecting or dragging without continuously holding down the mouse button), hiding the pointer while typing, and showing it by pressing ''Ctrl''.
* The cursor (system caret) can be set to a thicker width.
* Increased [[Active Accessibility]] support in utilities such as [[Calculator (Windows)|Calculator]] and [[Magnifier (Windows)|Magnifier]].