I made a similar inquiry today about OS. I was told that ME is a cross between 98 and 2000. I work with 2000 at my place of business and like it very much. It's an improved version of 98, which is an improved version of 95.

Can't provide any info about retaining files when you upgrade systems. Still on a learning curve there. Good luck. c*c

Windows 2000 will require a reformat of his disk drive from FAT partition to NTFS. This will completely wipe-out the disk drive. Windows ME will require converting FAT to FAT32. If my memory is correct about Windows ME, it will also reformat the drive, thus wiping out everything.

Win2K will not REQUIRE using NTFS, it just means that it won't have all of the security features.

"A re-install of Win95 will wipe out his current software and data files. While a re-install of Win98 won't bother them."

I have given this statement another thought.

I disagree with this statement. Re-installing Windows 95 will only re-install the OS and not touch any other software with the exception of hardware drivers such as your video card, sound card, etc. He probably already has the software to re-install the drivers, so this should not be a problem.

This is a good site to ask computer questions, because there are so many computer-literate people here.

A great site to ask computer questions is Experts Exchange.

I have heard bad things about Windows ME from the local computer shop I deal with. They will support 98SE (second edition) or 2000, but not ME.

If your friend has Windows 95, it is probably an older computer. Win 2000 may have trouble finding drivers for the older components. Win 98SE can live with the older DOS-based drivers that are already there. Win 98SE will leave the old files alone. I've been quite successful upgrading from Win 95 to 98SE. In fact, doing that helped solve some problems I was having with an interal Zip drive. So if you can find an old Win 98SE upgrade somewhere, that should be your first choice.

If he has the original distribution disks for his application programs, he should remove the programs and then reinstall them once he is up to Win 98SE.

Best way to go in the Microsoft world is to start over. Software and drivers never upgrade well. Back up the data (get a CDR, absolutely necessary), and start over. FAT32 has improved through the 95/98/2k series, so a fresh install updates that. Any doublespaced drives (yikes, you should re-format)

What about XP, its risky until the first service release, but acceptable for home use. Win 2000 is derived from NT, and may not be as friendly to games as ME or XP. XP Marries the NT and ME codes. Your win 95 registry probably has a lot of crap in, that may further befuddle some software. Think about the coder at MS trying to prepare intall procedures for you machine. Uh Oh.. and they hate competitive software (Lotus, Quicken, Corel, Adobe...)

You should fully clean your system minimally as often as microsoft offers a new OS.

One should consider HOW the computer is going to be used when considering purchases.

Will he be playing games? If so, WinME.

Mostly productivity applications and online support? Win2000.

BUT - to be honest, he should consider getting Win98. WinME is buggy. win200 is limited in support and is being replaced by XP.

I would suggest he get Win98.

After upgrading to Win98, he should get a bare bones new PC box (900Mhz Athlon minimum with 256 meg ram) and instal his hard drive only in the new machine, and just update his drivers for Win98. =) Then - next year he can buy Lindows from www.lindows.com. =)

He should not, no matter what, upgrade to Windows Me. It's a defective/buggy/worthless OS

Go with either Windows 98/SE, or Windows 2000/XP depending on the hardware capability

"Win2K will not REQUIRE using NTFS, it just means that it won't have all of the security features."

I am not absolutely sure about my statement. I just don't recall seeing an option on the installation that prompts you for a choice.

I just don't understand why someone would install Win2k and NOT want the security features which is the whole reason it was developed.

I just installed XP on two of my home computers. One was previously Win2k (NTFS) and other one had Windows 98 (FAT32). During the install, neither prompted me for a partition choice, and each retained their original partition type.

I have heard bad things about Windows ME from the local computer shop I deal with...

It took us HOURS to get our Windows 98 based software to work on ME. If we'd known this we would not have ordered a Dell (Dell's only OS offering was ME).

Let me clear up a VERY common and easy misunderstanding.

There are two main Windows families. One goes from Windows 3.1 => Win95 => Win98 => WinME => ...more in a moment. It is basically a home OS, though 95-on can work on a network, after a fashion.

The other goes WFW 3.11 => Windows NT 4.0 => Windows 2000. It is basically for a network environment, though of course it can be used at home.

Though the two families have some similarities, they are based on different fundamental coding ("kernels").

Windows 2000 thus is not the successor to 98 or ME, though it sure sounds like it; it is in a different family.

Now, Windows XP is the successor to ME, and it is on a code that is basically updated 2000. It is for home use, but is at home on the network.

Hope that's of some help. (Full disclosure: I'm a PC Specialist [job title], MCSE, teach at a PC stuff at a business college.)

Dan

I do this stuff for a living. The 2 big questions if he has 95 now is 1) whether he has legacy DOS programs, and 2)enough of a machine to do an upgrade. You can 85% guarantee pulling it off with win98, but I suspect going to 2000 will screw everything up. 2000 is better, but your upgrade path is suspect.

Win2K is best for a networked environment but is better than NT4.0 as it has plug-n pray. Also XP is a newer version of ME. If your friend is concerned about losing files back them up first. Also take a close look at his hardware as many devices use DOS based drivers which WILL not work on 98, ME or 2000..learned that one the hard way.

Personally I use 98 at home, but when the warranty from HP is up I am going to Win2K Professional. Very stable as it is built on NT.

Skip WinME, a stinker.

WinME is a piece of junk. I've upgraded to XP on my machines and am not looking back. I love XP's stability and the new luna desktop. Of course that upgrade is not an option unless a back up of the data files is made -- and possible upgrades for software and hardware. IMO, a clean install is the only way to go.

For what it's worth, I bought a new Dell Dimension 4300 using Windows XP Pro last week, and it is amazing -- lightning fast and very stable.

My last system was an old Dell Pentium MMX that I bought in 1997. It ran WIndows 95, and I had no trouble transferring all my files to the new system using Intellimover.

I would not bother to upgrade the operating system from Windows 95. I'd just get a new system.

Run the Win2K update wizard. It will tell you if your programs and drivers are compatible. A few may not be.

Any machine that is still running 95 is unlikely to work with anything later than 98se. Windoze 9.x sucks no matter what the flavor, XP is a bloated pig that takes forever to do anything because of MicroShaft's new Bloatware®  interface. Either put 98se on it and live with it crashing 4 times a day or get a new machine with Win2k pro on it.