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{{infobox Windows
{{Infobox Windows
|image = Windows ME Logo.png
|caption = Windows ME
|imagecaption = Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
|image = WinME-Desk.PNG
|imagecaption = Desktop
|codename = Millennium
|codename = Millennium
|kernel = 16/32 bit hybrid, ver. 4.90
|kernel = 16/32 bit hybrid, 4.90
|arch = x86
|arch = x86
|build = [[Windows:ME:3000|4.90.3000 (RTM)]]
|build = [[/4.90.3000|4.90.3000]]
|release = September 14, 2000
|release = 2000-09-14
|licence = Microsoft EULA
|support = 2006-07-11
|support = Expired 11 July 2006
|previous = [[Windows 98]]
|previous = [[Windows:98|Windows 98]]
|next = [[Windows XP]]
|next = [[Windows:XP|Windows XP]]
}}
}}
[[image:WinmeBox.png|thumb|Windows ME retail packaging.]]
[[image:WinmeBox.png|thumb|Windows ME retail packaging.]]
'''Windows Millennium Edition''' (referred to as '''Windows ME''') was the last 16/32 bit hybrid version of the [[Microsoft]] [[Windows]] operating system. Windows ME was released to manufacturing on June 19, 2000 and to retail on September 14, 2000.<ref>Microsoft. (June 19, 2000). [http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2000/jun00/winmereleasepr.aspx "Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Released to Manufacturing"]</ref> It was criticized due to its instability, and was sold on the market for a total of 402 days, before being superseded by [[Windows:XP|Windows XP]] on October 25, 2001.<ref name="Zheng, Long.">Zheng, Long. (March 18, 2008). [http://www.istartedsomething.com/20080318/windows-me-deserve-more-respect/ "Why Windows Me deserves more respect"]</ref> Some components of [[Windows:2000|Windows 2000]] such as the TCP/IP stack, were ported to Windows ME.
'''Windows Millennium Edition''' (referred as '''Windows ME''') was the last 16/32 bit hybrid version of the [[Microsoft]] [[Windows]]. It was released to manufacturing on June 19, 2000 and to retail on September 14, 2000.<ref>Microsoft. (June 19, 2000). [http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2000/jun00/winmereleasepr.aspx "Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Released to Manufacturing"]</ref> It was criticized due to its instability, and was sold on the market for a total of 402 days before being superseded by [[Windows XP]] on October 25, 2001.<ref name="Zheng, Long.">Zheng, Long. (March 18, 2008). [http://www.istartedsomething.com/20080318/windows-me-deserve-more-respect/ "Why Windows Me deserves more respect"]</ref> Some components of [[Windows 2000]], such as the TCP/IP stack, were ported to Windows ME.


Prior to release, Microsoft had planned for [[Windows:Neptune|Windows Neptune]] to bridge the gap between the 9x series and Windows NT. However, Microsoft changed its plans in early 1999 and decided to release another 16/32-bit hybrid operating system, postponing the release of Neptune. Later, the Neptune project was scrapped in favor of Windows XP (then codenamed ''Whistler''). Notably, some of the features scheduled for Neptune, such as the ''Help and Support'' Activity Center, were included in Windows ME.<ref>Thurrott, Paul. (April 6, 2013). [http://winsupersite.com/windows/supersite-flashback-neptune "SuperSite Flashback: Neptune"]</ref>
Prior to the release of Windows ME, Microsoft had planned for [[Windows Neptune]] to bridge the gap between the 9x series and Windows NT. However, Microsoft changed its plans in early 1999 and decided to release another 16/32-bit hybrid operating system, postponing the release of Neptune. Later, the Neptune project was scrapped in favor of Windows XP (then codenamed ''Whistler''). Notably, some of the features scheduled for Neptune, such as the ''Help and Support'' Activity Center, were included in Windows ME.<ref>Thurrott, Paul. (April 6, 2013). [http://winsupersite.com/windows/supersite-flashback-neptune "SuperSite Flashback: Neptune"]</ref>


Although generally perceived to be a failure, Windows ME introduced several features which would later be deemed beneficial,<ref name="Zheng, Long.">Zheng, Long. (March 18, 2008). [http://www.istartedsomething.com/20080318/windows-me-deserve-more-respect/ "Why Windows Me deserves more respect"]</ref> including ''Automatic Updates'',<ref>Microsoft. [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268331 "Description of Automatic Updates in Windows Millennium Edition (Me)"]</ref> ''System Restore'',<ref>Microsoft. [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/267951 "Description of the System Restore Utility in Windows Millennium Edition"]</ref> ''Windows Image Acquisition'',<ref>Microsoft Developer Network. [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms630368%28v=vs.85%29.aspx "Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)"]</ref> and ''Windows Movie Maker''. It is also the first consumer oriented version of Windows to natively offer support for USB mass storage devices.
Although generally perceived to be a failure, Windows ME introduced several features which would later be deemed beneficial,<ref name="Zheng, Long."/> including ''Automatic Updates'',<ref>Microsoft. [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268331 "Description of Automatic Updates in Windows Millennium Edition (Me)"]</ref> ''System Restore'',<ref>Microsoft. [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/267951 "Description of the System Restore Utility in Windows Millennium Edition"]</ref> ''Windows Image Acquisition'',<ref>Microsoft Developer Network. [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms630368%28v=vs.85%29.aspx "Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)"]</ref> and ''Windows Movie Maker''. It is also the first consumer oriented version of Windows to natively offer support for USB mass storage devices.


==Builds==
==Builds==
{{Builds Legend}}
{{Builds Legend}}
===Alpha===  
===Developer Release===  
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2332.2|Millennium Build 2332.2]]''''' - Developer Release 1
* '''''[[/4.90.2332.2|Windows ME build 2332.2]]''''' - Developer Release 1
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2348|Millennium Build 2348]]''''' - Developer Release 2
* '''''[[/4.90.2348.0|Windows ME build 2348.0]]''''' - Developer Release 2
* '''[[Windows:ME:2350.3|Millennium Build 2350.3]]'''
* '''[[/4.90.2350.3|Millennium build 2350.3]]'''
* '''[[Windows:ME:2358|Millennium Build 2358]]''' - Developer Release 3
* '''''[[/4.90.2358.0|Windows ME build 2358.0]]''''' - Developer Release 3
* '''[[Windows:ME:2358|Millennium Build 2363]]''' - Developer Release 4
* '''[[/4.90.2363|Millennium build 2363]]''' - Developer Release 4
* '''[[Windows:ME:2368|Millennium Build 2368]]'''
* '''[[/4.90.2368|Millennium build 2368]]'''
* [[Windows:ME:2374|Millennium Build 2374]]
* '''[[/4.90.2374|Millennium build 2374]]'''


===Beta 1===  
===Beta 1===  
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2380.2|Millennium Build 2380.2]]''''' - official beta 1
* '''''[[/4.90.2380.2|Millennium build 2380.2]]''''' - official beta 1
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2394|Millennium Build 2394]]'''''
* '''''[[/4.90.2394|Millennium build 2394]]'''''
* '''[[Windows:ME:2399|Millennium Build 2399]]'''
* '''[[/4.90.2399|Millennium build 2399]]'''
 
===Beta 2===
===Beta 2===
* '''[[Windows:ME:2400|Millennium Build 2400]]'''
* '''[[/4.90.2400|Millennium build 2400]]'''
* '''[[Windows:ME:2402|Millennium Build 2402]]'''
* '''[[/4.90.2402|Millennium build 2402]]'''
* '''[[Windows:ME:2403|Millennium Build 2403]]'''
* '''[[/4.90.2403|Millennium build 2403]]'''
* '''[[Windows:ME:2404|Millennium Build 2404]]'''
* '''''[[/4.90.2404|Millennium build 2404]]'''''
* '''[[Windows:ME:2404|Millennium Build 2410]]'''
* '''[[/4.90.2408|Millennium build 2408]]'''
* '''[[Windows:ME:2404|Millennium Build 2416]]'''
* '''[[/4.90.2410|Millennium build 2410]]'''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2419|Millennium Build 2419]]''''' - official beta 2
* '''''[[/4.90.2416|Millennium build 2416]]'''''
* '''[[Windows:ME:2428|Millennium Build 2428]]'''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2419|Millennium build 2419]]''''' - official beta 2
* '''[[Windows:ME:2429|Millennium Build 2429]]'''
* '''[[/4.90.2428|Millennium build 2428]]'''
* [[Windows:ME:2434|Millennium Build 2434]]
* '''[[Windows:ME:2429|Millennium build 2429]]'''
* [[Windows:ME:2443|Millennium Build 2443]]
* '''[[Windows:ME:2434|Millennium build 2434]]'''
* [[Windows:ME:2447|Millennium Build 2447]]
* '''[[Windows:ME:2443|Millennium build 2443]]'''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2452|Millennium Build 2452]]''''' - official beta 2 Refresh
* '''[[Windows:ME:2447|Millennium build 2447]]'''
* [[Windows:ME:2455|Millennium Build 2455]]
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2452|Millennium build 2452]]''''' - official beta 2 Refresh
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2460|Millennium Build 2460]]'''''
* '''[[Windows:ME:2455|Millennium build 2455]]'''
* '''[[Windows:ME:2465|Millennium Build 2465]]'''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2460|Millennium build 2460]]'''''
* '''[[Windows:ME:2466|Millennium Build 2466]]'''
* '''[[/4.90.2465|Windows ME build 2465]]'''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2470|Millennium Build 2470]]'''''
* '''[[/4.90.2466|Windows ME build 2466]]'''
* [[Windows:ME:2474|Millennium Build 2474]]
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2470|Windows ME build 2470]]'''''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2476|Millennium Build 2476]]'''''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2476|Windows ME build 2476]]'''''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2481|Millennium Build 2481]]'''''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2481|Windows ME build 2481]]'''''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2487|Millennium Build 2487]]'''''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2487|Windows ME build 2487]]'''''


===Beta 3===
===Beta 3===
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2491|Millennium Build 2491]]'''''
* '''''[[/4.90.2491|Windows ME build 2491]]'''''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2495|Millennium Build 2495]]'''''
* '''''[[/4.90.2495|Windows ME build 2495]]'''''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2499.3|Millennium Build 2499.3]]'''''
* '''[[/4.90.2499|Windows ME build 2499]]''' - Release Candidate for Beta 3
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2499.7|Millennium Build 2499.7]]''''' - official beta 3
* '''''[[/4.90.2499.3|Windows ME build 2499.3]]''''' - Release Candidate 1 for Beta 3
* [[Windows:ME:2500.1|Millennium Build 2500.1]]
* '''''[[/4.90.2499.7|Windows ME build 2499.7]]''''' - official beta 3
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2509|Millennium Build 2509]]'''''
* '''[[/4.90.2500.1|Windows ME build 2500.1]]'''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2513|Millennium Build 2513]]'''''
* '''''[[/4.90.2509|Windows ME build 2509]]'''''
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2516|Millennium Build 2516]]'''''
* '''''[[/4.90.2513|Windows ME build 2513]]'''''
* '''''[[/4.90.2516|Windows ME build 2516]]'''''


===Release Candidate===  
===Release Candidate===  
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2525.6|Millennium Build 2525.6]]''''' - Release Candidate 0
* '''''[[/4.90.2525|Windows ME build 2525]]''''' - Release Candidate 0
* '''''[[Windows:ME:2535|Millennium Build 2535]]''''' - Release Candidate 2
* '''''[[/4.90.2525.6|Windows ME build 2525.6]]''''' - Release Candidate 1
===Retail===
* '''''[[/4.90.2535|Windows ME build 2535]]''''' - Release Candidate 2
* '''''[[Windows:ME:3000|Millennium Build 3000]]'''''
 
===RTM===
* '''''[[/4.90.3000|Windows ME build 3000]]'''''


==References==
== References ==
<references/>
<references/>


==External links==
== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000815054607/http://microsoft.com/WindowsMe/ Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Home Page]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000815054607/http://microsoft.com/WindowsMe/ Windows Millennium Edition Home Page]

Revision as of 14:58, 23 December 2019

Windows ME
WinME-Desk.PNG
Desktop
Codename
Preliminary name		 Millennium
Kernel version 16/32 bit hybrid, 4.90
CPU architecture x86
Release date 2000-09-14
Support end 2006-07-11
Preceded by Windows 98
Succeeded by Windows XP
Windows ME retail packaging.

Windows Millennium Edition (referred as Windows ME) was the last 16/32 bit hybrid version of the Microsoft Windows. It was released to manufacturing on June 19, 2000 and to retail on September 14, 2000.[1] It was criticized due to its instability, and was sold on the market for a total of 402 days before being superseded by Windows XP on October 25, 2001.[2] Some components of Windows 2000, such as the TCP/IP stack, were ported to Windows ME.

Prior to the release of Windows ME, Microsoft had planned for Windows Neptune to bridge the gap between the 9x series and Windows NT. However, Microsoft changed its plans in early 1999 and decided to release another 16/32-bit hybrid operating system, postponing the release of Neptune. Later, the Neptune project was scrapped in favor of Windows XP (then codenamed Whistler). Notably, some of the features scheduled for Neptune, such as the Help and Support Activity Center, were included in Windows ME.[3]

Although generally perceived to be a failure, Windows ME introduced several features which would later be deemed beneficial,[2] including Automatic Updates,[4] System Restore,[5] Windows Image Acquisition,[6] and Windows Movie Maker. It is also the first consumer oriented version of Windows to natively offer support for USB mass storage devices.

Builds

  • No information available
  • Existence doubtful
  • Information or pictures available
  • Leaked or released

Developer Release

Beta 1

Beta 2

Beta 3

Release Candidate

RTM

References

  1. ↑ Microsoft. (June 19, 2000). "Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Released to Manufacturing"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Zheng, Long. (March 18, 2008). "Why Windows Me deserves more respect"
  3. ↑ Thurrott, Paul. (April 6, 2013). "SuperSite Flashback: Neptune"
  4. ↑ Microsoft. "Description of Automatic Updates in Windows Millennium Edition (Me)"
  5. ↑ Microsoft. "Description of the System Restore Utility in Windows Millennium Edition"
  6. ↑ Microsoft Developer Network. "Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)"

External links

Retrieved from ‘https://www.betaarchive.com/wiki/index.php?title=Windows_ME&oldid=24543’
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