Windows ME replacing Windows 98?

[Mike Doty]

I received an e-mail today from a computer consultant
in California that Windows 98 is being phased out
and replaced with Windows ME. Is this true?
If it is, I'll have to get a copy and try to solve
some of the issues using it with DOS programs.
Another consultant called me and said it would
be best to discontinue support for Windows ME.
Obviously these two consultants are giving me
different information.



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[Doug Gamble]

I've heard that Windows ME is the next version of Windows 9x and
like Windows 3.1, Windows 9x will ultimately disappear. How
quickly this will happen is another question.

I know WinME handles DOS issues differntly but I didn't think
there would be many compatibility issues. What problems are
you seeing?

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[Eric Pearson]

Yes, Windows ME is the replacement for Windows 98. ME stands for Millennium Edition.

Of the two "tracks" that Windows has followed, ME is the latest version in the 9x family. Windows 2000 is the latest version in the NT family.

Windows 98 and ME both cost $209 on microsoft.com, but they offer better deals on ME. I would not expect any newly-purchased computers to be supplied with 98, but I may be wrong.

And BTW, Windows ME is officially the last version in the 9x family. According to Microsoft, the NT/2000 line will eventually be the only desktop operating system they will offer. Personally, I'm glad. NT/2000 is much more robust.

I'm sure that 95/98/ME will be around much longer than 3.x was, because of the major hardware upgrades that would be required to install 2000.

IMO not supporting ME would be an increasingly serious problem. The only upgrade path that many users will have will be ME, unless they buy new hardware. And Microsoft is no longer fixing bugs in 95/98.

-- Eric


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[This message has been edited by Eric Pearson (edited December 29, 2000).]

[Mike Doty]

I use an active batch file to keep DOS programs without
Windows taking over when going to one DOS program to another.
:top
UNIQUE
if errorlevel 103 if not errorlevel 104 goto 103
if errorlevel 102 if not errorlevel 103 goto 102
:103
rem Start MYPGM and branch to routine 103
MYPGM 103
goto top
:102
rem Start MYPGM and branch to routine 102
MYPGM 102
goto top

I'm not sure that error levels are being treated correctly.
Config.sys and autoexec.bat are not read at startup.
FILES= statement is replaced with PerVMFiles= in
the [386Enh] section of SYSTEM.INI.

There is a problem with error level codes confirmed
(talked to a Gateway store here in Omaha.)
If this method doesn't work then a workaround will be necessary.

Ordered a copy of Windows ME to replace Windows 98 SE
on one of the workstations here to begin testing.

Note: This was being posted and Eric responded before
I even posted this. Thanks for the fast responses!
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[This message has been edited by Mike Doty (edited December 29, 2000).]

[J. Armstrong]

Last that I heard from Microsoft is that Windows 98 support is
for the next 2 years.

Hope that helps

-John

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-John
e-mail: [email protected]