Microsoft deserting us Windows Me users....what do I do now?

Question

I know very little about computers. Heard on a radio show Windows me (mine) and 98 (my friend's)were in trouble, no more support , and that millions of us were now going to be sitting ducks for hackers. You would think Microsoft would care about their customers. What do those of us do, are there updates or do we have to buy new computers? I paid alot for this one. Thanks.

I've read a couple answers that tell me to upgrade to xp. Okay, thanks. Now tell me how I go about doing that please.

Wow! Thanks people. Wish I had known all this before I got talked into buying it. I never knew. No wonder I've had so much trouble with it. Next question I guess, is where do I buy this disk to upgrade? Again, thanks much.

Answer 1

They are outdated dinosaurs that (in my opinion) should have been put down YEARS ago. Okay, yes, financially Microsoft is capable of supporting those operating systems for years to come but simply put they do not want to divert resources and time to doing so (neither would I). I haven't used Windows 98 since 2000 came out, I haven't used 2000 since Windows XP came out and I also don't keep the same computer for more than three years (or until it has passed its life-cycle of upgradability or whichever comes first). That being said, yes, Microsoft is ending support for Windows 98 and ME, and rightly so. Both were dogs of an operating system full of security holes that were never patched and will not be patched, Windows ME was THE WORST OS ever produced. So, their ending support for it? It's long past time everyone started using XP. I take a hard line on these things, I know I do but really, look at all the things that aren't supported in Windows 98 - USB 2.0, iTunes, iPods, every flash drive ever made (drivers required) and the list goes on and on and on. And here we are on the eve of a new OS release and I simply cannot believe so many people are still using 98 and/or ME. You paid a lot for the computer? How long ago? Because if you paid a lot for it now, you got jipped, if you paid a lot for it two years ago, you got jipped. If you paid a lot for it five or six years ago well, it's worth all of $200 now.

What do you do... buy XP, but a new computer. Any $400 computer you buy now will be better thant he one you have. Note that Vista is coming out next year. I mean really, Windows 98 is 8 years old... Windows XP is five (and that is old as well). It's time for... it was time for everyone to use XP five years ago. Now let's all move on and for those of you that haven't... wait for Vista. Note... I'm getting Vista the day it comes out.

Wait... before you buy those upgrade discs... make sure your system meets requirements above and beyond what Microsoft reccomends. I reccomend at least a Pentium III 1GHz (or equivalent or better processor), 512MB of memory, minimum a 30GB hard drive, of course a CD-Rom, a dedicated 64MB graphics card (for some advanced features to work), if you don't meet at least that, it will not be worth installing or running XP on your system. Nor would it be financially sound to upgrade it.

If you don't want to do that or you don't meet the requirements that I laid out (yes an older less capable system could run it albeit slowly) as the requirements Microsoft laid out are... completely bogus for real world performance. That being said, you can still install and run Windows 2000 on an older system (such as yours). You can purchase Windows XP from any number of sources, I like Newegg, http://www.newegg.com/ and the Home Edition is going for around $90.

Windows 2000 will cost you around $175, http://www.royaldiscount.com/wi20pr.html?ovchn=bizrate&ovcpn=bizrate&ovcrn=Windows+2000+Pro+Full+Version+OEM&ovtac=PPC

Answer 2

At some point everybody has to upgrade. With newer versions of software coming out and having to support those, at some point support for older versions has to be dropped. It is actually a good thing because now if you upgrade to XP SP2, you'll have a reasonably stable and far more secure system than you do now, not to mention the newer features. Just check to see if you can add more RAM to your machine and you should be good to go. You really can't think about what you spent on your machine as that is what's known as a 'sunk cost'. In other words that money is gone and you're never gonna' get it back so don't let it factor into any current decisions. Besides, 98 and ME have been around for better than 6 years now so it's about time for something new.

Answer 3

Windows 98 and ME have been around for 8 and 6 years, respectively. In the world of technology, that is a very long time and most new software, including viruses, are written with focus on newer operating systems such as Windows XP (which is already more than 4 years old) and Windows Vista (due to be launched for businesses later this year and to the public at the beginning of next year). So it makes no business sense for Microsoft to continue to support Windows 98 and ME.

You should be able to continue using Windows 98/ME for quite some time yet, as most software that runs on newer operating systems is usually backward compatible with older operating systems. Also, you will not be any more in danger of catching a virus than before because most virus writers will be focusing more on newer operating systems (you may actually be at a decreasing risk of catching a virus because of this). However, it is always a good idea to install a virus checker on your computer and keep it up-to-date.

Later, you should be able to upgrade your version of windows (if your computer is not too old and slow) by purchasing a Windows XP upgrade package ($79 to $105 for the Home Edition or $128 to $210 for the Professional Edition) at a computer store, but for the time being, you should have no problems (or no more problems than before) with Windows 98/ME. Later you may find that it would be more economical to purchase a newer computer, with the latest operating system pre-installed, than it would be to just upgrade the operating system of your old computer (as the newer computer would be faster and more up-to-date from a hardware point of view also).

Answer 4

I guess you will have to upgrade. That's what companies do. They make it so you need to upgrade. Look at 8 track tapes, can you find anyone who sells or repairs 8 track players? NO. Because new things were made and the industry made you need to upgrade to Cd's and mp3 and such. That's how industries work they make you buy new stuff so they can make more money and stay in business. Where would we be if everyone was still using those old "take up a whole room" computers, Microsoft and apple etc would be out of business. I guess you will have to choose to upgrade to a newer and (possibly) better system or be stuck with the old thing and have no more support.

Answer 5

Windows ME is being abandoned by Microsoft because it was a glitch filled version. ME is one of the least stable versions of windows available, and there isn't much to be done about fixing them now. It is just as easy to upgrade to XP, all you do is pop the installation disk in your drive, AFTER the computer has started up Windows ME, and when the autorun pops up, you select upgrade and hit next, it is that simple. If you try and upgrade the system by putting in the disk before ME starts you may get the option to reformat the drive, DON'T, or you will loose all of your saved data.

Answer 6

In my opinion if you are going to spend the money and upgrade you might as well save up some money and by a new system in early 2007. Windows Vista will be released and it is a world of difference in technology especially Hardware.

Answer 7

They support for 5 years usually. Considering you dont pay any more for that service it is a bargain. ME is the worst operating system, do yourself a favor and buy a new one. As for paying alot you paid less the $50 for the OS, the computer hardware was expensive not the software.

Answer 8

Well those two particular operating systems are so old there's no reason to keep them around and still support them. probably because Windows 98 and ME do not generate enough income for Microsoft to justify maintaining a support structure indefinitely. That gets expensive!

Answer 9

Why should Microsoft support operating systems that are out of date? Just upgrade to XP. It is not that hard.

Answer 10

dont feel bad theres ppl that still use windows 95 and windows NT it sux.. but im using Windows Xp Pro with sp2 its service pack 2 but if u cant upgrade to windows xp i think that on the microsoft website theres some updates and service packs available