Hi there, I would like to make an update with a WinME Retail Version (NO UPDATE). The installation stops after a few minutes and I got the following error-message: This version of Windows ME is not for an update, please contact your reseller for an update-version of WindowsME. Could I do an update anyway with my version? I need WinME running soon on my system!!!

Well I would like to ask why you need Win ME? You can get just about everything it offers for free VIA download. Anyway you said that the version you have is not an update version right? Well if you are trying to install it with and Operating System already installed on your PC then it will say that because it assumes you are trying to upgrade. So you will probably have to do a clean install. This means you will loose all the information on your hard drive unless you backup the important information. I use Windows ME and havent had too many problems with it but I know alot of people who have. So I would just suggest sticking with Win 98 and downloading the extras that are included with ME. Or just get Win 2000 which is alot more stable. Well goodluck and Let me know if you need anymore help. Chris

Thank you for your fast answer. I know that Win98 would be the better choice, but I got only WinME. The Problem is, that Win_ME does not start anymore, so I have to do a reinstall (otherwise I will lose my data). Is there any possibility to do an update with a retail-version?

question: chris, u said we can download the extra programs that are found in win ME? may i ask where and how i can get them? thank u

The only real difference between ME and 98 is Window Media player, Internet Explorer 5.5 and the restore feature Win ME has. You can download everything but the restore feature at microsofts website. www.microsoft.com. Ok not back to the problem. You said Windows ME will not start anymore. Have you tried booting with a boot up disk and going into safe mode where then you can access the restore function? If you cant get to safe mode try running SCANREG at the DOS prompt and then restore the registry to the previous backup point because if you cannot boot to safe mode using the start up disk then more than likely something in the windows registry is corrupt and restoring it to the previous backup should fix it. If you need anymore help feel free to e-mail me at either. TTStudio4PCs@aol.com or techstudio@techstudio.every1.net Goodluck, Chris

Just start the machine with a boot disk and from a command prompt, change directory to c:/windows, rename win.com to win.old. restart the machine with the boot disk and run setup from the cd. it will keep all programs in tact and reinstall windows...very easy

Hi Sandra, Windows ME is a good OS, and I have it running for some months now without any problems. You have 2 options: either you swap your Windows ME for Windows ME update, or you can do the following: Boot your system with a floppy. Then type c: to get into your root system. Now type: rename windows win98 (type it exactly as I have written it - NO :, etc) if you do this, you still have your windows98, but renamed win98, and if all goes wrong you can rename win98 windows, and you have your old system back. If you have a proper boot disk form win98, then it should have loaded your CD rom drivers. Insert you windows ME into your cd rom drive, and check which letter stands for your cd-rom. (Type d: ((enter)) then type dir followed by enter. see in what drive you are. If you are not in the cd-rom drive, try e: (followed by enter) then type dir, see if this is the windows me drive. it it is, you will see a file called setup. type setup, and and the installation will begin! With a clean installation, you will loose your desktop settings, and unfortunately you have to reinstall ALL the programs you have been running. You will not loose any data if you install the programs exactely were they were before. Of course, it would be much easier to get a Windows ME update. Here you just install over win98, and thats that. Good luck Perry