Windows Me - Simple reinstallation explained step by step

Many users shy away from installing an operating system with a critical eye. However, these processes are now very simple and largely straightforward, so that even beginners can attempt them. If you now follow these instructions, nothing can go wrong.

The requirements for your computer

Windows Me places particular demands on the Working memory high demands. You should have at least 128 Megabyte to be able to enjoy your work. Computers with only 64 megabytes or less have to cut back and make compromises. It is therefore advisable to switch off the new functions so that Windows runs without complications and sufficiently fast.
Microsoft personally specifies a minimum of 32MB, which I think is an understatement.

The Processor should be able to do a lot. The official minimum requirements in this area are 133 Mhz, although I can only guarantee optimum operation from 300 Mhz.

The Windows Me manual states that at least 200 megabytes must be stored on the Hard disk should be free. After the installation, you are surprised to see a folder swollen to 549MB and a Swap file of several hundred megabytes. If programs and data are added later, you should set aside at least 1 GB for yourself and anything more for the programs.

If your computer meets these requirements, you can continue reading with peace of mind.

Clever use of the installation parameters

The Windows Millennium Edition installation can be customized in many ways. For example, you can decide whether the hard disk check takes place or whether the network setup is skipped. If you start the installation in the conventional way, you are not given the opportunity to set these settings, which are accessed via so-called parameters. Using these is very simple:
1. Switch on your computer and directly press the ENTF or F2 button to access the computer's basic program (BIOS). The keys and some of the terms may differ - a look at the manual will not hurt in most cases.

2. You should now see a blue/yellow screen in front of you on which you can click with the cursor on BIOS Features Setup and press ENTER.

3. About the Image down/image up or the Enter key to change the options. Now do this by selecting the entry Boot Sequence or Boot Drive the option CD-ROM or D:\ (or any other drive). Pressing ESC takes you back to the previous menu.

4. Now move the cursor to Save & Exit Setup and insert the Windows Me installation CD into the drive.

5. After a restart, the welcome screen appears:
 Microsoft Windows Me CD-ROM Start menu
1. start from hard disk
2. start from CD-ROM

You decide on number 2 and confirm this.

6. The next dialog will now ask you:
1. start Windows Setup from CD-ROM
2. start the computer with CD-ROM support
3. start the computer without CD-ROM support

Here you decide again for point 2 and confirm your selection again.

7. After a short time you will find yourself in the DOS, a black and white void with a flashing cursor behind A:\>.

8. Type in the letter of your CD-ROM drive. For example E: and press Enter. You are now on the drive.

9. Enter the command setup followed by the parameters you require. For example, if you reject the hard disk check and skip the network configuration, the following parameter is recommended:

setup /iq /in

Here you will find a list of all parameters

Installation with prior formatting of the hard disk
If you want to get rid of your old operating system and all your data to create a new Windows Me, you need to format the hard disk. And this is how you do it:

1. Follow steps 1-8 of Clever use of the installation parameters.

2. Now tap cd win9x and confirm this by pressing the ENTER button.

3. Now enter the command format c: and tell the warning J that you are deadly serious. The formatting process, which can take a long time depending on the size of the data carrier, takes its course.

4. At the end you will be asked for a hard disk name, which may be a maximum of 11 characters long.

5. Tap now setup (you can also use the parameters now if you wish) to finally start the installation.

6. The computer is now checked for performance and the hard disk is checked one last time so that Windows can be installed optimally.

7. You will now be warmly welcomed by the installation wizard, which will guide you through the rest of the process. The associated Welcome to and the long text should start with Next can be skipped. In the next dialog box, select the entry I agree to the contract and type your Windows Me serial number into the 5 blocks. The cursor will automatically jump to the next field.

8. Now you are spoiled for choice with the type of installation. I recommend even beginners User-defined so that you don't install anything superfluous that you don't need anyway. Before that, you are asked for your name and organization, which you answer honestly.

9. The next window is about the computer name, the workgroup and its description. This is only of interest and importance in the network.

10. The next windows deal with the language, which only includes the date, time, currency and keyboard layout, as well as the creation of a boot disk, which you can safely skip.

11. A confirmation with Finish starts the Windows copying process. You may get scared at 10% because the process stops here. I can reassure you - after the longer pause, the process continues quickly and smoothly.

12. As soon as the copying of the files is complete, Windows Me asks for a restart, which you should allow. Now press ENTF or F2 to access the BIOS as described above. Now set the Boot Sequence from CD-ROM up again C only or IDE-0 so that the computer no longer searches for installation CDs.

13. The installation wizard suddenly pops up again and explains its intention. It installs all the device drivers and requests a restart in between before getting down to business - namely the Windows settings and completing the installation.

13. One last reboot and you are faced with your new Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition operating system. You can confidently answer the question about the password with OK confirm. You will then no longer be annoyed by it. For the first time, you have the desktop, the Me interface, in front of you:

After this successful installation, you should continue with the next chapter First steps to improve performance and stability start.

NOTE FOR NEW PUBLICATION: This article was produced by Sandro Villinger and comes from the Windows tweaks archive, which has been built up since the late 1990s.