Product: Windows Millennium Edition
Company: Microsoft
Website: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsme
Estimated Street Price: Full Version: $209 - Upgrade Version: $109
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Review By: Byron Hinson & Julien Jay

Goodbye Dos?

One of the major changes introduced by Windows Me is the partial removal of the DOS layer (Real Mode Dos). Indeed you can no longer restart Windows in DOS mode (from the start menu) or use the F8 key to start Windows in DOS mode. Microsoft explains that this radical change is made in order to prevent customers having trouble with the DOS features and to make the computer boot-up and shutdown more quickly. DOS software like Partition Magic 5.01 doesn't work, for the moment, as they required a real DOS mode to properly work. Microsoft wished many years to "kill" DOS in order to make a real 32 bit reliable operating system, however in order to maintain a high compatibility level with older software they were forced to keep the DOS layer in Windows 95,98,98SE.

They made one more step in Windows Me in the DOS removal process but be reassured: DOS is still here even though it is quite well hidden. So, do not worry you can always use old DOS software and even update your bios under Windows Millennium. For example making a clean boot disk is quite simple:

format a disk, then goto the c:\windows\command\ebd folder, then copy the files io.sys and command.com to a, then copy your bios files. And reboot your computer with the floppy in it.

Not as worrying as some people will have you believe.

The removal of DOS has clearly made a difference in Windows Me in terms of stability (Far less Blue Screens Of Death are seen now) and booting speed has greatly increased.