By Gregg Keizer
(11/9/00)

Microsoft has a new OS, and despite some of its better features, it's giving a lot of folks the creeps.

Microsoft's newest release, Windows Millennium--a.k.a. Windows Me--hit the shelves just a few weeks ago and is now the de facto operating system for virtually all new home PCs. But as soon as the new OS came into play, murmurs of discontent turned into screams and shouts. Some CNET readers say it trashed their system, broke previously functional software, and nuked connections to peripherals. Others say it eats up more hard drive space than a hippo with a tapeworm eats up river grass. Granted, Windows Me doesn't do physical harm to everyone's machine, but there's enough evidence of injury to warrant caution.

So, what's the skinny on Windows Me? Will it ruin your life or just add a few headaches to the upgrade experience? CNET has some answers. We collected your complaints, then chose the four most horrifying of the bunch. Next, we hunted down ways to fix the problems or avoid them altogether. If you think Windows Me is for you, scope out these scary tales.

The Story of the Screwed-Up System
Windows Me promised the moon, but the only thing it gave you was a splitting headache and a useless PC. Are you ready to dump it and return to Windows 98? We'll show you how.

The Curse of Conked-Out Code
Most, but not all, Windows apps will work fine with Windows Me. Here's what you need to know about incompatible software before you upgrade.

The Riddle of Ruined Hardware
You trusted your peripherals to Windows Millennium and now your hardware's deader than roadkill. We'll show you how to make things turn out right.

The Dilemma of the Depleted Drive
Windows Me eats up a ton of hard drive space, but not all of it's gone AWOL for good. We'll help you recover some of that room.

Show me how to get my old OS back!