So as not to confuse anyone, a computer user can also "upgrade" his/her computer with one of the newer versions of Windows. However, buyer beware! There may be problems for computer users who upgrade from one to another OS. Sometimes the newer version of Windows does not support existing hardware. If you are considering upgrading your OS vs updating it, first check the Microsoft Hardware Compatibility List. Then seek expert help before you start such an upgrade. One of the more common upgrade problems with Win98 concerns undisclosed problems with the "System.ini" file. MS replaced most of it with the Win95 Registry. Obsolete plug and play drivers and old sound card drivers could also cause you upgrade headaches. In fact, some of the older computers can not be upgraded to a new OS. If you own one of them and don’t want to invest in a new computer, then "updating" your OS is a good option. On the other hand, if you want to continually install and use the latest software programs, then purchasing a new computer with the most current Windows OS is by far the best solution. 
Remember, each year the new OS’s and software programs all require much more hard disk and RAM memory than the earlier versions. "Updating" your OS makes sense for most computer users who can’t afford the costs associated with the yearly changes to new software programs. 

Background
Windows 95 was the first in a new generation of Windows OS’s. In addition, Windows 95 was the initial version of Windows that was an actual OS. Previous Windows OS’s were operating "environments" linked to the underlying DOS (Disk Operating System).

Terminology

Whistler
This Windows OS will be the successor to both Windows Millennium Edition (ME) and Windows 2000. MS demonstrated this new OS, currently in pre-beta stages, at the recent Windows Hardware Engineering Conference. The business edition is not a significant upgrade from Windows 2000. Improvements include better Internet integration, greater reliability, and easier deployment. The consumer edition will provide a simpler interface, easier access to digital music files, and perhaps a better way to set up a home network. Whistler’s business and consumer editions will be available in 2001. 

Windows Millennium Edition
Windows Millennium Edition is the most recent OS to hit the streets from MS. It’s also known as Windows ME and it is designed for the home computer user. Windows ME comes with Internet Explorer version 5.5 that introduces a number of new, proprietary technologies. This new OS focuses on home networking, working with media, and being easier to maintain by the computer user. It offers a: new protection system for files, way of restoring an old configuration, and faster start-up.  Windows ME will work with Windows 98 drivers and applications. Its new drivers will make it easier to acquire and manage digital images. As yet, of course, there are no upgrades to it. Windows ME is the last full release of a MS OS based on the Windows 98 code. 

Windows 2000
This OS is not quite a year old and it was designed primarily for the business and corporate environments that needed manageability, stability, reliability, and a degree of Windows9x compatibility. Windows 2000 is actually a family of OS’s that include: Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server. There have been some significant problems with and a large number of defects (bugs) found in Windows 2000. According to the June 2000 issue of Smart Computing Magazine and its reference to a MS memo, the final source code for Windows 2000 contained at least 63,000 bugs at the time of its release. Even before its release, MS had announced that the first service upgrade for Windows 2000 would be in June 2000. MS has recently made a beta version of the Windows 2000 Service Pack. It is a collection of bug fixes and updates for Windows 2000 Professional, Server, and Advanced Server. This service pack is available only to Universal and Professional MSDN subscribers. Everyone else should be able to download the public version this month. You should also know that Windows 2000 has incompatibility problems with Windows 95/98.  If you want to upgrade your computer to Windows 2000 but are not sure if this new OS will operate on your old system, then check out MS’s Upgrading to Windows 2000 page <http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?733839:5295731> or <http://ntcompatible.cjb.net>. 

Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)
As one would expect, Windows 98 SE may well be the most trouble free version of MS OS’s. However, it, too, has had a few problems which can be eliminated with a 502 KB patch. 

Windows 98
Windows 98 is actually a pretty good OS notwithstanding a few glitches with power management and Y2K issues. MS has a 2-6MB patch for these problems. You can order the Win98 Service Pack 1 update on a CD for $5 at (800) 426-9400 or complete an order form on the Windows Update site. 

For $20 you can obtain MS’s Win 98 SE Update noted in the preceding paragraph that also includes the contents of Win98 SP1. To get this CD, call (888) 287-9755 or, again, use the Windows Update site order form. MS Win98 product support can be obtained by calling (425) 635-7222. If your computer restarts when you select the Shut Down command, or, if your machine hangs during the shut down process, try this patch to solve that problem. 

Windows 95
Believe it or not, but Windows 95 has proven to be more stable than its previous descendants probably because it was not tied to a browser. It has obviously changed over time with changes to the version shipped with new computers. The original Windows 95 version is 4.00.950; OSR1 patch is 4.00.950A; and OSR2 release, with all of the OSR1 features plus some more changes, is 4.00.950B. You should have at least OSR1 for reasonable operation especially with Internet connection. Windows 95 has some networking security holes, bidirectional printer port problems, etc. that can be fixed by its Service Pack 1. Computer users can also obtain free support from MS Personal Online Support. 

Windows 3.x
Because Windows 3.x is now an outdated OS, a computer user should install all of the latest device drivers to avoid many problems. Many new hardware devices may be compatible with Windows 3.x but you may not have the latest device drivers since vendors are constantly updating features. That’s the bad news. The good news is that their web sites often offer free downloads for their device drivers. For MS technical support of Windows 3.x, call (425) 637-7098. The MS bulletin board system (425) 936-6735 is a source for updated device drivers, software patches, and updates. 

DOS
The Disk Operating System is still the OS that runs more personal computers even though computing today is a Windows world. DOS can stand alone as an OS and continues to be the backbone of the Windows OS. Many Windows computer users use DOS to solve software/hardware problems or to improve their system’s performance. For more information about DOS, seek assistance at: <www.microsoft.com/Support>. 

System Summary
Prior to upgrading your OS, if you want detailed information about your computer system’s hardware, ports, memory usage, devices, and drivers, etc., right-click on the My Computer icon and select Properties from the context menu. Then click on the Device Manager tab, the Print button, and select the All Devices and System Summary radio button, followed by OK. Print this handy listing for future reference. 

Summary
The best source of information pertaining to the latest patches, updates, etc. can be obtained from MS’s web site or by calling these phone numbers: (800) 426-9400 or (425) 882-8080. For general information about Windows, checkout the MS Knowledge Base. 

If you have a problem that is not corrected by the latest OS patch, it may be because MS or vendor software programmers have only found temporary workarounds to them which hopefully will become fixes in later Service Pack updates.