Member Avatar for rheumatic

I have a wired home network that works well running machines using Windows XP and ME. We were given a a Windows NT machine that I tried to network;however, it does not run the same protocols and I was unable to install them. I have an extra Window ME license and wanted to change the OS to ME. The ME setup will not work from within NT or the Command prompt line, and there is no safe mode in NT. Is there a way to change the OS without reformatting the entire hard drive? If I reformat would there be any problem booting from the ME setup disk?

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A clear, practical path forward and what to watch for.

A true "in-place" downgrade from an NT-family install to Windows Me is not supported; the reliable approach is a clean install of Me to a FAT32 partition. That means preserving any important data before touching the drive. correctly highlighted that NT-style setups (domains/security) can make network troubleshooting a separate task — address networking questions later, after the OS and drivers are sorted. ’s point about booting the installer is relevant: the supported install method is to boot the machine from the Me media (or install to a different drive/partition) rather than trying an in-place replace from inside NT.

Recommended checklist and steps (safe, ordered):

  1. Inventory: note exact NT version and whether the system volume is NTFS (right‑click the C: drive → Properties). Confirm any special controllers (SCSI/RAID) and list video, network, and storage chipsets so drivers can be found before install.
  2. Full backup: copy user data, mail stores and any config to external media or another PC. Example commands (adjust paths as needed):
    ver
ipconfig /all
xcopy "C:\WINNT\Profiles" "E:\Backup\Profiles" /E /H /C /I
  3. Decide install method: (A) Clean-install Me on the existing drive (will require reformat to FAT32), (B) add a second drive or create a new FAT32 partition and install Me there (keeps NT intact), or (C) keep NT and fix networking first. There is no built‑in Microsoft tool to convert NTFS→FAT32 without data loss; third‑party conversions exist but are risky—backup first.
  4. Prep drivers and boot media: collect Windows 9x/Me drivers for chipset, storage, NIC; ensure BIOS can boot from CD (or prepare a boot floppy with CD drivers for very old BIOSes).
  5. Install: boot from Me CD, format target partition to FAT32 if needed, install, then load drivers and reinstall apps.

Cautions: many corporate machines use drivers/hardware unsupported by Me; Windows Me is obsolete and unsupported—consider Windows 2000/XP or a lightweight modern OS if security and driver availability matter.

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Member Avatar for mikeandike22

idk how you can do it w/o re-formatting but about the setup disk it shouldnt be a problem unless the requirements for ME which wouldnt be much (nothing compared to wat computers have in them today) .

Member Avatar for aamg37

what do you mean it does not have the same protocols. what you need is TCP/IP to make it part of the network. Beside windows ME is the worse version out there. Also it should let you do an upgrade if you want to upgrade a system. NT may be taking control over your network for been a server version. You will need to add the other computers to NT. You may have a workgroup and the NT has a domain configured. You need to give access to other computers at the NT.

Member Avatar for rheumatic

[what you need is TCP/IP to make it part of the network. Beside windows ME is the worse version out there.]

Although it has TCP/IP, none of the other computers can see it , and it does not see anything else on my network, nor will it connect to the Internet. I had to add other protocols to initially get my network up and running ( 8 years ago) and the NT machine does not have those as an option.This computer was in an office as a workstation on a secure network.
The advantage of WIndows ME is that I have a license and am trying to set up a computer (legally) for my youngest child at low cost. I still have two machine running ME that have had no probems. I had to reload the OS on one after almost five years and never on the other.

Member Avatar for aamg37

what kind of connection are you using for internet? Is that a dial up PPoA or PPoE connection?

As far as windows me you have been blessed because especially for network that system is not recommended. However that goes in how advanced your network needs to be. Which in any case is working for you. I thought that you wanted to keep the NT version because you have files that don't want to delete or to make your network more reliable or to control better your users - but if you just going to give that machine to your sun - just reformat the hard drive and install the Windows ME. Reboot the computer with the CD ME on it and from there just follow the wizard.

In any case, if you want to give NT a shot - you could post the Ipconfig/all that you have at the NT and the Ipconfig/all that you have at the ME running the CMD - that way I can help you better to understand your network - there may be a proxy on the NT that is preventing the connection.

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