-> Now, I have another question.  I have read a lot from people who say that
-> Windows ME was not really an upgrade from Windows 98SE, and that some
-> places even refused to sell it, etc.

Actualy it never gained much popularity and had the Shoreest Life of
almost any Win Version except Ver 1.0 which was a Total Disaster and I
think MS wishes it never happened. But it was Billie Gates first step in
Forcing people ot give up DOS as lots of DOS support was dropped.
Win ME is stil avaialble o nthe Internet but Win98Se costs more. THAT
should tell you something. 

Althoug in it's defence it did have soem Recovery capabilites. But like
the USB support in Win95b/c it lacks a great deal compaired to the
capabilities of WinXP in that area.

If you can abandon DOS I see no reason to Downgrade to Win98SE
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