Originally posted by eskimo2
Is an upgrade in OS the same as installing a full version? Does it basically just look to see that your system has a legal copy of the older OS, wipe it out and then install a full XP OS?
I think MS pricing worked in such a way that if you were an existing user of XYZ operating syetem, you qualified for an "upgrade", and did not need the "full" version. If shopping for XP, you might notice that the upgrade version is much cheaper than the upgrade version.
At install time, the upgrade would verify that you were entitled to the upgrade, ie. that you already had a "qualifying product", eg. that you already have a MS OS, in your case W-ME. But in some cases, the check made was so Mickey Mouse as to be laughable. Eg. Upgrading from W3.1 to W95, a check was made to verify the existence of a file called win.ini -

Upgrading will at least mean that your existing OS settings would be carried over, eg your screen saver, the time elapsed before it pops up - that sort of thing.
But I'm like the others here, and prefer to begin with the full version. Be sure to download the relevant service pack(s).