Final answer:
The statement is true; Microsoft Windows Installer was included with Windows 2000, Windows ME, and Windows XP as a service for software installation and configuration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Windows Installer is a software component and application programming interface (API) of Microsoft Windows used for the installation, maintenance, and removal of software. The installation information, and optionally the files themselves, are packaged in installation packages, loosely relational databases structured as COM Structured Storages and commonly known as "MSI files", from their default filename extensions.
The statement that Microsoft Windows Installer is shipped along with Windows 2000, Windows ME, and Windows XP as an installation and configuration service is true. The Windows Installer, also known as MSI, is Microsoft's software component used for the installation, maintenance, and removal of software.
This service was indeed part of the mentioned operating systems and played a key role in streamlining the process of installing and configuring software on the Windows platform.