What is Windows 2000?

In the late 1990s, Microsoft released a new operating system called Windows 2000. It was much better than the previous one, Windows 98. This new software, Microsoft, made using computers easier, steadier, and faster, whether for personal use or business.

In this article, we’ll check out the different versions of Windows 2000 and what kinds of hardware it works with. We’ll also look at some cool features that made it a hit with users and businesses. Let’s get started!

What is Microsoft Windows 2000 Operating System?

Windows 2000 is a type of computer software made by Microsoft in the United States. It’s like a tool that helps computers work. It mixed Windows 9x and NT, blending different systems to make them work better together. Also, this change was a big step forward in making operating systems better.

Before Windows NT 5.0, the creators made Win2K to fix problems from the previous version. So, this temporary fix helped make the system work better and laid the groundwork for a more robust design.

The team worked really hard to improve the software, and it worked! Windows 2000 was much better than before. People liked it because it had new features and didn’t crash as much. Many businesses and regular people started using it.

This was a big win for Microsoft and showed that they were moving forward into the future. So, this has proven themselves coming up with new ideas.

What are Windows 2000 Editions?

1. Professional

Windows 2000 Pro is the next version after NT Workstation. It is for companies and businesses to use on their computers. It’s suitable for connecting to networks securely and doing work stuff.

You can use it alone or with others. It works well for running fancy graphic design programs smoothly. Microsoft says it’s the best operating platform for businesses to use on their PCs.

2. Server

The new NT Server can handle four processors. So, they have created for small and medium businesses to use as print, file, application, and even web servers.

3. Advanced Server

The fresher NT Server Enterprise Edition can use up to 8 processors. It’s perfect for big and medium-sized businesses that have lots of different tasks to do. It’s going to be the central server for departments. It also can handle RAID and keep working even if something goes wrong.

4. Data Center Server

It can work with 32 processors, but you need to request that feature. Big companies rely on it for data storage, financial analysis, and large-scale scientific research. Moreover, this highlights its versatility and robustness.

What are the Enhancements of Windows 2000?

This new version of the operating system is way better than the old one. It has lots of tools to connect, looks better, and recognizes your computer’s parts well. Plus, it’s easy to communicate with your devices. Plus, it’s less likely to crash.

It can do cool new things like work on remote computers. Moreover, it can make it easier to run extensive programs. This way, you won’t have to restart your computer as often.

Even though some changes might be hard to notice, they make using the computer more enjoyable. If you liked Windows 98, you’d like Windows 2000 even more.

1) Hardware Requirements

For Windows 2000 Professional, you’ll need at least a Pentium 166 MHz processor. Additionally, it requires 64 MB of memory and a 2 GB hard drive, with at least 1 GB of free space. These are the basic numbers for the system to run.

The Server and Advanced versions need even stronger processors and more RAM. So, if you want to install Win2000 and have it work well, pick a Pentium III 500 MHz computer with at least 256 MB of RAM.

2) Installation Processes

You can install Win2000 Pro from Win98, but Server and Advanced Server editions require NT or a fresh start.

First, just run the Setup file. Then, pick your language and make accessibility choices. After that, the OS will copy files to your hard drive.

Before, the wizard would warn you if you tried to switch from FAT or FAT32 to NTFS. It’s a good move because NTFS helps manage files better.

When it finishes, your computer will restart and complete the installation process. It takes a while, but you don’t need to babysit it, and plug-and-play works well.

Windows 2000 can handle lots of devices, sort out resources, and add drivers automatically. The New Hardware Installation Wizard makes it easy to add, change, or remove stuff without causing problems.

Even though it works with older BIOS, Win2000 shines with newer hardware like USB, AGP, OpenGL 1.2, or DirectX.

It takes a bit to recognize all the hardware during installation. After copying the files and drivers, your computer restarts for configuration and registration.

Starting Win2000 for the first time may take longer than Win98. With the Server version, network admins can install Win2000 on client machines from afar.

3) Hardware Support

When it comes to supporting hardware, Windows 2000 relies on two leading technologies: Plug and Play and ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface). These are improvements over what Windows 98 used.

Microsoft calls the combination of ACPI and Plug and Play the OnNow Initiative. This design makes computers ready to use right away. Without OnNow, a PC starts up as soon as you turn it on.

OnNow can switch between low power and the entire operation. When the computer isn’t in use, it can seem turned off, but it is still ready to react to things happening nearby.

OnNow lets your computer sleep or hibernate. During hibernation, the system saves everything in memory to the hard drive before shutting down. When you start it again, it reloads everything from the hard drive, so it looks like it did before.

Windows manages hardware and power using Plug and Play and APM BIOS. It uses a unified driver model that works for both Windows 98 and 2000. This model supports plug-and-play and power management for the devices it controls.

Windows 2000 Operating System Interface

1) Graphics

The first thing you’ll notice about Win2000 is its new icons and more three-dimensional look. Even the mouse pointer looks different, like a shadow.

One big surprise is the Start menu. It’s not like before. Now, you can easily see the programs and files you used last time.

The OS remembers what you use most and puts those apps at the top of the menu. So this makes it easy to discover what you need and keeps the screen looking tidy. You can also make the menus look smoother with a calming fade effect.

Another cool thing is how the Open, Print, or Save boxes look. Also, they’re designed like Outlook, making it quick to find your most-used files.

There are some new folders, too, like My Pictures and My Sites. When you’re looking for files, there’s a list of ones you’ve used recently to help you find them faster.

2) Ease Of Use

You can tweak and set up almost everything in the system through control panels, including folder options. It’s the first OS where you can customize the menu bar, which has over 20 buttons like Search, Move, Copy, Favorites, and Resize.

Beginners will like the helpful hints all over the system, with more info in dialogs. There are even buttons to fix problems and uninstall drivers.

Most of the action happens in Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer 5. Now that they’re together, your browsing history includes the websites and files you’ve worked on. They work similarly.

The search tool got a makeover, making it work more like a web search. You can use things like AND, OR, and NOT to narrow your search, and it shows a preview of what it finds right in Explorer.

For a deep search, you need the Directory Server running. It indexes local stuff so that you can search it fast. You can pick which folders to index and what features to include. If you’re on a server network, the server can handle all this for you.

System Reliability

Windows 2000 has tools that make it more reliable and easier to manage, like the DLL labyrinth.

This helps by letting you load DLLs (those are Dynamic Link Libraries) into your app’s folders. It also stops shared DLLs from being deleted.

System Management

Managing a PC system worldwide is done using a module called Computer Management. It organizes resources, services, storage devices, and security for both the local system and remote devices.

Since these tools are helpful to us, we can divide them into three sections: System Tools, Storage and Services, and Applications.

For example, in System Tools, you can find the event viewer and Device Manager. They show a list of devices on your host, making it easier to fix issues like IRQ or DMA conflicts.

In Storage, you can check the properties of disk drives, even removable ones, and do things like verify, share, and backup files.

Finally, Services and Applications gives us more detailed information about Microsoft and the network services we’re using. Overall, the Computer Management tool paints a complete picture of the PC, including reports on its usage.

Windows 2000 Security Infrastructure

Because Microsoft designed Windows 2000 for networks and resource sharing, it has robust security features.

The aim is to make sure every user knows and can control these security tools. This security setup works on three levels:

1. Local

This is about keeping data secure on the computer. The system sets up barriers to prevent unauthorized individuals from bypassing the boot system and accessing security features.

Some computer makers put in password systems, but they could be better for computers shared by lots of people. Data encryption on NTFS disks is a service that uses the Windows CryptoAPI system. It uses a public key system to encrypt files with a unique key.

Win2000 is the first to use 128-bit encryption smoothly. It encrypts and decrypts files automatically, finding them on the computer or devices like Smart Cards.

2. Corporate

This is about keeping data safe on the local network. Win2000 uses a security standard called Kerberos version 5 to do this. It checks and keeps an eye on every user on the network, both on local networks and intranets.

Kerberos makes it easier for users to access different parts of the network without having to ask for permission each time they want to use something new.

3. Public

Win2000 uses public-key systems and special codes to keep internet communication safe. This helps make sure emails are from who they say they’re from and that downloads come from trusted places.

It also supports virtual private networks (VPNs), which make private communication channels on public networks. It does this using different protocols like PPTP, Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol, and IPSec. These protocols keep everything encrypted and secure on the network.

Active Directory

A directory service is like a giant map of a network that shows where everything is and lets users and programs access it. Win2000 comes with one called Active Directory (AD).

The central part of AD is the directory. It keeps info about all the network stuff, like users, printers, servers, and groups.

These things are objects, and administrators organize them into groups. A domain is a group of network stuff under one name. Each domain has controllers that store a copy of the directory.

Objects have attributes that describe them, like a user’s name or a printer’s type. Some objects, like domains, can hold other objects.

Classes are groups of similar objects, like all the user accounts.

Administrators use organizational units (OUs) to organize objects into smaller groups for management.

The central component of AD is the domain. You can organize your company’s network into one or more domains. Each domain can have up to 10 million objects.

Even though users might not see this structure, AD makes it easy for businesses to manage their networks and for users to find what they need without remembering complicated names or numbers.

Laptop Compatibility

Even though Win2000 is a significant operating system, Microsoft worked hard to make sure it’s great for laptop users, too. They made features so you can work on your laptop even when you do not have access to the internet.

One feature is offline folders. You can set it up so you can work on documents even without the internet, and when you connect again, everything syncs up.

If you’re using files shared over a network, Win2000 ensures you have the latest versions when you connect.

Laptops need to save energy, so Win2000 supports ACPI, which helps with that. It also makes it easier for laptops to connect to other devices quickly without slowing down.

You can also make different user profiles to save energy, like reducing how much the disk works or dimming the screen.

Win2000 also supports hibernation mode for laptops. The system incorporates ACPI, limiting compatibility to newer laptops. Nonetheless, this ensures efficient power management capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Windows 2000

Conclusion

To sum up, Windows 2000 was a significant improvement in computer software. It had new features, worked better, and was more stable than before. There were versions for both businesses and regular users.

Despite its hardware demands, Windows 2000 boasted easy setup and use, supporting plug-and-play and ACPI. In the end, this success signaled Microsoft’s advancement.