Windows 2000

Windows 2000 is an important version of the Windows NT operating system made by Microsoft. It was made for businesses and servers, and it came out in February 2000. It is the next version after Windows NT 4.0. Windows 2000 brought several new features, like better storage options and improved support for people with disabilities. It also included tools to help manage computers in big groups, such as Active Directory, which became very popular in offices and companies.

There were four versions of Windows 2000: Professional, Server, Advanced Server, and Datacenter Server. Even though Microsoft said it was the most secure Windows at the time, it still faced some famous virus attacks like Code Red and Nimda. Windows 2000 was replaced by Windows XP in 2001, but it kept getting updates for security until July 13, 2010. Interestingly, the original Xbox and the Xbox 360 used a changed version of the Windows 2000 system inside them.

History

See also: Microsoft Windows version history

Windows 2000 started as Windows NT 5.0 and is part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It replaced Windows NT 4.0. Early versions of Windows NT 5.0 were released in 1997, and the official name changed to Windows 2000 in 1998. The final version was released to manufacturers on December 15, 1999, and became available to the public on February 17, 2000.

During development, different versions were tested and improved. The final version included new sounds, icons, and a login screen. Although some people thought Windows 2000 had many problems, others said it was one of Microsoft’s most reliable systems at the time. It was planned to replace both Windows 98 and Windows NT 4.0, but an updated version of Windows 98 was released instead.

New and updated features

Windows 2000 brought many new features from Windows 98 and 98 SE into the NT line. These included updates to the desktop, internet tools, and support for different types of hardware and files. Common features across all versions of Windows 2000 included better file security, tools for managing computers, and support for many languages.

Windows 2000 also added support for USB devices, improved power management, and a system to protect important files. It was the first Windows version to allow the computer to restart automatically if a serious problem happened. Administrators could choose how the computer handled memory and processing for better performance. The operating system also included tools for managing other Windows computers from one central place.

Deployment

Windows 2000 can be set up in different ways. You can install it on servers using a CD or by copying files to a shared folder. You can watch the installation or let it happen by itself using a special file with all the settings already filled in. There are tools to help make these setups easier, like using a special program or a bootable CD.

One method, called Sysprep, lets you prepare a computer with Windows 2000 and then copy that setup to other computers. This works best when the computers have similar hardware. Another tool, Systems Management Server, helps update many computers at once. There's also a way to install Windows 2000 over a network using Remote Installation Services, which needs certain network tools to work.

Editions

Microsoft made different versions of Windows 2000 for various uses. Windows 2000 Professional was made for business computers and advanced users. It was more secure and stable than older Windows versions and could work with up to two processors and 4 GB of memory.

Other versions included Windows 2000 Server, which had extra tools for computers that help run networks and programs. There was also Windows 2000 Advanced Server for bigger businesses and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server for very large companies that needed to handle lots of important information. Each version had different abilities and requirements to suit different needs.

Service packs

Windows 2000 got four full service packs and one update package after SP4, which was the last service pack. Microsoft stopped developing its Java Virtual Machine (JVM) for Windows 2000 in SP3. Internet Explorer 5.01 was also updated to match the service pack level.

Microsoft planned to make a fifth service pack for Windows 2000 but decided not to. Instead, they released Update Rollup 1 for SP4 on September 13, 2005. This update collected all security-related hotfixes and some other important fixes. It does not include all non-security fixes and was not tested as thoroughly as a full service pack. Microsoft said this update would better meet customers' needs, help keep PCs safe, lower support costs, and work with existing computers.

Upgradeability

Windows 2000 can be updated with newer versions of several tools and programs. Microsoft made many updates available for this operating system, including newer versions of internet browsing, media playing, and development tools. These updates helped keep Windows 2000 running smoothly even after newer versions of Windows were released.

The updates included newer versions of popular software like web browsers, media players, and tools for developers. This made it easier for users to keep their computers up-to-date with the latest features and security improvements.

Security

During the time Windows 2000 was used, the way attacks on Windows servers changed. More attacks came from far away over the Internet. This led to many harmful programs that took advantage of services on Windows servers.

Some well-known problems happened with software called worms, which spread quickly by using weaknesses in Windows. These issues showed that it was important to carefully set up Windows to keep it safe from attacks.

Support lifecycle

Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Server were replaced by newer systems: Windows 2000 Server by Windows Server 2003, and Windows 2000 Professional by Windows XP Professional.

Windows 2000 moved from full support to a longer, reduced support phase on June 30, 2005. During full support, Microsoft offered many updates and changes for free. In the reduced support phase, only important security updates were provided each month, and other updates needed special requests. Because Windows 2000 is very old, newer versions of programs like Windows Media Player 11 and Internet Explorer 7 were not made for it.

Users could buy an upgrade to Windows Vista Business or Windows Server 2008, but these systems could not update Windows 2000 directly. A new installation was needed. Later, Microsoft stopped allowing upgrades from Windows 2000 to Windows 7, so users needed to buy a full license for Windows 7.

Windows 2000 stopped getting any new updates, including security fixes, on July 13, 2010. This included support for Service Pack 2 of Windows XP. Many governments in Japan were affected because they had many Windows 2000 systems and could not afford to replace them.

Even after official support ended, some updates for Windows 2000 could still be found online. Tools created by independent groups help users get these older updates.

Total cost of ownership

In October 2002, a group called IDC studied how much it costs businesses to run programs on Windows 2000 compared to Linux. They talked to managers at 104 companies in North America. They found that for most everyday tasks like storing files, printing, setting up networks, and keeping things secure, Windows 2000 was easier and cheaper over five years for a company with about 100 people. However, they found that Linux was cheaper for running websites.

The study showed that the biggest costs were not for buying software or computers, but for paying staff and dealing with times when systems stopped working. Even though they tried to guess how much work got done during these times, they didn’t look at how it affected the company’s profits. They also found that Linux computers didn’t stop working as often as Windows 2000 computers. Most of the Linux computers didn’t handle as much work as the Windows ones, and none of the companies used special types of Linux computers that can handle many tasks at once. The study also said that TCO was just one thing to think about when choosing computer systems, and as these systems got better, the picture might change.