Getting to know Windows 2000

Getting to know Windows 2000

Windows 2000 is the next version of Windows NT, and was known for a short while as Windows NT 5.0. There are four distinctive versions of Windows 2000, but only Windows 2000 Professional (the name Professional replaces the name Workstation for business desktop systems) and Windows 2000 Server are mentioned on the A+ OS Technologies exam. The other versions, just to satisfy your curiosity, are: Windows 2000 Advanced Server and Windows 2000 Data Center Server.

You can upgrade to Windows 2000 from Windows 98, and its setup program includes a process to guide you. Windows 2000 has a very Windows 98-like interface and will read and support FAT32 files-- something Windows NT 4.0 wouldn't do.

Microsoft lists the minimum system requirements for Windows 2000 Professional to be a Pentium 133 or better with 64MB RAM. Windows 2000 Server requires at least a Pentium 133 or better with 256MB RAM. However, before installing Windows 2000 on any system, check the Windows 2000 hardware compatibility list (HCL) for all the FRMs installed.

Check Windows 2000's hardware and software compatibility lists to see if your hardware and software are listed, and then convert your operating system to Windows 2000. Take a few minutes to orient yourself to the HCL by visiting Microsoft's Hardware and Software Compatibility Web site at www.microsoft.com/windows2000/upgrade/compat/.

If you find that your hardware is not supported, check with the manufacturer for information on when a Windows 2000 driver will be available. Until then you must wait.