A rchive Date
[ 01-12-2000 ]
Category
[ Information Technologies ]
sub-Categoy
[ Microsoft ]
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[http://www.zdnet.com/zdhelp/stories/main/0,5594,2430396,00.html
Windows 2000 Versions
By Peter Deegan, Help & How - To
Which version is right for you.
The change of name from "Window NT" to "Windows 2000" means little except that the Microsoft marketing mob had some long lunches. You'll see on the start - up screen and the retail boxes that the words "Using NT Technology" are placed to reassure you that it's part of the NT family.
The downside of the new name is that unsuspecting people may think that Windows 2000 is the next step up from Windows 98. In fact Microsoft has two streams of Windows - Consumer and Business.
The consumer versions of Windows (Windows 95/98) have more support for multimedia and games. They are designed to be more "friendly" for the novice user. The successor to Windows 98 is due out later in 2000 and currently is called "Windows Millennium" (though that name may change after another marketing department lunch).
The business version (Windows NT and now 2000) have a much higher performance and security standard, the trade - off being a much tighter focus on approved hardware.
There are four versions of Windows 2000, one is intended for workstations and the others are various degrees of server sophistication.
Windows 2000 Professional
The "Professional" version takes over from NT 4 Workstation. It's intended for desktop use by businesses and professionals with enhanced security and configuration features. It may look similar to Windows 95/98 on the screen but it is quite different technically. It is NOT a direct successor to Windows 95 or 98 and not intended for home use. The Professional version will use dual processor chips (if installed).
Windows 2000 Server
This is the basic server option for small and medium businesses and includes a Web server, terminal, and remote access services. It will support up to four processors on the one machine.
Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Advanced Server takes to role of the old "NT Enterprise Edition" with support for up to eight processors, clustering and load balancing. It's intended for intensive database work or other high load situations.
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Coming later in 2000 is this monster version of Windows 2000 for really large corporate or academic use. It will use up to 16 processors and 64GB of memory.
Once you have all your verified backups in place, printout of system information and said a prayer to the deity of your choice, you can start changing over to Windows 2000.
You can start the upgrade in several ways:
- Insert the Windows 2000 CD into the CD - ROM drive, the AutoStart feature in Windows should "see" it. You'll be asked "Would you like to upgrade to Windows 2000" - click yes.
- If Autostart doesn't work, use Windows Explorer to browse the CD. In the root folder you'll find Setup.exe - double click on that then choose "Install Windows 2000"
- With a CD - ROM drive capable of accepting a bootable CD you can begin the Windows 2000 installation when you start your computer. Watch the computer screen as you start, there may be a key press required to switch to a CD boot.
If you have an existing version of Windows loaded you'll be asked if you want an upgrade or install a new copy. The upgrade option should convert all your existing Windows settings to Windows 2000. If you prefer to start from scratch choose "Install a new copy of Windows 2000 (clean install)."
As usual you'll have to enter your Product Key that is supplied with your Windows 2000 CD. Tip: the letters in the product key can be either upper or lower case, regardless of what's on the label - knowing this makes the key easier to type in.
Next you get to change various special options - most people won't need to change these but you should look under each button to see if there's anything relevant to you:
Language Options
Change the main language/country from the top list. This selection also sets the default formats for time, date, currency etc so you should change it to match not only the language but, if possible, the country as well. For most readers of this, that means English (your country goes here). If your English speaking country isn't listed, choose the one that most closely matches the format you use.
If you have need of running programs or writing documents in other languages, choose the language group from the bottom list.
Advanced Options
This is where you can change the source location for the Windows 2000 installation files and the name of the main Windows directory (it will use the existing folder name by default).
The other options are to copy all the installation files from the CD to your hard drive before installation - this is sometimes necessary for troublesome installs but usually a waste of time and your disk space.
"I want to choose the installation partition during Setup" is available for clean installs and is essential if you want to install multiple operating systems on the one computer.
Accessibility Options
Two tools are available: Magnifier will enlarge a section of the screen for people with limited vision. Narrator can read aloud the contents of the screen - dialog boxes and all.
Directory of Applications
As we've mentioned before, Windows 2000 has much tighter hardware and software compatibility requirements than Windows 95 or 98. The "Directory of Applications" button will open a web page on the Microsoft web site where you can check the latest compatibility information (the installation will also check compatibility but there's additional information discovered after the Windows 2000 CD's were made).
But you don't have to wait until the Windows 2000 installation to check this Web site - because here's the link to the same page that you can use anytime.
The Blue Screen of Setup
The Windows 2000 setup will then copy some essential files to your hard drive (this usually doesn't take long) then restarts your computer. Leave the Windows 2000 CD in the drive. When the computer reboots you'll see an old style DOS - like screen with a blue background and white writing. Don't panic - you haven't fallen into a time warp and jumped 10 years into the past! It's just the preliminary setup of Windows 2000.
Your next main options are:
- Setup Windows 2000 (press ENTER)
- Repair Windows 2000 (press R), if your system crashes later this is the option you'll use to try to recover.
- Quit Setup (press F3)
If you choose Setup, the installer will check your hard drive for an existing Windows folder.
Partition Options
You'll now see a list of the available hard drives on your computer. This can be confusing and if you're not sure what you are doing it's best not to tinker and go with the defaults.
You can use the arrow keys to move between the different hard drives and partitions (the formatted segments of your hard drive) that exist. This screen is only for choosing the bootable partition for Windows 2000 - if you want to format other sections of hard drives (Drive D, Drive E, etc.) you do that after the main installation is complete (from Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Storage, Disk Management).
Choose the partition to install Windows 2000 on by highlighting that partition then pressing Enter.
If there's unpartitioned space (i.e., space that's on the hard drive but not allocated) then highlight that line and press C. (Note that Windows 2000 reserves a small amount of disk space for drive partitioning information, this space is misleadingly shown as unpartitioned).
You can delete an existing partition by highlighting that line and pressing D. WARNING: You can't recover from a partition deletion, there's no way back. Make sure you have backups safely stored away before deleting a partition. Deletion is useful if you want to merge separate partitions of a single drive into a single partition (i.e., multiple drive letters on a single drive become a single drive letter).
Partition deletion is a common need in Windows 2000 because people are converting from the older FAT systems (that could not handle large size hard drives effectively) to NTFS (that is much better for large drives). You can delete the additional partitions until you have a larger block of unpartitioned space - then use the Create option to make it into a single large partition. Choose your Windows 2000 boot partition size carefully. While you can adjust other partitions relatively freely, the boot partition cannot be adjusted later.
When you create a new partition you'll be asked if you want it formatted using the NTFS or FAT system.
FAT is the older, less secure format (properly called FAT32) used by Windows 95 and 98. It is less efficient in terms of speed and use of disk space but is more accessible if things go wrong.
NTFS is Microsoft's high performance, high security file format - you get options like file/folder encryption and compression. If you're confident of your ability to handle a system crash under NTFS then choose it. Notebook users in particular, may decide that the compression option is too good to pass up.
Computer experts will generally go with NTFS and recommend it to others. However less experienced users are often unprepared for the higher security of NTFS - the old days of simply booting from a floppy disk to get into a recalcitrant hard drive are gone with an NTFS system.
If you're unsure go with FAT - you can convert to NTFS at any time (but not the other way around). Once you're more confident with Windows 2000 and it's stability on your computer you can convert the drive.
When there's already a copy of Windows on the hard drive, you'll asked if you want to install over that version or install to a new folder. Choosing a different folder can give you an option to start the computer using the old version.
Once you've selected a partition (and, if necessary created and formatted it), the installer will check your hard drive then copy all the necessary files to your hard drive. There's a lot to copy, so it may take more than a few minutes. The computer will then reboot and the installer will spend a long time analyzing your computer. This is a good time for a cup of coffee.
When you return you'll see the Windows 2000 setup wizard has commenced with a slightly more traditional Windows screen now (the blue DOS - ish screen is gone and your mouse is working again).
Next, you get to choose or confirm the regional settings you made earlier. You can adjust the date, time and currency formats.
Also available are "input locales" settings that are needed if you want to type in different languages.
All these settings can be adjusted later, if necessary.
Networking
 Networking is the next part of the Windows 2000 installation. In times past the configuration of network cards and protocols was enough to make normally brave men and women cry. Windows 2000 is much better and takes much of the burden away. If you have a plug and play network card then the hardware should not be a problem.
You get the option of either:
- Typical settings. This installs a default set of network options for TCP/IP with DHCP available on the network.
- Custom settings. Use this option if you need to install other protocols (AppleTalk, DLC, NetBeui, Network Monitor or IPX/SPX), clients or services. You'll also need this option if you have to manually configure TCP/IP (i.e., choose a fixed IP address or DNS server).
Workgroup or Domain?
This is something you'll have to check with your network administrator. You have the choices:
NO domain - i.e., if you have a computer not attached to a network or on a network without a domain (for example, a workgroup)
WITH domain - large computer networks will probably have a domain controller.
Whichever option you choose, type the name of the workgroup or domain in the box provided. Enter it exactly as your network administrator advises.
Windows 2000 SP1
 First service pack for Windows 2000 offers hundreds of fixes and security patches in one download.
Microsoft today announced the official release of Windows 2000 Service Pack 1. The new service release is designed to fix bugs and to enhance current features.
This service pack is a conglomeration of previous operating system updates and security fixes designed to increase the stability and performance of Windows 2000. It offers a way to easily tune - up your PC with just one update installation versus installing dozens of previously released patches. Also, you get the most up - to - date versions of each patch.
Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 was designed to address the following issues:
- Application and hardware compatibility
- Security
- Windows 2000 setup
- Operating system reliability
New features and updates are not included in this service pack. It is only a collection of previously released updates. The importance of this update is paramount. Service Pack 1 can, and should be, applied to all versions of Windows 2000.
By applying this update some of the improvements you can expect to obtain are:
- Increased DirectX performance
- Highest level of Available security
- Reduced memory leaks
- Better Plug - and - Play support
- Reduced CPU usage when running on batteries
Windows 2000 SP1 is a 'must have' for any Windows 2000 platform and can be applied to Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows 2000 Professional.
Download Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
Windows 2000 Critical Update
The Windows 2000 Critical Update updates three items in the Windows 2000 operating system: It resolves a VB Script problem that incorrectly reports the year when using the Wareki or Taiwan date calendar. This update also resolves a potential data - corruption problem that can occur when saving files as .htm to an HTTP server from Office 2000 programs, including Word and Excel. Finally, it resolves a vulnerability that could allow a malicious Web surfer to gain unauthorized access to view files if running Web services and file indexing services.
System Requirements
Windows 2000
Upgrading To Windows 2000
If you're used to upgrading from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95 then 98 you're in for a shock when you try to upgrade to Windows 2000. Because Windows 2000 is fundamentally different from the consumer Windows, the upgrade path isn't easy or reliable (notwithstanding Microsoft's efforts). Moving to Windows 2000 is a major step and you need to be prepared.
Because it's a major change you may not have the option to rollback to your previous version of Windows if the upgrade to Windows 2000 doesn't work out. In our experience the option to switch back to Windows NT 4 rarely, if ever, works in practice so don't rely on it.
Windows 2000 is a wonderful operating system. I've used it for more than 6 months now including lugging my Windows 2000 powered laptop on a two month round - the - world trip where it didn't skip a beat. However the much tighter security and hardware requirements mean that if Windows 2000 crashes it can crash spectacularly. You need to have much more regular backups and be prepared for things to go wrong.
Before you buy Windows 2000, make sure you check your system's hardware and software for Windows 2000 compatibility.
In theory you can just install Windows 2000 over an existing Windows 95 or 98 computer and all the settings and software will migrate automatically. It's a nice theory but you're in for a shock if you rely on it. Windows 2000 may look the same but technically it's very different - the registry (where computer settings are stored) is different on Windows 98 and 2000. The hard drive can be formatted very differently (Windows 2000 can use the more efficient NTFS system that Windows 98 can't read). There are so many differences between the consumer and business versions of Windows that it's difficult for the Windows 2000 setup to cope. In fact this is the first time Microsoft has tried to provide a path for switching from consumer to NT technology, for Windows NT 4 you had no choice but to wipe the hard drive and start from scratch.
Before starting a Windows 2000 changeover make a full backup of your entire computer. Better still have two backups and verify them. If the Windows 2000 setup doesn't work properly you will need the backups to return to your old system.
Switching from Windows NT 4 to Windows 2000 should be more reliable since they are similar technologies. However it's not that simple, we've tried the changeover from NT to Windows 2000 on several machines and it only worked smoothly once. On all other occasions there was some problem that prevented a smooth upgrade.
So it's still imperative that you have full and complete backups before you begin. Relying on a problem - free transition between any operating system is foolish.
Over time, computers collect a lot of unnecessary clutter. Hard drives have stray files that aren't necessary but were not properly uninstalled. The registry gets overloaded with settings from old software. The only practical way to get rid of this clutter is to erase everything and reinstall what you need. It may seem an extreme measure but it's what many computer professionals do at least once a year.
Upgrading to Windows 2000 may be a good time for such a "clean slate" installation. Since the Windows 2000 changeover may not be as smooth as Microsoft hopes you may decide that it's better not to attempt it and start over.
Make sure you have all your backups, then install Windows 2000. During the installation you'll have the choice to delete any existing hard disk partitions and create a new partition to install Windows 2000 on.
Do You Have What It Takes?
According to Microsoft these are the minimum requirements for Windows 2000 Professional:
- Pentium 133Mhz or higher
- 32 MB of RAM
- 2GB hard disk with 650MB of free disk space
- VGA monitor, keyboard and mouse
Windows 2000 will work on such a computer, but as usual Microsoft has grossly underestimated the system requirements to encourage as many sales as possible.
To run Windows 2000 effectively you'll need something much better; at least:
- Pentium II 400Mhz
- 128MB of RAM, preferable more since Windows 2000 makes good use of extra RAM.
- 6GB hard drive with at least 1GB free.
- CD - ROM drive, VGA monitor, keyboard and mouse.
2000 Upgrade Checklist
Before you install Windows 2000 make sure you've done these things:
- Checked for any BIOS updates
- Run the Readiness Advisor to ensure your hardware is Windows 2000 compatible
- Checked with the makers of all necessary software to ensure it is Windows 2000 compatible.
- Ensure that your computer not only meets but exceeds the minimum requirements for the type of Windows 2000 you are installing.
- Make sure the CD - ROM drive accepts a bootable CD. The Windows 2000 installation CD is bootable and while it isn't strictly necessary, a bootable CD - ROM drive can make installation and recovery from a crash much easier.
- Backups - preferably more than one safety copy of all your files. Ensure that your tape drive and backup software is Windows 2000 compatible (no point in having backups if Windows 2000 can't read them). The best option is to have a copy of your files that is in normal form (rather than some proprietary and/or compressed backup format). This means you can copy needed files with just Explorer or the command prompt - no special software. You can copy files to another computer or server across the network (check with your IT manager before copying gigabytes of files!) or removable storage like a JAZ drive.
- Get a printout of your pre - installation hardware settings. You can get this from Windows device manager. In addition make a note of all your network settings, especially TCP/IP settings. You should have a separate list of all login names/passwords plus dial in numbers and settings for all ISP's and other network dial - up services.
After Installation, open Internet Explorer and chose Tools, Windows Update from the menu. This will connect you with Microsoft and show you a list of any updates available. Just because Windows 2000 is new doesn't mean there's no updates available - in fact at least one security update was made available in the time between Windows 2000 was sent to manufacturing and the official launch date.
Make a careful note of your Administrator name and password, it's vital to the survival of your Windows 2000 system. In Windows 95 and 98 login passwords are easily circumvented, not so Windows NT or 2000. These systems are locked up tighter than the proverbial Fort Knox - lose your Administrator password and you're in big trouble.]
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