Windows 2000 (NT 5.1 update)

Microsoft once had plans for a Windows 2000 update that incorporated Whistler features that never made it into XP, using the same kernel (NT 5.1) as XP, released in early 2001. At the same time, a "personal" edition of Windows 2000 was also planned, available as a free upgrade to Windows Me users, and made to fix the problems of Windows Me, making the "Windows 2000" brand refreshed. Thusly, people had the choice to opt in for XP or Win2K. While the Professional and server versions of the Windows 2000 update were codenamed Odyssey, the personal edition was codenamed Neptune. 
The Windows 2000 update was created mainly for people who own Windows 2000 or Me and can't run XP. Others just enjoy the feel of 2000 and don't have the money to buy an XP upgrade disc.
Windows 98 and ME users didn't like the personal edition very much. Primarily, it was for its use of the NT kernel rather than DOS, like how Me worked. The professional edition of Windows 2000 met positive reviews from users of NT 4.0 and the old version of 2000. Most of them wondered, "But why? Windows XP exists; we have a new version of 2000, and abandoning Me doesn't make sense!" Microsoft told the people who said that this was meant for PCs that don't support XP or users of Win2K and Me who want to stay with their OS.
Windows NT 4.0 and 98 users can get Windows 2000 through an upgrade disc, while users of Windows Me and the old version of 2000 have the possibility to upgrade to the new 2000 for free through Windows Update. On top of that, users of NT4 and 98 can get the 2000 update even with a copy of the old 2000 or ME through Windows Update.
Servers that run Windows 2000 also get the update, named Windows Server 2000. Information about this version will be on this same page.
== New features ==
While keeping the same things the original version had, Windows 2000 included features from XP that were cancelled. For example, users of both editions had themes, such as the forgotten Watercolor, while the default one is Classic. Internet Explorer 6 was included with the update, as were additional multimedia programs and an NT port of System Restore. Windows 2000's update improved support for 9x/Me and DOS apps, on par with XP.
Category:Fictional Windows versions
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Category:Windows NT
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Category:Microsoft Windows