Windows 2000

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Not to be confused with Windows Me, since they were both released in 2000.

Windows 2000 was an OS that was released for manufacturing in December 1999 and to the public in February 2000 for bussiness and home users. It resulted with new features, such as improved kernel support, the Windows JavaScript, the blue accent color and other new enhancements.

### Start of Support

December 15th 1999 RTMFebruary 17th 2000 GA

### End of Support

Mainstream 30th June 2005Extended July 13th 2010

## Advanced

### Family

Windows NT

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Windows 2000 as of desktop

## Development

Windows 2000 started in development since 1997 (almost 3 years ago from its release). It was named under the name of **Windows NT 5.0**. Windows 2000's earliest builds were the new 15xx builds NT era. It implemented Windows NT 5.0 branding including and new features that were occured and ability for home users to also get Windows NT.

### 1998 Milestones

As the builds were slowly counted, starting with the build 16xx era, many new enhancements were implemented under the development of the OS, including new LIVE features. The interim codename was also implemented, but then the codename was changed in builds which had Windows 2000 branding and the OS started to not have a codename and many people got confused by its current codename, why it's just a "?". Though in its 1997 development, it was codenamed Janus, just like Windows 3.1 and 3.11. New modern NT 5.0 branding has been implemented then in the 17xx builds. The last 17xx build, build 1796 implemented a newer interface, as of implementing by default gradients into the tile bar, the blue accent color applying to the background and other minor changes, stating with this build. Builds 18xx didn't feature that many enhancements, as they only implemented not too many features and changes, but the cursor has shadows and new updates were made in a few applications, including the gradient of the title bar color being changed to pastel blue, instead of neon blue. The 19xx builds, starting with the most popular, 1946 implemented new Windows 2000 branding, overall this build has also changed many sounds including the log off and log on sounds, which are completely different from the RTM and the Tahoma fonts are now default fonts that are displayed with the OS, instead of the special Microsoft fonts.

### 1999 Milestones

In 1999, this is were Windows 2000 feels really complete as of its enhancements, but there are still a few touches and a bit of the UI to change. Starting with build 1969, it implemented the new icons, support for the Active desktop and a new wallpaper set. Build 1983 implements newer log on and log off sounds, close to what there heared from the final release, but with different melody being used instead. Many Windows 2000 branding has been also implemented and now most of the aspects use the new branding and blue accent background, too. New enhancements were made and a bunch of bug fixes, including the implemantion of the Professional SKU being implemented. As it felt right now in this build fully complete there needed to be some touches into the branding, log in screen and consistency right now. Build 2000 implemented the new Windows 2000 EULA and also more consistency brought to the OS and new miscellaneous bug fixes. Later 20xx builds of Windows 2000, implemented the RTM boot screen and Server SKU screen, including a few more touches to the branding, too and the logo.

### Release

As RTM Escrow builds were going (RC Windows 2000 builds), the OS is now ready to release, within the build number of 5.0.2195.1. Its release was going to be earlier than December, but decided to prepare a few things for Windows 2000 and pushed support for 1 more month late and then releasing it. It was also going to be released to the public in that kind of month, but Microsoft decided to seperate the RTM and GA releases one-by-one, so Microsoft decided instead to release Windows 2000 by the start of 2000 for GA by the Bussiness, Professional and Home users that use Windows 98 or Windows NT 4.0. Windows 95 needs an installation media in order to upgrade to Windows 2000 with any inserted SKU you really want.

## Market and Success

Within this build, this OS had really good market and its success was real. The OS improved a lot the technology with the new Java Scripts and Windows Kernel, changing ti to the Hybrid Kernel and 5.0 kernel. Visually Cairo simply was the Classic theme and there are more themes and features that needed to come under Windows 2000, but they were released in its successor, Windows XP. Close to what was thought, many people didnt really like Windows Me by it strange new features. Though people really liked some other features which Windows Me released, such as Movie Maker, System Restore and other improvements to Media Player, but half of the new phone themes of Media Player were sadly shamed and disliked, as it wasn't efforted and they could do better than this, but because being the last DOS release, many people which mostly hate, is that it removed MS-DOS real mode, which in Windows 2000 it didn't and so people downgraded to Windows 98 or Windows 2000 Professional.

## Comparison from Windows NT 4.0 with new changes and features of Windows 2000

* Windows Explorer: Windows NT 4.0 had a file explorer which didnt even had a UI and was a basic window application, which you opened files into seperate windows to check what are the new folders and other. Windows 2000 improved this application, to implement the new Preview Pane from the left, within a new interface and tool bar customisation, including new changes to the tool bar and the throbber has been also added. Windows 2000 also now makes folders to function inside of Windows Explorer, instead of functioning in a seperate window and introduces new icons.
* Shell: Windows 2000 has improved a lot the shell, within implementing a new gray faint animation while closing and the new power slider, instead of power checkmarks. The Start Menu has been updated to include new icons and an expanded size of the start menu, too. Gradient tile bars (first implemented in Windows 98) now are also implemented, within the pastel blue color, including the cursor to have shadows, which you can enable int the Control Panel, or disable the shadows. The blue accent color has been also implemented, replacing the teal color saw in earlier 9x OSes and earlier Windows NT OSes. New system icons were implemented, too and new animations were also implemented into the context menu, too.
* Active Desktop: Active desktop into the context menu has been also changed, which applies the desktop that you got in hands, too with the most activation used. In Windows NT 4.0, you cannot choose an active desktop into the context menu.
* JavaScript: JavaScript has been implemented for Windows game developers and owners of other games and professional scripters in professional applications. In Windows NT 4.0, this wasn't implemented.
* Hybrid kernel: The Hybrid kernel has been implemented, instead of the Cairo kernel. In Windows NT 4.0, the Cairo kernel was used instead.
* New icons and sounds: Windows 2000 implements newer sounds, including changed sounds, log off and log on sounds, though Windows NT 4.0 includes the older sounds and not too many new sounds. The icons of Windows NT 4.0 are different, to match Windows 95 PLUS!, but in Windows 2000, they have changed to unqiue icons, which were also found in Windows Me.
* NTFS 3.0: NTFS 3.0 was also implemented, which was to meet people around the whole network. In Windows NT 4.0, this wasn't introduced.
* Encrypting File System: The Encrypting File System has been implemented, which in Windows NT 4.0 it wasn't.
* The new Accessibility applet into the Control Panel has been implemented. It implemented the new toggle keys option for people which want to change the accessibility of the toggle keys. Like for example, you can make the audio, mono, like just simply muted and not hearing anyone. FilterKeys were also implemented, which you changed the speed of the keys while you type. StickyKeys were also implemented, which toggles new mini sounds made for ir, recycle and ring sounds, including and the new sticky sounds. When you press the  shift key 5 times, it will then result to a new sticky keys error, which causes saying ***"Pressing the SHIFT key 5 times turns on StickyKeys. StickyKeys lets you press SHIFT,CTRL,ALT or Windows logo by pressing one key at a time.***

***To turn on StickyKeys, click OK. To cancel StickyKeys, click Cancel. To activate the key combination of StickyKeys, click Settings."***

It also implements more new toggles, such as the Microsoft Magnifier, the High Contrast themes, the MouseKeys and the SoundsEntry, too. In Windows NT 4.0, this applet didn't even exist at all.

* **On Screen keyboard**: The On Screen Keyboard has been implemented, which is a keyboard that affects all the screen, to see it, within matching with the desktop keyboard, with including its new settings and customisation, which was removed in later OSes, but was returned in Windows 11.
* **Microsoft NetMeeting**: Microsoft NetMeeting, in a version of 1.0 has been implemented. In Windows NT 4.0, this wasn't.
* **Windows Desktop Update**: The Windows Desktop Update has been also implemented as well, which in Windows NT 4.0 it wasn't.
* **Plug and Play Hardware**: The plug and play hardware feature has been implemented, which is saw after logging on into the desktop. It also was 1st seen in Windows 98, but in this OS it got several brand new improvements. Windows NT 4.0 didn't include PnP Hardware support.
* **DirectX**: DirectX implemented new games, which also function in Windows XP, too. The option to play more games in Windows NT 4.0 wasn't implemented.
* **Microsoft Management Console:** The Microsoft Management Console has been implemented, which was used to manage and update boot drivers and all hardware that exists in the laptop or PC you bought. This application wasn't included in Windows NT 4.0.
* **Recovery Console**: The Recovery Console of Windows has been also implemented, to choose whatever mode you want, including safe mode, instead of just 3 different modes. In Windows NT 4.0 there were only 3 modes which you can choose back then.
* **Palatino Linotype Font**: The new Palatino Linotype font has been implemented, including 2 fonts being changed in-style. The Tahoma font is now enabled into the OS by default and doesn't need installing anymore.
* **Boot Screen and User Interface:** The boot screen shown in Windows NT 4.0 is just a blue screen with text, while in Windows 2000, it's modified to show a different themed boot screen, to match Windows Millenium, Windows 95 and Windows 98 and implements a newer background to resemble the logo. In the Server SKU, the logo is only different in the boot screen. The log in screen, safe to shut down and desktop screens now use the blue accent color, replacing the teal saw in the Windows 9x OSes, Windows NT 3.1, 3.5 and 3.51, including Windows NT 4.0. They also have a different banner and have updated shell, to match with the style of Windows 2000.
* **Power Options**: As saw from the shell, the check mark power options were replaced with a power slider and implemented a new gray fading animation, but also has the support to hibernate the OS, compared from Windows NT 4.0, as ACPI support was implemented, making the OS to drastically change the shut-down and restart screens to already shut down and restart, instead of just showing a safe to shutdown screen in Windows NT 4.0.
* **Display Updates**: The display has been changed, now the display properties include the high and 256 color styles (the true color has been implemented in Windows XP.) The display background resolution is also updated to include more new resolutions, as modern desktop computers were slowly rolling up and more lower resolutions were also implemented as well. The ability to customize gradient tile bars (implemented in Windows 98) has been implemented and you change the color of the gradient to whatever you want!

Sticky KeysManagement ConsoleWindows ExplorerRecovery Console