Windows 2000 is the successor to Microsoft's popular Windows NT 4.0 Operating System. (Technically, it's NT 5.0. The name was changed for marketing reasons.)  Windows 2000 builds on NT's strengths and offers significant improvements in reliability, security, manageability, scalability, and hardware support. Both Windows NT and Windows 2000 are extremely well built, robust, secure, and popular Operating Systems that are designed specifically for businesses and high end environments. But Windows 2000 is a lot more than just a simple upgrade. It's almost a total rewrite of the Windows NT Operating System, with hundreds of new features and fixes.

Evaluate Advanced Server, Limited Edition
Microsoft's first server for the 64-bit computing environment based on Intel's Itanium processor is ready. Here's how to get an evaluation version on CD.

Windows 2000 System Preparation Tool, Version 1.1
The Windows 2000 System Preparation Tool (Sysprep) Version 1.1 enables administrators to prepare Windows 2000 System Images as part of an automated deployment. Sysprep 1.1 is an update to Sysprep 1.0 and adds the ability to reduce the number of images required in a deployment by supporting multiple mass storage controllers.

Windows 2000 Help Files
Download your choice of Help files for Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, or Windows 2000 Advanced Server. You can install the Help files you need, regardless of which Windows 2000 platform you have on your computer.

Windows 2000 High Encryption Pack
The Windows 2000 High Encryption Pack allows you to enhance your system with the highest available encryption level (128-bit).

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer v1.1.1 (for Professionals)
Microsoft has released an updated version of their BaseLine Security Analyzer, which is available as a free download. Version 1.1.1 of MBSA includes a graphical and command line interface that can perform local or remote scans of Windows systems. MBSA runs on Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, and Windows XP systems and will scan for common security misconfigurations in the following products: Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Internet Information Server (IIS) 4.0 and 5.0, SQL Server 7.0 and 2000, Internet Explorer (IE) 5.01 and later, and Office 2000 and 2002. MBSA also scans for missing security updates for Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, IIS, SQL, Exchange, IE, and Windows Media Player.

Windows 2000 Resource Kits now Available FREE Online!
The Microsoft Windows 2000 Resource Kits for both Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Server are now available in their entirety online. They are fully searchable and include the latest changes and updates. This includes a downloadable version of some of the resource kit tools.

Windows 2000 Resource Kit Tools
Microsoft Windows 2000 Resource Kit software tools can help you streamline administrative tasks such as managing Active DirectoryŠ, administering security features, working with Group Policy and Terminal Services, automating application deployment, and other important jobs.

Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4) provides the latest updates to the Windows 2000 operating systems. This service pack includes 669 public fixes and 6 partner only fixes in the following areas: security, application compatibility, operating system reliability, and setup. Windows 2000 SP4 is a recommended update that includes the updates contained in previous Windows 2000 service packs. To determine whether to install Windows 2000 SP4, Microsoft recommends that you review the Windows 2000 SP4 documentation.

Windows 2000 Post-SP3 Hotfixes
A cumulative list of the Microsoft Knowledge Base articles that have been written to discuss hotfixes that have been released since the release of Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.

Windows 2000 Service Pack 3
Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3) provides the latest updates to the Windows 2000 family of operating systems. These updates are a collection of fixes in the following areas: application compatibility, operating system reliability, security, and setup. Windows 2000 SP3 includes the updates contained in Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows 2000 Security Rollup Package 1. Windows 2000 SP3 is a recommended upgrade. Windows 2000 SP3 includes Windows Installer 2.0 please see the Deployment Guide for more information.

Windows 2000 Service Pack 2
Service Pack 2 (SP2) provides the latest updates to the Windows 2000 family of operating systems. These updates are a collection of fixes in the following areas: setup, application compatibility, operating system reliability, and security issues. SP2 is not considered a required upgrade; Microsoft recommends that customers review the available documentation and determine whether to install SP2.

Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
Service Pack 1 (SP1) provides the latest updates to the Windows 2000 family of operating systems. These updates are a collection of fixes in the following areas: setup, application compatibility, operating system reliability, and security issues. SP1 is not considered a required upgrade; Microsoft recommends that customers review the available documentation and determine whether to install SP1.

Windows 2000 Security Rollup Package Archive, January 2002
Critical and security updates that are included in the January 2002 release of Windows 2000 Security Rollup Package (SRP) have been moved from this catalog to the Windows 2000 SRP, January, 2002 Archive. The archive is not a comprehensive list of all the updates in the SRP. To keep your Windows 2000 computer current, Microsoft recommends that you install the Windows 2000 Security Rollup Package, January, 2002.