[Slynky]

Well, PvK, you failed to talk about the fact that M$ has dropped support for W2000. So, if a vulnerability arises, you have been left out. There will be no new updates for that OS.

XP is basically the kernal of W2000 improved. If you walk into Best Buy or Media Play (popular places in the US), and take a look at the OS's supported, you'll find backward compatibility for more games for 95 and 98 than W2000. W2000 was published as a platform for buisneses. Accordingly, a lot of gaming companies didn't bother spending time to test for compatibility. That didn't mean they wouldn't run but that they didn't "promise" it would. A lot of games run on W2000 that don't list it on the box. But some don't. They just don't.

This is also true of XP, since it was (kind of) based on W2000. But, you'll probably have more success installing an older game on XP than W2000.

Now, it may be that I went through some sort of activation scheme but I don't recall it. I never had to call or register. I installed and it ran. Now, IF it did some "stuff" behind my back, I don't really care. My Adobe PS "checks in" regularly and so does a few of my other software packages. I installed an additional HD on my system and I never had to call M$ and my OS never stopped working (like a lot of people feared). I've flashed my BIOS and still no problem. Of course, EVERY bit of software on the 4 PCs on my home network have been paid for. That goes for multiple copies of NAV, M$ Frontpage, and a few others.

As an IT professional, I advise people who approach me all the time. I don't think I'd be steering anyone wrong by recommending XP. NOt to mention a few other added features the average "village idiot" might find useful that XP has that W2000 does not. Besides all that, you can't even legally purchase W2000 any longer. IF you do find a copy legitimately, you will be lucky. Just try to order a PC with it and see what you get.