Windows 2000: installation and setup

Install Windows 2000 Professional on an older computer, from preparing the disk to finishing the setup wizard.

What you need

• Your own Windows 2000 Professional disc and product key, from a copy you legally own. Microsoft no longer sells it. Do not download disc images from websites, because they can carry malware.
• A computer with enough room. Microsoft's installation chapter asks for at least 650 MB of free disk space and recommends a partition of 2 GB or more. Reference sources list a Pentium 133 MHz and 32 MB of memory as minimums; more memory helps.
• A CD drive that can start the computer. If it cannot, Microsoft describes four Windows 2000 setup floppy disks, which must be made on another computer that runs Windows 2000.
• Any driver disks for your disk controller, supplied by the maker of the computer or the controller.

Upgrade or clean install

Microsoft says Windows 2000 Professional can upgrade Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT Workstation 3.51 or 4.0. An upgrade keeps your files and program settings, but some older programs may not work afterward. A clean install starts fresh: you reinstall your programs and reset your preferences. Choose a clean install if the disk is empty, if you are coming from Windows 3.1 or Me, or if you want to start over. The steps below cover a clean install.

Choose a file system

Windows 2000 supports FAT16, FAT32 and NTFS. Microsoft recommends NTFS for Windows 2000. The built-in tools format FAT32 volumes only up to 32 GB.

Pick FAT only if the same computer must also start MS-DOS or an older Windows from another partition. Otherwise choose NTFS.

Install Windows 2000

1. Open the setup screen. Put the Windows 2000 CD in the drive, restart the computer, and press a key when it says Press any key to boot from CD. If it never offers this, check the boot order in its startup settings.
2. Wait while Setup loads files. A blue screen titled Windows 2000 Setup appears.
3. If your disk controller needs a driver from its maker, Setup offers a key press near the start of the blue-screen stage, before the welcome screen, to add one. Use only a driver from the computer or controller maker, and only if Setup cannot find your disk.
4. Press Enter at the welcome screen to set up Windows 2000 now. The other choices are R to repair and F3 to quit.
5. Read the license agreement and press F8 to accept it.
6. Choose where to install. Select an unpartitioned area to create a new partition, or select an existing partition. Microsoft advises installing Windows 2000 on its own partition and not on the same partition as another system you want to keep.
7. Choose the file system for the partition, such as NTFS. For an existing partition, Microsoft says the default keeps the current file system and your files. Choosing to format erases the partition, so confirm this is the right one.
8. Wait while Setup copies files and then restarts. Remove any floppy disk so the computer starts from the hard disk. If it offers to boot from the CD again, do not press a key.
9. When the graphical Windows 2000 Setup Wizard appears, follow the prompts. It asks for your regional settings, your name, your product key, a computer name and an Administrator password, the date and time, and network settings. Write down the Administrator password.
10. Choose Typical settings for networking unless you know you need custom ones, then choose a workgroup. Setup finishes, restarts, and shows a login or desktop.

Check that it worked

1. Right-click My Computer, select Properties, and look at the General tab. It should name Windows 2000 and show your memory.
2. Open Start then Settings then Control Panel then System, select the Hardware tab, then Device Manager. Items marked with a yellow symbol need a driver.
3. Install the latest service pack for Windows 2000, which is Service Pack 4. Windows 2000 does not need product activation.

For programs, drivers and fixes, see Windows 2000: installing programs and drivers, and fixing common problems.

If something goes wrong

• The computer will not start from the CD. Check the boot order in the startup settings, or use the setup floppy disks.
• NTLDR is missing. Microsoft lists this as a sign that a file is damaged, moved or missing, or that the boot sector is damaged. Starting from the Setup CD and choosing the repair route can fix it; the steps are in the Windows 2000 problems guide.
• No disk is found. The controller needs a driver from its maker. Restart Setup and use the driver key press offered near the start of the blue-screen stage.

Frequently asked questions