Windows NT/2000
history and features of Windows NT
This article describes the historical context and features of Windows NT/2000. Note that it is not complete yet!
1.1 history > top of page
Beginning with Windows 1.0 up to Windows ME, Microsoft's operating systems for home users based upon MS-DOS. Especially the low stability was a result from the weak core. In a commercial surrounding, an instable operating system running mission critical software can cause a loss of several million dollars. So, Microsoft had to develop a stable and up to date OS.
Microsoft and IBM started a project for a new operating system called "OS/2". But during the years, they split the project leading to OS/2 (IBM) and Windows NT (Microsoft).
Pic 1: the Win2k desktop (click to enlarge)
NT proved to be stable and capable. In late 1999, Microsoft released Windows 2000 (internally NT 5). It should continue the reliability of former NT versions but also import multimedia features from Win9x/ME.
2.1 general > top of page
Windows 2000 is strictly developed in 32 bit, a 64 port is also available. 16bit stuff is encapsulated in wowexec (Windows on Windows). Today, Win 2k/NT is widely used for professional workstations and as web/ASP server.
NT is offered in several versions:
| version | purpose |
|---|---|
| Professional or Workstation | advanced consumer Windows with less network functionality |
| Server | includes dedicated server tasks and special server licence |
| Advanced Datacenter | designed as ASP and webserver, containing Active Directory |