Editing Windows 2000 (section)

== New and updated features ==
Windows 2000 introduced many of the new features of [[Windows 98]] and 98 SE into the NT line,<ref name="Win2KIntro">{{Cite web |title=Introducing Windows 2000 Professional |url=http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/Windows2000Pro/reskit/part1/proch01.mspx?mfr=true |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320142629/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/Windows2000Pro/reskit/part1/proch01.mspx?mfr=true |archive-date=March 20, 2007 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Microsoft.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> such as the [[Windows Desktop Update]],<ref name="Win2KIntro" /> [[Internet Explorer 5|Internet Explorer&nbsp;5]] ([[Internet Explorer 6|Internet Explorer&nbsp;6]], which followed in 2001, is also available for Windows 2000),<ref name="Win2KIntro" /> [[Outlook Express]], [[Microsoft NetMeeting|NetMeeting]], [[FAT32]] support,<ref>[http://support.microsoft.com/kb/154997 Description of the FAT32 File System] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508005208/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/154997 |date=May 8, 2008 }},</ref> [[Streaming SIMD Extensions|SSE]] and [[3DNow!]] support, [[SSE2]] support, [[Windows Driver Model]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 15, 2002 |title=Windows Driver Model (WDM) |url=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/wdmoverview.mspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222111251/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/wdmoverview.mspx |archive-date=December 22, 2010 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Microsoft.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Internet Connection Sharing]],<ref name="Win2KIntro" /> [[Windows Media Player]] 6.4, [[WebDAV]] support<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 29, 2007 |title=Overview of Web Folders in Internet Explorer 5 |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/195851 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105015555/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/195851 |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Support.microsoft.com}}</ref> etc. Certain new features are common across all editions of Windows 2000, among them NTFS 3.0,<ref name="NTFS3" /> the [[Microsoft Management Console]] (MMC),<ref name="MMC">{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2009 |title=Microsoft Management Console – Overview |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742441.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122074936/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742441.aspx |archive-date=November 22, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Technet.microsoft.com}}</ref> [[Universal Disk Format|UDF]] support, the [[Encrypting File System]] (EFS),<ref name="EFS">{{Cite web |title=Implementing the Encrypting File System in Windows 2000 |url=http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/prodtech/windows2000/w2kccadm/dataprot/w2kadm21.mspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723225658/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/prodtech/Windows2000/w2kccadm/dataprot/w2kadm21.mspx |archive-date=July 23, 2008 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Microsoft.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Logical Disk Manager]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disk Management |url=http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/deploy/dgbj_sto_csmg.mspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112091853/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/deploy/dgbj_sto_csmg.mspx |archive-date=January 12, 2009 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Microsoft.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Image Color Management 2.0,<ref name="ColorsFonts">{{Cite web |date=September 6, 1999 |title=Windows 2000 To Include New On-Screen And Printed Scalable Color Solution |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0GZQ/is_34_40/ai_55660669 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060223160134/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0GZQ/is_34_40/ai_55660669 |archive-date=February 23, 2006 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Findarticles.com}}</ref> support for [[PostScript|PostScript 3]]-based printers,<ref name="ColorsFonts" /> [[OpenType]] <code>(.OTF)</code> and [[Type 1 font|Type 1 PostScript]] <code>(.PFB)</code> font support<ref name="ColorsFonts" /> (including a new font—[[Palatino Linotype]]—to showcase some OpenType features<ref>{{Cite web |title=MSDN Blogs |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/fontblog/archive/2007/06/11/a-blast-from-type-past.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809063330/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/fontblog/archive/2007/06/11/a-blast-from-type-past.aspx |archive-date=August 9, 2014 |access-date=August 8, 2014 |website=msdn.com |publisher=Microsoft |df=mdy-all}}</ref>), the [[Data protection application programming interface|Data protection API]] (DPAPI),<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2007 |title=How to troubleshoot the Data Protection API (DPAPI) |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309408 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005211601/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309408 |archive-date=October 5, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Support.microsoft.com}}</ref> an [[LDAP]]/[[Active Directory]]-enabled [[Windows Address Book|Address Book]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 24, 2007 |title=How to Configure the Address Book to Query Users Contained in Active Directory |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/238007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020215152/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/238007 |archive-date=October 20, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Support.microsoft.com}}</ref> usability enhancements and multi-language and locale support. Windows 2000 also introduced [[USB]] device class drivers for USB printers, [[USB Mass Storage Device class|Mass storage class devices]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 25, 2008 |title=USB FAQ: Introductory level |url=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/connect/usb/usbfaq_intro.mspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225045439/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/connect/usb/USBFAQ_intro.mspx |archive-date=December 25, 2010 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Microsoft.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> and improved FireWire [[Serial Bus Protocol 2|SBP-2]] support for printers and scanners, along with a ''Safe removal'' applet for removable storage devices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2001 |title=IEEE 1394 and the Windows platform |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg454506#E3AAC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108214828/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg454506#E3AAC |archive-date=November 8, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Msdn.microsoft.com}}</ref> Windows 2000 SP4 added native [[USB 2.0]] support, [[Wireless Zero Configuration]] support and [[SSE3]] support. Windows 2000 is also the first Windows version to support [[Hibernate (computing)|hibernation]] at the operating system level (OS-controlled [[Advanced Configuration and Power Interface|ACPI]] S4 sleep state) unlike Windows 98 which required special drivers from the hardware manufacturer or driver developer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2002 |title=Windows and Power Management |url=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/winpowmgmt.mspx#EUE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040713182635/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/winpowmgmt.mspx#EUE |archive-date=July 13, 2004 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Microsoft.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

A new capability designed to protect critical system files called [[Windows File Protection]] was introduced. This protects critical Windows system files by preventing programs other than Microsoft's operating system update mechanisms such as the ''Package Installer'', [[Windows Installer]] and other update components from modifying them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft KB article 222193: Description of the Windows File Protection Feature |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/222193 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821212217/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/222193/ |archive-date=August 21, 2006 |access-date=September 17, 2006}}</ref> The [[System File Checker]] utility provides users the ability to perform a manual scan of the integrity of all protected system files, and optionally repair them, either by restoring from a cache stored in a separate "DLLCACHE" directory, or from the original install media.

Microsoft recognized that a serious error (a [[Blue Screen of Death]] or stop error) could cause problems for servers that needed to be constantly running and so provided a system setting that would allow the server to automatically reboot when a stop error occurred.<ref name="RecoveryOptions">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=How to configure system failure and recovery options in Windows |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307973 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116061949/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307973 |archive-date=November 16, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Support.microsoft.com}}</ref> Also included is an option to [[Core dump|dump]] any of the first 64 [[kilobyte|KB]] of memory to disk (the smallest amount of memory that is useful for [[debugging]] purposes, also known as a minidump), a dump of only the kernel's memory, or a dump of the entire contents of memory to disk, as well as write that this event happened to the Windows 2000 [[Event Viewer|event log]].<ref name="RecoveryOptions" /> In order to improve performance on servers running Windows 2000, Microsoft gave administrators the choice of optimizing the operating system's memory and processor usage patterns for background services or for applications.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Analyzing processor activity: Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit |url=http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/Windows2000Pro/reskit/part6/proch29.mspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417192005/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000pro/reskit/part6/proch29.mspx |archive-date=April 17, 2008 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Microsoft.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Windows 2000 also introduced core system administration and management features, such as the [[Windows Installer]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2011 |title=Using Windows Installer in Windows 2000 beta 3 |url=http://entmag.com/archives/article.asp?editorialsid=5169 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114045547/http://entmag.com/archives/article.asp?editorialsid=5169 |archive-date=January 14, 2009 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Entmag.com}}</ref> [[Windows Management Instrumentation]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2000 |title=Programming with Windows Management Instrumentation |url=http://www.informit.com/articles/printerfriendly.aspx?p=19489 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103072206/http://www.informit.com/articles/printerfriendly.aspx?p=19489 |archive-date=January 3, 2013 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Informit.com}}</ref> and Event Tracing for Windows (ETW)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Event Tracing for Windows (ETW): MSDN |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb968803(VS.85).aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202174934/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb968803%28VS.85%29.aspx |archive-date=December 2, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Msdn.microsoft.com}}</ref> into the operating system.

=== Plug and Play and hardware support improvements ===
The most notable improvement from [[Windows NT 4.0]] is the addition of Plug and Play with full [[Advanced Configuration and Power Interface|ACPI]] and [[Windows Driver Model]] support. Similar to [[Windows 9x]], Windows 2000 supports automatic recognition of installed hardware, hardware resource allocation, loading of appropriate drivers, PnP APIs and device notification events. The addition of the kernel PnP Manager along with the Power Manager are two significant subsystems added in Windows 2000.

Windows 2000 introduced version 3 print drivers (user mode printer drivers)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Choosing User Mode or Kernel Mode |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff545949(v=vs.85).aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006023452/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff545949(v=vs.85).aspx |archive-date=October 6, 2012 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Msdn.microsoft.com}}</ref> based on [[Unidrv]], which made it easier for printer manufacturers to write device drivers for printers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Universal Printer Driver - Windows drivers |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/print/microsoft-universal-printer-driver |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111192252/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/print/microsoft-universal-printer-driver |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |access-date=2020-09-13 |website=docs.microsoft.com |language=en-us}}</ref> Generic support for 5-button mice is also included as standard<ref>{{Cite web |title=Keyboard and mouse HID client drivers |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/gg454511.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314033300/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/gg454511.aspx |archive-date=March 14, 2013 |access-date=July 4, 2013 |website=microsoft.com |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> and installing [[IntelliPoint]] allows reassigning the programmable buttons. Windows 98 lacked generic support.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fourth and Fifth Mouse Buttons Not Recognized by Windows |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/254660 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126125329/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/254660 |archive-date=November 26, 2012 |access-date=July 4, 2013 |website=microsoft.com |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> [[Driver Verifier]] was introduced to stress test and catch device driver bugs.<ref name="Verifier">[http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff545448%28v=vs.85%29.aspx Driver Verifier at MSDN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424053012/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff545448(v=vs.85).aspx |date=April 24, 2012 }}. Microsoft.</ref>

===Shell===
Windows 2000 introduces layered windows that allow for transparency, translucency and various transition effects like shadows, gradient fills and alpha-blended GUI elements to top-level windows.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2010 |title=Layered Windows: MSDN |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms997507.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126235959/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms997507.aspx |archive-date=November 26, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Msdn.microsoft.com}}</ref> Menus support a new ''Fade'' transition effect.
[[Image:Windows 2000 Explorer.png|thumb|Improvements in [[Windows Explorer]]: "Web-style" folders, media preview and customizable toolbars]]

The [[Start menu]] in Windows 2000 introduces ''personalized menus'', expandable [[special folder]]s and the ability to launch multiple programs without closing the menu by holding down the <code>SHIFT</code> key. A ''Re-sort'' button forces the entire Start Menu to be sorted by name. The [[Taskbar]] introduces support for balloon notifications which can also be used by application developers. Windows 2000 Explorer introduces customizable Windows Explorer toolbars, auto-complete in Windows Explorer address bar and Run box, advanced file type association features, displaying comments in shortcuts as tooltips, extensible columns in Details view (IColumnProvider interface), icon overlays, integrated search pane in Windows Explorer, sort by name function for menus, and ''Places bar'' in common dialogs for ''Open'' and ''Save''.

[[Windows Explorer]] has been enhanced in several ways in Windows 2000. It is the first [[Windows NT]] release to include [[Active Desktop]], first introduced as a part of [[Internet Explorer 4.0]] (specifically [[Windows Desktop Update]]), and only pre-installed in [[Windows 98]] by that time.<ref name="ActiveDesktop">{{Cite web |last=Esposito |first=Dino |date=June 2000 |title=More Windows 2000 UI Goodies: Extending Explorer Views by Customizing Hypertext Template Files |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/0600/w2kui2/ |url-status=dead |publisher=MSDN Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824221802/http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/0600/w2kui2/ |archive-date=August 24, 2007 |access-date=August 26, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> It allowed users to customize the way folders look and behave by using [[HTML]] templates, having the [[file extension]] <code>HTT</code>. This feature was abused by [[computer virus]]es that employed malicious scripts, [[Java (programming language)|Java]] applets, or [[ActiveX]] controls in folder template files as their infection vector. Two such viruses are VBS/Roor-C<ref name="VBS/Roor-C">''[[Sophos]]'', [http://www.sophos.com/security/analyses/vbsroorc.html VBS/Roor-C threat analysis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130063527/http://www.sophos.com/security/analyses/vbsroorc.html |date=November 30, 2007 }}. Retrieved August 26, 2007.</ref> and VBS.Redlof.a.<ref name="VBS.Redlof.a">{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2004 |title=Virus.VBS.Redlof.a |url=http://www.viruslist.com/viruses/encyclopedia?virusid=25409 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028171026/http://www.viruslist.com/viruses/encyclopedia?virusid=25409 |archive-date=October 28, 2007 |access-date=August 26, 2007 |website=Viruslist.com}}</ref>

The "Web-style" folders view, with the left Explorer pane displaying details for the object currently selected, is turned on by default in Windows 2000. For certain file types, such as pictures and media files, the preview is also displayed in the left pane.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Managing Files, Folders, and Search Methods: Microsoft TechNet |url=http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/prork/prde_ffs_sleq.mspx?mfr=true |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112123850/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/prork/prde_ffs_sleq.mspx?mfr=true |archive-date=January 12, 2009 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Microsoft.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Until the dedicated interactive preview pane appeared in [[Windows Vista]], Windows 2000 had been the only Windows release to feature an interactive media player as the previewer for sound and video files, enabled by default. However, such a previewer can be enabled in previous versions of Windows with the [[Windows Desktop Update]] installed through the use of folder customization templates.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2000 |title=How to Enable Preview for Multimedia Files |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/191242 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117013423/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/191242 |archive-date=November 17, 2012 |access-date=March 29, 2012 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> The default file tooltip displays file title, author, subject and comments;<ref name="ToolTipHandlers">{{Cite journal |date=November 2000 |title=Windows 2000 Registry: Latest Features and APIs Provide the Power to Customize and Extend Your Apps |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/1100/Registry/ |url-status=dead |journal=MSDN Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030415200916/http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/1100/Registry/ |archive-date=April 15, 2003 |access-date=August 26, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> this metadata may be read from a special [[NTFS]] stream, if the file is on an NTFS volume, or from an OLE [[COM Structured Storage|structured storage]] stream, if the file is a structured storage document. All [[Microsoft Office]] documents since Office 4.0<ref name="OLEStructuredStorage">{{Cite web |last=Kindel |first=Charlie |date=August 27, 1993 |title=OLE Property Sets Exposed |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/archive/en-us/dnarolegen/html/msdn_propset.asp?frame=true |access-date=August 26, 2007 |website=MSDN Magazine}} {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> make use of [[COM Structured Storage|structured storage]], so their metadata is displayable in the Windows 2000 Explorer default [[tooltip]]. [[Computer shortcut|File shortcuts]] can also store comments which are displayed as a tooltip when the mouse hovers over the shortcut. The shell introduces extensibility support through metadata handlers, icon overlay handlers and column handlers in Explorer ''Details view''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Windows 2000 UI Innovations: MSDN Magazine |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dvdarchive/cc748674.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605191715/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dvdarchive/cc748674.aspx |archive-date=June 5, 2009 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Msdn.microsoft.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The right pane of Windows 2000 Explorer, which usually just lists files and folders, can also be customized. For example, the contents of the system folders aren't displayed by default, instead showing in the right pane a warning to the user that modifying the contents of the system folders could harm their computer. It's possible to define additional Explorer panes by using [[Div (HTML tag)|DIV]] elements in folder template files.<ref name="ActiveDesktop" /> This degree of customizability is new to Windows 2000; neither Windows 98 nor the Desktop Update could provide it.<ref name="WindowsShellExtensions">{{Cite web |date=June 2000 |title=Figure 1 Windows Shell Extensions |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/0300/w2kui/w2kuifigs.asp |publisher=MSDN Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831153932/http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/0300/w2kui/w2kuifigs.asp |archive-date=August 31, 2004 |access-date=August 26, 2007}}</ref> The new DHTML-based search pane is integrated into Windows 2000 Explorer, unlike the separate search dialog found in all previous Explorer versions. The [[Windows Indexing Service|Indexing Service]] has also been integrated into the operating system and the search pane built into Explorer allows searching files indexed by its database.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 6, 2009 |title=What is Indexing Service?: MSDN |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms689718.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101192618/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms689718.aspx |archive-date=January 1, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Msdn.microsoft.com}}</ref>

=== NTFS 3.0 ===
{{main|NTFS}}

Microsoft released the version 3.0 of NTFS<ref name="NTFS3" /> (sometimes incorrectly called "NTFS 5" in relation to the kernel version number) as part of Windows 2000; this introduced [[disk quota]]s (provided by QuotaAdvisor), [[Encrypting File System|file-system-level encryption]], [[sparse file]]s and [[NTFS reparse point|reparse points]]. Sparse files allow for the efficient storage of data sets that are very large yet contain many areas that only have zeros.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 26, 2007 |title=Sparse Files Use Quota Equal to Total Allocated Length |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/231388 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116222750/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/231388 |archive-date=November 16, 2012 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Support.microsoft.com}}</ref> [[NTFS reparse point|Reparse points]] allow the [[Object Manager (Windows)|object manager]] to reset a file namespace lookup and let file system drivers implement changed functionality in a transparent manner.<ref name="NTFS">{{Cite web |title=Improved NTFS File System |url=http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000pro/evaluate/featfunc/bestperf.mspx#EME |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416234151/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000pro/evaluate/featfunc/bestperf.mspx#EME |archive-date=April 16, 2008 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Microsoft.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Reparse points are used to implement [[Volume Mount Point|volume mount points]], [[NTFS junction point|junctions]], [[Hierarchical Storage Management]], Native [[Structured storage|Structured Storage]] and [[Single Instance Storage]].<ref name="NTFS" /> Volume mount points and directory junctions allow for a file to be transparently referred from one file or directory location to another.

Windows 2000 also introduces a ''Distributed Link Tracking'' service to ensure file shortcuts remain working even if the target is moved or renamed. The target object's unique identifier is stored in the shortcut file on NTFS 3.0 and Windows can use the Distributed Link Tracking service for tracking the targets of shortcuts, so that the shortcut file may be silently updated if the target moves, even to another hard drive.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 October 2012 |title=Distributed Link Tracking and Object Identifiers (Windows) |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363997%28v=vs.85%29.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023004948/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363997(v=vs.85).aspx |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |access-date=27 November 2012 |website=[[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]] |publisher=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref>

=== Encrypting File System ===
{{main|Encrypting File System}}

The Encrypting File System (EFS) introduced strong [[file system]]-level [[encryption]] to Windows. It allows any folder or drive on an NTFS volume to be encrypted transparently by the user.<ref name="EFS" /> EFS works together with the EFS service, Microsoft's [[Cryptographic Application Programming Interface|CryptoAPI]] and the EFS File System [[Run time system|Runtime]] Library (FSRTL).<ref name="EFSWorking">{{Cite web |date=July 19, 2011 |title=How Encrypting File System Works |url=http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/997fdd99-73ec-4041-9cf4-1370739a59201033.mspx?mfr=true |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070522034806/http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/997fdd99-73ec-4041-9cf4-1370739a59201033.mspx?mfr=true |archive-date=May 22, 2007 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Technet2.microsoft.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> To date, its encryption has not been compromised.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}

EFS works by encrypting a file with a bulk [[symmetric key]] (also known as the File Encryption Key, or FEK), which is used because it takes less time to encrypt and decrypt large amounts of data than if an [[asymmetric key]] [[cipher]] were used.<ref name="EFSWorking" /> The symmetric key used to encrypt the file is then encrypted with a [[public key]] associated with the user who encrypted the file, and this encrypted data is stored in the header of the encrypted file. To decrypt the file, the file system uses the private key of the user to decrypt the symmetric key stored in the file header. It then uses the symmetric key to decrypt the file. Because this is done at the file system level, it is transparent to the user.<ref>"[http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/distrib/dsck_efs_xhkd.mspx?mfr=true Encrypting File System] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112173941/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/distrib/dsck_efs_xhkd.mspx?mfr=true |date=January 12, 2009 }}." ''Microsoft''.</ref>

For a user losing access to their key, support for recovery agents that can decrypt files is built into EFS. A Recovery Agent is a user who is authorized by a public key recovery certificate to decrypt files belonging to other users using a special ''private key''. By default, local administrators are ''recovery agents'' however they can be customized using [[Group Policy]].

=== Basic and dynamic disk storage ===
{{main|Logical Disk Manager}}

Windows 2000 introduced the [[Logical Disk Manager]] and the [[diskpart]] command line tool for [[Logical Disk Manager|dynamic storage]].<ref name="DiskManagement" /> All versions of Windows 2000 support three types of [[Logical Disk Manager|dynamic]] disk volumes (along with basic disks): ''simple volumes'', ''spanned volumes'' and ''striped volumes'':
* Simple volume, a volume with disk space from one disk.
* Spanned volumes, where up to 32 disks show up as one, increasing it in size but not enhancing performance. When one disk fails, the array is destroyed. Some data may be recoverable. This corresponds to [[JBOD#Concatenation (SPAN, BIG)|SPAN]] and not to [[Standard RAID levels#RAID 1|RAID-1]].
* Striped volumes, also known as [[Redundant array of independent disks#RAID 0|RAID-0]], store all their data across several disks in ''stripes''. This allows better performance because disk reads and writes are balanced across multiple disks. Like spanned volumes, when one disk in the array fails, the entire array is destroyed (some data may be recoverable).

In addition to these disk volumes, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server support ''mirrored volumes'' and ''striped volumes with parity'':
* Mirrored volumes, also known as [[Redundant array of independent disks#RAID 1|RAID-1]], store identical copies of their data on 2 or more identical disks (''mirrored''). This allows for fault tolerance; in the event one disk fails, the other disk(s) can keep the server operational until the server can be shut down for replacement of the failed disk.
* Striped volumes with parity, also known as [[Redundant array of independent disks#RAID 5|RAID-5]], functions similar to striped volumes/RAID-0, except "parity data" is written out across each of the disks in addition to the data. This allows the data to be "rebuilt" in the event a disk in the array needs replacement.

=== Accessibility ===
With Windows 2000, Microsoft introduced the Windows 9x accessibility features for people with visual and auditory impairments and other [[disability|disabilities]] into the NT-line of operating systems.<ref name="Accessibility" /> These included:
* StickyKeys: makes modifier keys (<code>ALT</code>, <code>CTRL</code> and <code>SHIFT</code>) become "sticky": a user can press the [[modifier key]], and then release it before pressing the combination key. (Activated by pressing Shift five times quickly.)
* [[FilterKeys]]: a group of [[computer keyboard|keyboard]]-related features for people with typing issues, including:
** Slow Keys: Ignore any keystroke not held down for a certain period.
** Bounce Keys: Ignore repeated keystrokes pressed in quick succession.
** Repeat Keys: lets users slow down the rate at which keys are repeated via the keyboard's key-repeat feature.
* Toggle Keys: when turned on, Windows will play a sound when the <code>CAPS LOCK</code>, <code>NUM LOCK</code> or <code>SCROLL LOCK</code> key is pressed.
* SoundSentry: designed to help users with auditory impairments, Windows 2000 shows a visual effect when a sound is played through the sound system.
* [[Mouse keys|MouseKeys]]: lets users move the cursor around the screen via the [[Keypad|numeric keypad]].
* SerialKeys: lets Windows 2000 support speech augmentation devices.
* High contrast theme: to assist users with visual impairments.
* [[Microsoft Magnifier]]: a [[screen magnifier]] that enlarges a part of the screen the cursor is over.<ref name="AccessTools">{{Cite web |title=A review of Microsoft Magnifier and Narrator |url=http://www.student.oulu.fi/~vtatila/ms_access_aids.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023191313/http://www.student.oulu.fi/~vtatila/ms_access_aids.html |archive-date=October 23, 2007}}</ref>

Additionally, Windows 2000 introduced the following new accessibility features:
* [[On-screen keyboard]]: displays a [[virtual keyboard]] on the screen and allows users to press its keys using a [[Mouse (computing)|mouse]] or a [[joystick]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accessibility Technology & Tools &#124; Microsoft Accessibility |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906125755/http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windows2000/onscreenkeyboard.aspx |archive-date=September 6, 2009 |website=Accessibility}}</ref>
* [[Microsoft Narrator]]: introduced in Windows 2000, this is a [[screen reader]] that utilizes the [[Speech Application Programming Interface|Speech API]] 4, which would later be updated to Speech API 5 in [[Windows XP]]
* Utility Manager: an application designed to start, stop, and manage when accessibility features start. This was eventually replaced by the [[Ease of Access]] Center in [[Windows Vista]].
* Accessibility Wizard: a control panel applet that helps users set up their computer for people with disabilities.

=== Languages and locales ===
{{Main|Multilingual User Interface}}

Windows 2000 introduced the [[Multilingual User Interface]] (MUI).<ref name="Windows2000MUI" /> Besides [[English language|English]], Windows 2000 incorporates support for [[Arabic language|Arabic]], [[Armenian language|Armenian]], [[Baltic languages|Baltic]], Central European, [[Cyrillic]], [[Georgian language|Georgian]], [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Indic scripts|Indic]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Korean language|Korean]], [[simplified Chinese characters|simplified Chinese]], [[Thai language|Thai]], [[traditional Chinese characters|traditional Chinese]], [[Turkic languages|Turkic]], [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] and Western European languages.<ref name="SupportedLanguages">{{Cite web |title=List of languages supported in Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/292246/list-of-languages-supported-in-windows-2000,-windows-xp,-and-windows-server-2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302093044/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/292246/list-of-languages-supported-in-windows-2000,-windows-xp,-and-windows-server-2003 |archive-date=March 2, 2017 |access-date=February 17, 2017 |website=Support |publisher=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> It also has support for many different locales.<ref name="LocaleIDs" />

Since Windows 2000, English versions of Windows (NT) can support display and input right-to-left languages (such as Arabic) and [[CJKV]] languages, but related files needed to be installed in [[Control Panel (Windows)|Control Panel]].<ref> {{Cite web |title=Multilanguage Support in Windows 2000 Professional |url=https://www.itprotoday.com/it-infrastructure/multilanguage-support-in-windows-2000-professional |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=www.itprotoday.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Games ===
Windows 2000 included version 7.0 of the [[DirectX]] [[Applications Programming Interface|API]], commonly used by [[video game developer|game developers]] on [[Windows 98]].<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/community/columns/askdev/ask1208.mspx?mfr=true Ask the Windows 2000 Dev Team] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311151930/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/community/columns/askdev/ask1208.mspx?mfr=true |date=March 11, 2007 }}</ref> The last version of DirectX that was released for Windows 2000 was DirectX 9.0c (Shader Model 3.0), which shipped with Windows XP Service Pack 2. Microsoft published quarterly updates to DirectX 9.0c through the February 2010 release after which support was dropped in the June 2010 SDK. These updates contain bug fixes to the core runtime and some additional libraries such as [[D3DX]], [[XAudio 2]], [[DirectInput#Xinput|XInput]] and [[Managed DirectX]] components. The majority of games written for versions of DirectX 9.0c (up to the February 2010 release) can therefore run on Windows 2000.

Windows 2000 included the same games as [[Windows NT 4.0]] did: [[FreeCell (Windows)|FreeCell]], [[Minesweeper (Windows)|Minesweeper]], [[3D Pinball for Windows|Pinball]], and [[Solitaire (Windows)|Solitaire]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ford |first=Jerry Lee Jr. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fYwGEZPXvFkC |title=Upgrading to Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional: A Migration Guide for Windows 98 and Windows NT Users |publisher=iUniverse |year=2000 |isbn=0595148042 |location=Lincoln, NE |page=90 |access-date=January 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402173516/https://books.google.com/books?id=fYwGEZPXvFkC |archive-date=April 2, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== System utilities ===
[[File:Win2kDefrag.png|thumb|right|Windows 2000's Computer Management console can perform many system tasks. This image shows a [[disk defragmentation]] in progress.]]

Windows 2000 introduced the [[Microsoft Management Console]] (MMC), which is used to create, save, and open administrative tools.<ref name="MMC" /> Each of these is called a ''console'', and most allow an administrator to administer other Windows 2000 computers from one centralised computer. Each console can contain one or many specific administrative tools, called ''snap-ins''.<ref name="MMC" /> These can be either standalone (with one function), or an extension (adding functions to an existing snap-in). In order to provide the ability to control what snap-ins can be seen in a console, the MMC allows consoles to be created in ''author mode'' or ''user mode''.<ref name="MMC" /> Author mode allows snap-ins to be added, new windows to be created, all portions of the console tree to be displayed and consoles to be saved. User mode allows consoles to be distributed with restrictions applied. User mode consoles can grant full access to the user for any change, or they can grant limited access, preventing users from adding snapins to the console though they can view multiple windows in a console. Alternatively users can be granted limited access, preventing them from adding to the console and stopping them from viewing multiple windows in a single console.<ref>''Microsoft Press'' (2000). ''MCSE 70–210, Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional'', pages 58–63.</ref>

The main tools that come with Windows 2000 can be found in the ''Computer Management'' console (in Administrative Tools in the Control Panel).<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2009 |title=Managing Microsoft Windows 2000 Workstations and Servers |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb726960.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127103358/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb726960.aspx |archive-date=November 27, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Technet.microsoft.com}}</ref> This contains the [[Event Viewer]]—a means of viewing system or application-related events and the Windows equivalent of a [[Computer data logging|log file]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2009 |title=Event Logging and Viewing |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb726966.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127030114/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb726966.aspx |archive-date=November 27, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Technet.microsoft.com}}</ref> a system information utility, [[NTBackup|a backup utility]], [[Task Scheduler]] and management consoles to view open shared folders and shared folder sessions, configure and manage [[COM+]] applications, configure [[Group Policy]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2009 |title=Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding the Group Policy Feature Set |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742376.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120150551/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742376.aspx |archive-date=November 20, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Technet.microsoft.com}}</ref> manage all the local users and user groups, and a [[Device Manager|device manager]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 7, 2007 |title=Description of Device Manager in Windows 2000 and Windows XP |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314747 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023002413/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314747 |archive-date=October 23, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Support.microsoft.com}}</ref> It contains ''[[Logical Disk Manager|Disk Management]]'' and ''Removable Storage'' snap-ins,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Windows 2000: Removable Storage and Backup |url=http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000pro/reskit/part3/proch18.mspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417192005/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000pro/reskit/part3/proch18.mspx |archive-date=April 17, 2008 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Microsoft.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> a [[Disk Defragmenter (Windows)|disk defragmenter]] as well as a performance diagnostic console, which displays graphs of system performance and configures data logs and alerts. It also contains a [[Windows service|service]] configuration console, which allows users to view all installed services and to stop and start them, as well as configure what those services should do when the computer starts. [[CHKDSK]] has significant performance improvements.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Windows 2000 Chkdsk Management |url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/shared/community/docs/Windows%202000%20CHKDSK%20Management.doc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104104745/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/shared/community/docs/Windows%202000%20CHKDSK%20Management.doc |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref>

Windows 2000 comes with two utilities to edit the [[Windows registry]], ''REGEDIT.EXE'' and ''REGEDT32.EXE''.<ref name="Regedit">{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2007 |title=Differences between Regedit.exe and Regedt32.exe |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/141377 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120054653/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/141377 |archive-date=November 20, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Support.microsoft.com}}</ref> REGEDIT has been directly ported from [[Windows 98]], and therefore does not support editing registry permissions.<ref name="Regedit" /> REGEDT32 has the older multiple document interface (MDI) and can edit registry permissions in the same manner that Windows NT's REGEDT32 program could. REGEDIT has a left-side [[tree view]] of the [[Windows registry]], lists all loaded [[Registry hive|hives]] and represents the three components of a value (its name, type, and data) as separate columns of a table. REGEDT32 has a left-side tree view, but each hive has its own window, so the tree displays only keys and it represents values as a list of strings. REGEDIT supports right-clicking of entries in a tree view to adjust properties and other settings. REGEDT32 requires all actions to be performed from the top [[menu bar]]. [[Windows XP]] is the first system to integrate these two programs into a single utility, adopting the REGEDIT behavior with the additional NT features.<ref name="Regedit" />

The [[System File Checker]] (SFC) also comes with Windows 2000. It is a [[command line]] utility that scans system files and verifies whether they were signed by Microsoft and works in conjunction with the [[Windows File Protection]] mechanism. It can also repopulate and repair all the files in the ''Dllcache'' folder.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft KB article 222471: Description of the Windows 2000 System File Checker (Sfc.exe) |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/222471 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901085614/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/222471 |archive-date=September 1, 2006 |access-date=September 17, 2006}}</ref>

=== Recovery Console ===
[[Image:Windows 2000 Recovery Console.png|thumb|The Recovery Console is usually used to recover unbootable systems.]]

{{main|Recovery Console}}

The [[Recovery Console]] is run from outside the installed copy of Windows to perform maintenance tasks that can neither be run from within it nor feasibly be run from another computer or copy of Windows 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 26, 2007 |title=Description of the Windows 2000 Recovery Console |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/229716 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104192800/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/229716 |archive-date=November 4, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Support.microsoft.com}}</ref> It is usually used to recover the system from problems that cause booting to fail, which would render other tools useless, like Safe Mode or Last Known Good Configuration, or <code>[[chkdsk]]</code>. It includes commands like <code>[[fixmbr]]</code>, which are not present in MS-DOS.

It has a simple [[command-line interface]], used to check and repair the hard drive(s), repair boot information (including [[NTLDR]]), replace corrupted system files with fresh copies from the CD, or enable/disable services and drivers for the next boot.

The console can be accessed in either of the two ways:
# Booting from the Windows 2000 CD, and choosing to start the Recovery Console from the CD itself instead of continuing with setup. The Recovery Console is accessible as long as the installation CD is available.
# Preinstalling the Recovery Console on the hard disk as a startup option in <code>[[Bootsect.dos|Boot.ini]]</code>, via WinNT32.exe, with the /cmdcons switch.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2007 |title=How to install the Windows Recovery Console |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216417 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116082007/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216417 |archive-date=November 16, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Support.microsoft.com}}</ref> In this case, it can only be started as long as [[NTLDR]] can boot from the [[System partition and boot partition|system partition]].

=== Windows Scripting Host 2.0 ===
{{main|Windows Script Host}}
Windows 2000 introduced Windows Script Host 2.0 which included an expanded object model and support for logon and logoff scripts.

=== Networking ===
* Starting with Windows 2000, the [[Server Message Block]] (SMB) protocol directly interfaces with [[TCP/IP]]. In Windows NT 4.0, SMB requires the [[NetBIOS over TCP/IP]] (NBT) protocol to work on a TCP/IP network.
* Windows 2000 introduces a client-side DNS caching service. When the Windows DNS resolver receives a query response, the DNS resource record is added to a cache. When it queries the same resource record name again and it is found in the cache, then the resolver does not query the DNS server. This speeds up DNS query time and reduces network traffic.

=== Server family features ===
The Windows 2000 Server family consists of Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Windows 2000 Small Business Server, and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server.

All editions of Windows 2000 Server have the following services and features built in:
* [[Routing and Remote Access Service]] (RRAS) support, facilitating [[Dial-up access|dial-up]] and [[Virtual Private Network|VPN]] connections using [[IPsec]], [[L2TP]] or [[L2TP#L2TP/IPsec|L2TP/IPsec]], support for [[RADIUS]] authentication in [[Internet Authentication Service]], network connection sharing, [[Network Address Translation]], [[unicast]] and [[multicast]] [[routing]] schemes.
* Remote access security features: Remote Access Policies for setup, verify Caller ID (IP address for VPNs), callback and Remote access account lockout<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2008 |title=Elements of Secure Remote Access |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc958001.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218042732/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc958001.aspx |archive-date=December 18, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Technet.microsoft.com}}</ref>
* Autodial by location feature using the ''Remote Access Auto Connection Manager'' [[Windows service|service]]
* [[Extensible Authentication Protocol]] support in [[Internet Authentication Service|IAS]] (EAP-MD5 and EAP-TLS) later upgraded to PEAPv0/EAP-MSCHAPv2 and PEAP-EAP-TLS in Windows 2000 SP4
* [[Microsoft DNS|DNS]] server, including support for [[Dynamic DNS]]. [[Active Directory]] relies heavily on DNS.
* [[IPsec]] support and TCP/IP filtering
* [[Smart card]] support
* Microsoft Connection Manager Administration Kit (CMAK) and Connection Point Services
* Support for [[Distributed File System (Microsoft)|distributed file systems]] (DFS)
* [[Hierarchical Storage Management]] support including remote storage,<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2006 |title=How to use Remote Storage in Windows 2000 Server |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/317369 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110100918/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/317369 |archive-date=January 10, 2012 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Support.microsoft.com}}</ref> a service that runs with [[NTFS]] and automatically transfers files that are not used for some time to less expensive storage media
* [[Fault-tolerant design|Fault tolerant]] volumes, namely [[Redundant array of independent disks#RAID 1|Mirrored]] and [[Redundant array of independent disks#RAID 5|RAID-5]]
* [[Group Policy]] (part of [[Active Directory]])
* ''IntelliMirror'', a collection of technologies for fine-grained [[Systems management|management]] of Windows 2000 Professional clients that duplicates users' data, applications, files, and settings in a centralized location on the network. IntelliMirror employs technologies such as [[Group Policy]], [[Windows Installer]], [[Roaming profile]]s, [[Folder redirection|Folder Redirection]], ''[[Offline Files]]'' (also known as ''Client Side Caching'' or CSC), [[File Replication Service]] (FRS), Remote Installation Services (RIS) to address desktop management scenarios such as user data management, user settings management, software installation and maintenance.
* [[COM+]], [[Microsoft Transaction Server]] and [[Distributed Transaction Coordinator]]
* [[Microsoft Message Queuing|MSMQ 2.0]]
* [[Telephony Application Programming Interface|TAPI]] 3.0
* [[Integrated Windows Authentication]] (including [[Kerberos (protocol)|Kerberos]], Secure channel and [[SPNEGO]] (Negotiate) SSP packages for [[Security Support Provider Interface]] (SSPI)).
* [[MS-CHAP]] v2 protocol
* [[Public Key Infrastructure]] (PKI) and [[Certificate authority|Enterprise Certificate Authority]] support
* [[Terminal Services]] and support for the [[Remote Desktop Protocol]] (RDP)
* [[Internet Information Services]] (IIS) 5.0 and [[Windows Media Services]] 4.1
* Network [[quality of service]] features<ref>{{Cite web |title=An Overview of Windows 2000 Quality of Service |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742478.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203122556/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742478.aspx |archive-date=December 3, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Technet.microsoft.com}}</ref>
* A new ''Windows Time service'' which is an implementation of [[Simple Network Time Protocol]] (SNTP) as detailed in IETF {{IETF RFC|1769}}. The Windows Time service synchronizes the date and time of computers in a domain<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2007 |title=Basic Operation of the Windows Time Service |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/224799 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102142801/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/224799 |archive-date=November 2, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |website=Support.microsoft.com}}</ref> running on Windows 2000 Server or later. Windows 2000 Professional includes an SNTP client.

The Server editions include more features and components, including the Microsoft Distributed File System (DFS), Active Directory support and fault-tolerant storage.

==== Distributed File System ====
{{main|Distributed File System (Microsoft)}}

The Distributed File System (DFS) allows [[Server Message Block|shares]] in multiple different locations to be logically grouped under one folder, or ''DFS root''. When users try to access a [[Shared resource|network share]] off the DFS root, the user is really looking at a ''DFS link'' and the DFS server transparently redirects them to the correct [[file server]] and share. A DFS root can only exist on a Windows 2000 version that is part of the server family, and only one DFS root can exist on that server.

There can be two ways of implementing a DFS namespace on Windows 2000: either through a standalone DFS root or a domain-based DFS root. Standalone DFS allows for only DFS roots on the local computer, and thus does not use Active Directory. Domain-based DFS roots exist within Active Directory and can have their information distributed to other [[domain controller]]s within the domain – this provides [[Fault-tolerant system|fault tolerance]] to DFS. DFS roots that exist on a domain must be hosted on a domain controller or on a domain member server. The file and root information is replicated via the Microsoft [[File Replication Service]] (FRS).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft KB article 812487: Overview of DFS in Windows 2000 |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/812487 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214115202/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/812487 |archive-date=February 14, 2007 |access-date=September 17, 2006}}</ref>

==== Active Directory ====
{{main|Active Directory}}

A new way of organizing [[Windows Server domain|Windows network domains]], or groups of resources, called Active Directory, is introduced with Windows 2000 to replace Windows NT's earlier domain model. Active Directory's hierarchical nature allowed administrators a built-in way to manage user and computer policies and user accounts, and to automatically deploy programs and updates with a greater degree of scalability and centralization than provided in previous Windows versions. User information stored in Active Directory also provided a convenient phone book-like function to end users. Active Directory domains can vary from small installations with a few hundred objects, to large installations with millions. Active Directory can organise and link groups of domains into a contiguous [[domain name]] space to form ''trees''. Groups of trees outside of the same namespace can be linked together to form ''forests.''

Active Directory services could always be installed on a Windows 2000 Server Standard, Advanced, or Datacenter computer, and cannot be installed on a Windows 2000 Professional computer. However, Windows 2000 Professional is the first client operating system able to exploit Active Directory's new features. As part of an organization's migration, Windows NT clients continued to function until all clients were upgraded to Windows 2000 Professional, at which point the Active Directory domain could be switched to [[native mode]] and maximum functionality achieved.

Active Directory requires a DNS server that supports [[SRV resource record]]s, or that an organization's existing DNS infrastructure be upgraded to support this. There should be one or more [[domain controller]]s to hold the Active Directory database and provide Active Directory [[directory services]].

==== Volume fault tolerance ====
Along with support for simple, spanned and striped volumes, the Windows 2000 Server family also supports fault-tolerant volume types. The types supported are ''mirrored volumes'' and ''RAID-5 volumes'':
* Mirrored volumes''':''' the volume contains several disks, and when data is written to one it is also written to the other disks. This means that if one disk fails, the data can be totally recovered from the other disk. Mirrored volumes are also known as [[Redundant array of independent disks#RAID 1|RAID-1]].
* RAID-5 volumes''':''' a [[RAID 5|RAID-5]] volume consists of multiple disks, and it uses [[Block (data storage)|block]]-level striping with parity data distributed across all member disks. Should a disk fail in the array, the parity blocks from the surviving disks are combined mathematically with the data blocks from the surviving disks to reconstruct the data on the failed drive "on-the-fly."