Windows 3.1 was the first version of Windows to gain widespread popularity and was the first with specific support for Intel’s 16-bit 80386 processor. Two additional versions were released: 3.11, a version with minor corrections, and Windows for Workgroups, a version with support for workgroup networking.

Windows 3.1x is a 16-bit operating system with support for cooperative multitasking. It runs as a shell on top of DOS and requires DOS to run.

Windows 98, released in August 1998, is the successor to Windows 95, Microsoft’s original 32-bit consumer operating system. Windows 98, like Windows 95, is a 32-bit operating system that supports DOS, 16-bit Windows, and 32-bit Windows applications. Windows 95 and 98 are popular for standalone desktop machines and as network clients for Windows NT or other networks. A built-in peer-to-peer network system allows simple networks to be constructed using only Windows 95 or 98.

Windows 95 improved upon Windows 3.11 with greater stability, better multitasking, support for 32-bit applications, support for long filenames, more customization options, a versatile desktop and file management system, and built-in dial-up networking support.

Windows 98 updated Windows 95 with support for new hardware, including USB and FireWire (IEEE 1394); an improved installation program; support for a number of new network protocols; and improved utilities for configuration and troubleshooting.

A later release, Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), added a number of features to Windows 98. Among the improvements were Internet Connection Sharing (ICS), improved support for hardware, and improved VPN support.

Windows Me (Millenium Edition) was released in August 2000. Windows Me is a minor update to Windows 98 that includes support for the latest hardware, improved recovery from crashes, and Internet Explorer 5.5.

Up to Version 4.0, Windows NT was Microsoft’s business-oriented operating system. Windows NT is a 32-bit operating system that supports preemptive multitasking with memory protection, multiprocessing, and multithreading. Windows NT was designed for networking and is generally more reliable than previous Windows versions.

Windows NT 3.51 and earlier versions used the same user interface as Windows 3.1x, but Version 4.0 used the newer Windows 95/98 interface. Unlike Windows 98, NT 4.0 does not support the Plug and Play specification.

Windows 2000 Professional is the base version of Windows 2000 and is thus equivalent in purpose to the previous Windows NT Workstation. Windows 2000 Professional uses an updated version of the Windows 98-style user interface; most of these updates were integrated into Windows Me.

Windows 2000 improves on Windows NT 4.0 with some features similar to Windows 98, including Plug and Play and support for the Advanced Power Management (APM) and Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) power-management standards. Windows 2000 supports multiprocessing with up to two processors.

Windows 2000 also adds support for the Active Directory, Microsoft’s new directory services architecture. Windows 2000 Professional can act as an Active Directory client, but does not maintain a directory services database; Windows 2000 Server is required for this purpose.

Other new features include user interface improvements; additional hardware support, including support for USB and FireWire; support for virtual private networks (VPNs); the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP); and support for Encrypted Filesystem (EFS). Windows 2000 also supports the FAT32 filesystem that originated in Windows 98.

As with Windows NT Server, Windows 2000 Server improves on Windows 2000 Professional with support for unlimited Internet connections and support for multiprocessing with four processors (Windows 2000 Professional supports only two processors).

Additionally, Windows 2000 Server supports the Active Directory service and includes server software for DNS (Domain Name Service), DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), and other services.

Windows 2000 Server is further extended by two premium versions: Windows 2000 Advanced Server, which supports up to 8 processors and 2-way clustering; and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, which supports up to 16 processors and 8-way clustering.

Server-based networks, also called client/server networks, use a dedicated computer called a server . Files, printers, and other resources and services on this computer are made available to network workstations, called clients. Client machines are simply used by network users and usually do not share files or printers.

Windows 2000 Server is typically used as a server operating system for this type of network. Windows 2000’s security model for server-based networks is called the domain model . Servers are organized into domains, with one or more computers (the domain controllers) providing centralized authentication.

A peer-to-peer network (sometimes simply called a peer network) consists solely of workstations called peers . Each workstation can be operated by a user and can also make shared files or printers available to users at other workstations. This system is best suited to smaller networks. Microsoft’s term for peer-to-peer networks is workgroups .

A workgroup configuration can be used for networks consisting solely of Windows 2000 Professional computers. For a server-based network, one or more computers running Windows 2000 Server are required.

The main disadvantage of a workgroup network is the lack of central control. Each user controls access to their own workstation’s shared files and printers. In a large network, this is difficult to manage without compromising security. A workstation that is being accessed by peers can also be slowed down, inconveniencing the user at the workstation.

The advantages of workgroups include their ease of installation and ease of use. They are also less expensive than server-based networks, because a dedicated server is not required. If users are able to manage resource sharing, an administrator may not be required.

In a workgroup network, all of the computers are the same type: peers, also called clients. In a domain-based Windows 2000 network, several different types of computers are typically included:

The entries in the boot menu displayed at startup are based on the BOOT.INI file, located in the root directory of the system partition. A typical Windows 2000 Professional BOOT.INI file, including a dual-boot entry for MS-DOS, looks like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINNT="Windows 2000" /fastdetect
C:="MS-DOS"

The file consists of the [boot loader] section with information about defaults, followed by the [operating systems] section with individual entries for each operating system.

The [boot loader] section can include two entries:

The entries in the [operating systems] section can include bootable FAT partitions (such as C: in the example) for DOS or earlier versions of Windows and Advanced RISC Computing (ARC) entries for Windows NT or Windows 2000. ARC is a standard also used for booting other operating systems on RISC machines. ARC entries use the following format:

                     adapter(x)disk(x)rdisk(x)partition(x)directory = description

ARC entries for Windows 2000 can be followed by one or more of these options:

The Logon dialog is displayed at the completion of the boot process. This dialog includes fields for username and password and an option to use a dial-up connection. If the computer is configured as a domain client, you can choose the domain to log on to.

As with Windows NT 4.0, the initial Windows 2000 display includes a desktop with various icons. The My Computer icon provides access to the computer’s disk drives through the Windows NT Explorer, and the Start menu allows access to installed applications.

You can configure options for Windows 2000’s Start menu by right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Properties . In this dialog you can enable or disable the personalized menus. In addition, you can choose to have the Control Panel and Documents options in the Start menu expand into submenus.

The My Network Places icon, similar to the Network Neighborhood icon in NT 4.0, displays a list of commonly accessed network locations. You can browse the entire network with the Entire Network icon or browse the local workgroup or domain with the Computers Near Me icon.

Windows 2000 includes a variety of utilities for managing operating system features. The following are some of the most commonly used utilities, all of which are explained in detail later in this chapter: