WMF Bug

[Geoff]

Well 2000 SP3 and later supports Automatic Updates just like XP, you can go to Microsoft Update or in a domain environment, 2000 can receive updates from SUS or WSUS. I don't see it's a major problem.

Microsoft will never release SP5, however they have released Update Rollup 1 for 2000 SP4 users. I believe at some point in the future they'll release Update Rollup 2, 3, 4...

 

Well my understanding is that MS are still supporting W2k server but not W2k Workstation. So if you have any desktops running W2k your up a certain creek without a paddle.

 

As for W9x users I honestly think it's time to upgrade. I see no justification other than financial or specialised environments which require the use of such an old operating system.

 

Hardware... Win9x -> Linux is the only viable upgrade path.

[Michael]

Windows 2000 is now in its Extended Support phase. Microsoft will only fix critical problems until the year 2010, which you can view here

 

XP Professional's Extended Support phase ends 31/12/2011 - one and a half years after 2000. We could be beta testing Vista's successor by then!

 

I agree generally some W9x computers aren't powerful enough to run 2000/XP, however in a lot of cases a memory upgrade can make all the difference. Memory is very cheap these days. 2000/XP's requirements MHz wise aren't that demanding, but both operating systems are very demanding on memory.

[Geoff]

Sticking some memory in an old PC just so you can upgrade it to W2k seems a bit futile in the long run. Not very cost effective either. On a more pratical note I've had lots of fun and games with old motherboards not liking 256mb and/or single sided DIMMs.