Requirements for Installing Windows 2000 Professional

Most computers made since the mid-1990s work with Windows 2000 Professional.keyboard image by Fyerne from Fotolia.com

If you are currently running a Windows 9x-based operating system such as Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition, you are missing out on the maximum security and stability that your computer can produce. While Windows 9x-based operating systems still retain much of their original MS-DOS roots, Windows 2000 is based on the newer and more stable Windows NT operating system. Some Windows 9x users avoided upgrading to Windows 2000 when it was first released, fearing that their favorite programs and games would no longer work. However, all of Microsoft's operating systems today are based on the Windows NT foundation, while development of Windows 9x ended after Windows Millennium Edition. Today, upgrading your computer to Windows 2000 will make it more compatible with existing software rather than less.

Processor and RAM

Windows 2000 Professional requires at least a 133-MHz Pentium processor. Other compatible processors manufactured around the same time include the AMD K5 and Cyrix 5x86. Additionally, the operating system requires at least 32 MB of RAM. Microsoft recommends doubling the RAM to 64 MB for improved speed.

To copy data from the Windows 2000 Professional installation CD, your computer needs a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. Additionally, because many computers running Windows 9x are unable to boot from the optical drive, you may also need a floppy drive and blank floppy disk to construct a Windows 2000 startup floppy and use it to boot the computer. Windows 2000 Professional requires at least a 2 GB hard drive, and at least 650 MB of space must be available.

Your computer needs to have a video card and monitor able to display images at a 640 by 480 resolution in order to properly view the Windows 2000 Professional desktop. Additionally, Windows 2000 requires a compatible peripheral for interfacing with the computer. At minimum, your computer requires a keyboard. However, Microsoft strongly recommends using a mouse to interface with the graphical environment of Windows 2000 Professional.