Windows 2000 Archives

Winsage

November 21, 2025

We used to be a society (with a good Windows Task Manager icon)

Microsoft has made changes to its Task Manager, including addressing a bug that allowed it to function with unusual persistence. The Task Manager icon has been redesigned to align with Windows 11's aesthetic, featuring an abstract design that has drawn criticism for lacking clarity compared to the previous straightforward light blue line graph. Users have expressed frustration over the new icon, which resembles vague imagery rather than a clear performance indicator. There is a nostalgic fondness for the original Task Manager icon from the Windows 2000 and XP era, which effectively communicated its purpose.

Winsage

November 21, 2025

Windows turns 40 as the most influential software product in history

Microsoft Windows celebrated its 40th anniversary on November 20, 2025. The journey began with the launch of Windows 1.0 in 1985, designed as a graphical layer atop MS-DOS, requiring a graphics card and 256KB of RAM. Subsequent releases included Windows 2.0 in 1987, Windows 3.0 and 3.1 in 1990 and 1992, respectively, which introduced significant features like a 3D-styled interface and popular games. Windows 95, launched in the mid-1990s, introduced the Start menu and taskbar, selling over seven million copies shortly after its release. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the introduction of Windows 98, Windows 2000, and Windows XP in 2001, which was noted for its stability. Windows Vista was released in 2007, followed by Windows 7 in 2009, and Windows 8, which faced user backlash. Windows 10 was launched in 2015, adopting a Windows-as-a-Service model, and Windows 11 continues to evolve with new design and hardware requirements.

Winsage

September 21, 2025

Microsoft’s pivotal Windows NT 3.5 release made it a serious contender, 31 years ago today

Today marks the 31st anniversary of the public release of Windows NT 3.5. Windows NT was targeted at the enterprise sector, contrasting with Windows 3.1, which was aimed at casual users. It was a fully 32-bit operating system requiring a minimum of an 80386 processor and 12MB of RAM. Windows NT featured cross-platform capabilities, with builds for various architectures, including MIPS, DEC's Alpha, and PowerPC. The user interface of NT 3.5 resembled Windows 3.1, which may have affected its adoption among professional users. Nine months after NT 3.5, Windows NT 3.51 was released, enhancing compatibility with Windows 95 applications. Windows NT 4.0, released in 1996, integrated the Windows 95 shell, leading to Windows 2000 and ultimately Windows XP in 2001, which unified workstation and consumer markets under a single NT codebase. Windows NT 3.5 was a crucial transitional release that laid the groundwork for future operating systems.

Winsage

September 14, 2025

Millennium edition of Windows is 25 years old

On September 14, 2000, Microsoft released Windows ME, the last version of Windows to rely on MS-DOS. It was intended as a successor to Windows 95, 98, and 98 SE, offering discounted updates and compatibility with existing software. Windows ME obscured DOS, making it less accessible for users, and eliminated the ability to create bootable DOS copies from formatted floppy disks. It inherited system file protection from Windows 2000 to prevent "DLL hell," where application software replaced system libraries, causing other programs to fail. Windows ME aimed to bridge the gap between Windows 98 and Windows XP, but users faced compatibility issues with programs not designed for the new version. The control panel adopted a web-like appearance, and documentation transitioned to HTML format. Windows ME had minimal system requirements of a 150 MHz Pentium and 32 MB of RAM, and performance tests showed negligible differences compared to Windows 2000. Windows XP was released a year later, marking the end of DOS's relevance in Microsoft's operating systems.

Winsage

September 1, 2025

Windows 11’s driver signature requirement is one of the best anti-consumer security features out there

Windows 11 requires drivers to be digitally signed before they can be loaded, which enhances security by preventing malware but restricts user autonomy. This requirement is part of Microsoft's Code Integrity security feature, which became mandatory with Windows 10 version 1607. Drivers must possess a valid digital signature from a recognized authority, and Windows will refuse to load any driver lacking this signature. The signing process can be cumbersome and expensive, favoring larger companies. This enforcement raises concerns about consumer freedom, as users may feel they do not fully own their hardware and face challenges in developing custom drivers. In contrast, Linux allows users greater control over what runs in the kernel, though it presents its own security challenges.

Winsage

August 28, 2025

It wasn’t supposed to work, but someone booted this retro Windows OS on one of 2025’s fastest CPUs

A YouTuber named Omores successfully booted Windows 98 on a Ryzen 9900X CPU. This required various modifications, including BIOS tweaks, using a PCI SATA card to bypass modern SATA controllers, and employing a PCIe-to-PCI adapter. Additional adjustments involved disabling ACPI and using a Gen 5 NVMe SSD with a partition limited to 8.5 GB. The project demonstrated the capabilities of the vintage operating system, with successful benchmark results using retro graphics cards like the GeForce 7900 GS and ATI X700LE.

Winsage

August 24, 2025

Why Microsoft defined the modern PC with Windows 95

Windows 95 was released on August 24, 1995, in the United States, and became a cultural phenomenon, supported by a significant advertising campaign featuring the Rolling Stones' song "Start Me Up." The operating system introduced the "Start" menu and was technically advanced for its time, despite some user interface challenges. Microsoft faced intense competition from IBM's OS/2 and the growing home PC market, which included the rise of gaming consoles. Windows 95 was made available for testing through a beta program, and its launch was backed by a 0 million advertising budget. The operating system included a "Plug & Play" feature, although it often led to crashes. Windows 95 relied on a DOS substructure and introduced DOS version 7.0, allowing better use of 32-bit processors. Microsoft also launched "The Microsoft Network" (MSN) alongside Windows 95, but Internet Explorer was only available in the additional "Plus!" package. By the end of 1995, Microsoft sold 40 million licenses for Windows 95, which continued to receive updates until 2001. The startup sound composed by Brian Eno was later added to the US Library of Congress in 2025.

Winsage

August 24, 2025

Windows 95: The system that changed the way we use computers

Branislav Bukmirović began using computers in 1985 with MS-DOS and experienced a significant turning point with the launch of Windows 95 on August 24, 1995. This operating system introduced a graphical user interface, including the "Start" button and desktop icons, which made computing more accessible. Windows 95 required upgraded hardware due to its 32-bit architecture, leading many users to invest in new components. The launch event featured the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" and cost Microsoft 0 million in marketing. Within a year, Windows 95 became the most widely used operating system, solidifying Microsoft's market dominance and funding further innovations. It integrated Internet access, making it easier for everyday users, although the initial version of Internet Explorer faced criticism. Windows 95's legacy continues to influence modern computing.

Winsage

August 6, 2025

40 years of Windows: How XP changed everything

In 2001, Microsoft released Windows XP, which combined consumer and business versions of Windows and was built on the Windows NT core. It provided a more stable platform compared to Windows 98 and Windows Me, despite initial malware issues. Windows XP featured a vibrant blue interface, the iconic green Start button, and the recognizable "Bliss" wallpaper. It introduced customization options, including user-created themes, and tools like Stardock's WindowBlinds. Key features included System Restore, USB plug-and-play support, built-in CD burning, native ZIP file support, and Windows Movie Maker. Microsoft implemented an activation system to combat software piracy. Security measures improved significantly with the release of Windows XP Service Pack 2 in 2004, which introduced a default firewall and a Security Center. Windows XP became popular during the rise of the internet and supported applications like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Skype. It left a lasting cultural impact, with many users expressing nostalgia for the operating system.

Winsage

August 1, 2025

It wasn’t supposed to work, but someone made a forgotten Windows version boot from an NVMe

Windows 2000 can run on modern hardware using a setup that includes a Gigabyte H410 H V2 motherboard, a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, and a Super GPU from 2006. The Universal NT Installer, a Linux-based tool, allows for the installation of Windows NT versions, including Windows 2000. The system can boot from an NVMe SSD and recognizes all 12 CPU cores, achieving transfer speeds of 2500MB/s. However, there are challenges such as inconsistent HDMI audio support and some USB 3 drives not functioning properly.