Q: What is Windows 2000?
A: Windows 2000 represents the next generation of the Windows NT operating system. The product offerings in the Windows 2000 family include:

Windows 2000 Professional, which is the new name for the next major release of Windows NT Workstation. It is the operating system for businesses of all sizes and builds on the traditional strengths of Windows NT by providing the highest level of security, reliability, and performance. And, it's the easiest Windows yet for working with your computer, setting up and configuring your system, working offline, and browsing the Web.

Windows 2000 Server (formerly Windows NT Server 5.0) is a multipurpose operating system that is ideal for small to medium-sized enterprise application deployments, Web servers, workgroups and branch offices.

Windows 2000 Advanced Server (formerly Windows NT Server 5.0 Enterprise Edition) is a more powerful departmental and application server that provides rich network operating system and Internet services.

Windows 2000 Datacenter Server -- The server operating system for the most demanding levels of availability and scale such as data warehousing, server consolidation, and Online Transaction Processing (OLTP).

Q: What are the system requirements for Windows 2000?
A:

Windows 2000 Professional
• 133 Mhz or higher Pentium-compatible Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Windows 2000 Professional supports single and dual CPU systems
• 64 megabytes (MB) of RAM recommended minimum; more memory improves performance. (32MB RAM minimum supported; 4GB RAM maximum).
• 2 GB hard disk with a minimum of 650 MB of free space*

Q: How do customers decide which Windows 2000 is best for them?
A: Windows 2000 Professional is designed to be the mainstream desktop operating system for businesses of all sizes. For more demanding high-end desktop needs, Windows 2000 Professional will support up to 2 processors.

Windows 2000 Server is the next generation, multi-purpose network operating system. Windows 2000 Server will support up to 4-way SMP, rather than 2, as was previously announced.

Windows 2000 Advanced Server is the server operating system for business critical applications, such as e-commerce, other Internet solutions, and line-of-business applications. Designed to be a more powerful departmental and application server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server is the operating system of choice for new 8-way systems.

Windows 2000 Datacenter Server is the server operating system for the most demanding levels of availability and scale. Windows 2000 DataCenter Server will be the most powerful and functional server operating system ever offered by Microsoft, supporting up to 32-way SMP.

Q: If I'm using NTS 4.0 today, what should I be upgrading to?
A: That depends on what version of NTS 4.0 you are using.

For NTS 4.0 customers, the consistent upgrade path would be to Windows 2000 Server

For NTS Enterprise Edition 4.0 customers, the consistent upgrade path would be to Windows 2000 Advanced Server

Q: What is the SMP (Symmetric Multi-Processor) Support for Windows 2000?
A: In August, We announced the final packaging for Windows 2000 that we are doubling the Symmetric Multi-Processor (SMP) support for the products in the Windows 2000 Server family. Therefore:

• Windows 2000 Professional will support up to two processors.
• Windows 2000 Server will support up to four processors.
• Windows 2000 Advanced Server will support up to eight processors.
• Windows 2000 Datacenter Server will support up to thirty-two processors.

Q: What is Windows 2000 Corporate Preview Program Kit?
A: The Windows 2000 Corporate Preview Program (CPP) is a kit that delivers Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Server Release Candidate 2 code to thousands of corporate customers worldwide.

Q: What is Windows 2000 CPP Kit Contents?
A: For a retail price of HK$500 (shipping and handling not included), customers will receive:

• Windows 2000 Professional RC2
• Windows 2000 Server RC2
• Windows 2000 Evaluation and Deployment Kit (EDK - 2 CD set)
• Corporate Preview Guide (CPG - printed manual)

Q: What is the Licensing for Windows 2000 Corporate Preview Program Kit?
A: CPP recipients will be licensed to install:

• 5 copies of the Windows 2000 Professional beta
• 2 copies of the Windows 2000 Server beta

Q: When will the Windows 2000 CPP licenses expire?
A: Windows 2000 CPP licenses expire with release of the final product.

Q: Is Windows 2000 Beta 3 upgradable to Windows 2000 final release?
A: Final Windows 2000 code will not provide a one-step upgrade to Beta 3-final Windows 2000 code will upgrade RC2. To provide the highest quality for upgrading from prerelease to final Windows 2000 code, Microsoft recommends that customers upgrade their current Beta 3/RC1 installations to Release Candidate 2 (RC2) at its release.

Existing Windows 2000 CPP customers will be informed of the RC2 availability and delivery information for free RC2 refresh. Customers are encouraged to upgrade as soon as the final product becomes available.

Q: Does purchase of the Windows 2000 CPP qualify customers for upgrade pricing to Windows 2000?
A: Purchase of the Windows 2000 CPP does not qualify customers for upgrade pricing to Windows 2000.

Q: What is the Evaluation and Deployment Kit?
A: The EDK will help customers conduct a thorough assessment of Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Server from a technical and business perspective

Q: Why evaluate Windows 2000 today?
A: Evaluating, understanding, and deploying Windows 2000 Professional and Server now is the best way to build your knowledge of the latest Windows operating system. This will help you realize the full benefits of Windows 2000 including:

• A powerful, reliable and fully scalable platform.
• A simplified user interface, improved Plug and Play, Power Management, and support for a broad range of hardware devices.
• An advanced PC-based, client-server infrastructure that lowers costs and adapts quickly to change.

Q: Who can help with the Windows 2000 evaluation?
A: As a participant of this program, you are offered with unlimited technical support call from Microsoft Hong Kong PSS team. (Duration 9/1/99 - 12/31/99) The hotline number is 2804-4222.

Besides, you can also look for Microsoft Windows 2000 Ready Partners, who are Windows 2000-trained to offer a variety of services on the Corporate Preview Program. You can find all information of these partners in our website - www.microsoft.com/hk/windows2000

Q: I am a Corporate Preview Beta 3 customer, When can I get my RC2?
A: By early November, we will have our agency to send you he RC2 kit.

Q: Who will get the RC2?
A: All Windows 2000 Corporate Preview Program customers will receive Windows 2000 RC2 version. Microsoft Hong Kong Limited will inform them directly, by end of October. If they are not being informed by November 12, please call at 2388-9600

Q: What changes were made to RC 2?
A: We have been feature complete since beta 3. RC 2 will have fit & finish work. RC 2 continues to broaden hardware support. In addition, Microsoft has worked hard to simplify Windows 2000 administration via easier set up and configuration and simplification of dial and message boxes.

Q: Any new features added to RC 2?
A: No, only re-adding updated technologies. For example, Windows Media Technologies are being re-added to Windows 2000. WMT 4.0 were included in beta 2 but removed from beta 3 and RC 1 for fit & finish work. Windows Media Technologies 4.0 are being readded to RC 2. This type of work, which has not changed the feature set or impacted the abilities of the OS is being done in RC 2.

Q: I've heard that Microsoft plans to issue an RC3 for Windows 2000?
A: As we announced at Beta 3, Microsoft plans to issue release candidates every five to nine weeks. The number of release candidates ultimately depends on customer feedback. We believe that RC 2 will be the last major Release Candidate and that IF there is an RC 3, it will not be as large a program as both RC 1 & RC 2.