Using Plug and Play with ACPI hardwareWith Windows 2000, it is simple to install a Plug and Play device Just plug it in and Windows 2000 does the rest by installing any necessary drivers, updating the system, and allocating resources.
For example, you can dock a portable computer and connect to a network without changing the configuration. Later, you can undock that same computer and use a modem to connect to the network, again without making any changes to the configuration. Windows 2000 does it for you.
With Plug and Play, you can be confident that any new devices will work together properly and that your computer will restart correctly after you install or uninstall hardware.
Plug and Play also recognizes any new hardware when you start your computer and loads any drivers that the hardware device needs.
When you install or uninstall a hardware device, Plug and Play works with Windows 2000 Power Options to manage the power requirements of your hardware and peripherals, shutting them down or conserving power when you are not using them. And, if you are working in another program when you install or uninstall a device, Plug and Play lets you know that it is about to change your computer configuration and warns you to save your work.
If something does go wrong, Plug and Play records the information in an Event Log
Using Plug and Play with ACPI hardware
Managing power when installing a Plug and Play device
Plug and Play device driver support