Microsoft Management Console (MMC)

The MMC provides a convenient way of managing your Windows 2000 installation from a single programme. To start the MMC, type "mmc" at the start/run prompt. This will bring up a blank MMC to which you can add your choice of management options for your installation. On the menu bar select the Console option, then choose Add/Remove Snap-In. This will bring up a new page to which you can add a range of management tools (known as snap-ins) using the Add... option. When you have added all the options that you require press OK to leave the Snap-In options screen and then choose Save As from the Console menu, by default the programme is placed in the "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools" folder. For ease of accessibility you may choose instead to save this on your desktop, or alternatively create a shortcut to the file on your desktop.

I would also advise that you make a regular backup of important files and folders, this process can be automated to make the task easier.

There are also several things you can do to save hard disk space if you are still saving up for that 40GB monster! Windows 2000 also has a built-in Disk Cleanup programme, located in Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information/Tools that can help you remove unnecessary files and programmes. You can also use System File Checker to remove copies of system files.

Service Pack 1

Service Pack 1 is the first major update to the Windows 2000 Operating System, and can be downloaded here. It includes all the 17 security hotfixes released to date (31 July 2000), improves hardware and software compatibility, and offers general improvements to the Operating System. The full download for SP1 is 87MB, but Microsoft provide an option to download only those parts of the update relevant to your system, reducing download times. Microsoft do not consider SP1 to be a required upgrade: just as this Service Pack will fix many bugs and incompatibilities, it will (and has) create some new ones. Unless you are having some problems with your current installation, I would recommend that you do not install this update. Details of the problems fixed by Service Pack 1 can be found here.

Unlike NT4 there is no need to reapply the Service Pack following major system changes, but the Service Pack itself introduces no new features to Windows 2000. One of the main bugs introduced by SP1 is a conflict with some firewall software, such as ZoneAlarm and BlackIce Defender: fixes are available at the ZoneAlarm website, and at the NetworkIce site. Many people have also reported problems using Maxtor hard drives, like reports of incorrect drive sizes to data loss - Maxtor users are advised to stay clear for the time being.

If you get the error message: "WMI ADAP failed to connect to namespace \\.\root\cimv2\MS_809 with the following error: 0x8004100e" see here.

Details of other problems can be found here.

Service Pack 2

Service Pack 2 is the second major update to Windows 2000, it includes all the fixes from Service Pack 1 so you do not have to install both. These updates are a collection of fixes in the following areas: application compatibility, operating system reliability, security, and setup. SP2 automatically updates your installation to 128bit encryption, this is not optional. A full list of updates can be found here. A list of outstanding issues with Service Pack 2 can be found here.