Kathleen Maguire 11/5/2007 Digital Restoration Computer Timeline Microsoft Systems 1995 – 2007. Windows 95 Dates of use

Released on February 17, 2000. Windows will support the platform until July 13, 2010.⁴⁶

Following a long break in updates, Windows 2000 made several much needed improvements to Windows N.T. 4.0. The system was the most-complex Microsoft had ever released and offered a level of stability not available in any of its contemporaries amongst consumer level systems.

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  With Windows 2000, Microsoft made a bid to increase their visibility in the internet server market. At that time the market was dominated by Unix, a longstanding and reliable product. Win2000 attempted to undercut their cost and offer comparable features.⁴⁸
  
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  The system carefully monitored the installation of new programs and replaced any mistakenly deleted programs through a cache of backup files.⁴⁹
  
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  Featured a level of stability that was not yet available within the consumer market. The system rarely crashed and was capable of waking from sleep mode to function properly.
  
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  Included support for technology that had long been supported on the consumer level including Plug and Play and USB.
  
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  Boated improved flexibility on laptop computers. This included allowing for a disc drive to be switched with a CD drive without turning off the computer.
  
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  Reorganized the desktop, creating a cleaner and more logical workspace. Tasks such as system tools and settings were moved to the control panel and the number of desktop icons was streamlined.
  
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  Superior security ran through the system. It included “Virtual Private Networking,” which allowed a private link between a laptop and server to be created across the internet. It also included a files system, “NTFS,” that allowed files, folders and entire hard-drives to be encrypted and locked.⁵⁰