Comparing Windows 2000 To Windows 98

Comparing Windows 2000 To Windows 98

Unlike Windows 98, which is a combination of 16-bit and 32-bit operating systems, Windows 2000 is a true 32-bit operating system.

Windows 2000 supports true multithreading and isolates 32-bit applications in different processes so that one bad application cannot hang the entire system.

Drivers and Windows system files under Windows 2000 are protected from being altered by applications and users, which prevents corruption and improves system reliability. By contrast, Windows 98 does not always ask for your permission before allowing an application to alter or overwrite a critical system file.

Windows 2000 has some new tools to help application developers build installation disks for their products and troubleshoot application problems.

Windows 2000 and Windows 98 use Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), which enables a computer to power down unused devices to conserve power, and gives the user much more control over power to the system.

The Windows 2000 features for ACPI are improved over those of Windows 98. Both require the cooperation of ACPI-compliant system BIOS. For example, on a PC with ACPI BIOS, to set the Power Options of Windows 2000, open the Control Panel. Double-click the Power Options icon. The Power Options Properties dialog box opens. Click the Advanced tab. From the list of power options, select what will happen when you press the power button on your computer case. For example, you can set the computer to change to Standby

mode when you press the power button. On the Hibernate tab, you can also control when and how the system goes into hibernation. On the UPS tab, you can control and monitor an intelligent UPS device, if one is attached.

ACPI specifications were developed by Compaq, Intel, Microsoft, Phoenix, and Toshiba to allow for reliable power management through hardware and software cooperation.

Notice in the following figure that the Network and Dial-Up Connections and Scheduled Tasks icons are in the Windows 2000 Control Panel rather than in the My Computer window of Windows 98. This is a much more logical place to put them because they control system resources.

Also, in Windows 2000, Network Neighborhood is replaced by My Network Places.