Can Win2000Srvr be used effectively as desktop/workstation OS?

[Zak]

Hi all,

Few Win2000 questions.

I have a copy of 2000Srvr, and I'd like to try to replace my 98SE. Can the 2000Srvr be used as workstation OS? I wouldn't, of course, install all the server services to make the system lean. Would 2000Pro be faster in this case? It would be for everyday use, music, gaming, etc.

Secondly, what's the deal with Win2000 and ATA66 and ATA100 controllers? I heard that ATA100 will only run at ATA66 speed (not a big deal really), but I also heard that Win2000 has problems with ATA66 and ATA100 controllers.

Finally, does Win2000 run well on T-bird/VIA133 platform?

Thanks a lot.

Zak

 

[THELAIR]

Server if trimmed properly would be about as fast as pro id say. Theres probably some serices you couldnt limit and would mroe htan likely eat up more RAM than the allready large RAM requimrent for Win2k Pro

Yes, amd via works okay on win2k... i havnt had too many probs.

who cares about the ata100 thing anyways, doesnt make a big difference

Server is meant for serving stuff, do you need to create a active directory or the need of a fully fledge domain controller? if not stick with win2k pro

 

[Zak]

Thanks. The reason I asked is that I don't have Win2000Pro, but 2000Srvr only and I hesitate to buy it yet since I am not entirely sure that all my stuff will run on it. I know that NFS games don't run, bummer, so I may do a dual boot machine, which I don't really like. I will give the server a shot and if I don't have any compatibility issues I'll get 2000Pro. Cheers! Zak.

 

[THELAIR]

if win2k server works, win2k pro should work just as well, and vice versa



there is a post about the Service Pak 2 for win2k in the general forum, has some info on the ata100 thing under win2k, i blieve the high point controllers that come iwth the abit boards are not supported, where as the promise device drivers are considered a SCSI device and get full ata100 support.

 

[Zak]

Oh cool, I have Promise Controllers
Thanks, I'll look for that post.

Zak

 

[aviris]

I was running Win2K Adv. Server on my laptop for quite a while - scaled it back to Pro now and I don't see any differences (if you trim out the services properly).

I also have a machine here my office that I use as a desktop running 2K server with no problems. It's all pretty much the same.

 

[Zak]

Cool, thanks - that's what I needed to know

Zak

 

[DerProfi]

If you have the memory, Win2K server should be fine on a laptop as long as you dump stuff like IIS and the Indexing service. Can't think of any other specific things you should turn off but I'm sure others here can make some additional recommendations. BTW, you don't have to necessarily uninstall these "extra" services, just configure them to not start automatically at bootup.