Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional in 10 Minutes

Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional in 10 Minutes

By Dorothy Burke and Jane Calabria

Starting Windows 2000

To start Windows 2000, turn on your computer and monitor. As your computer boots, the files needed to run the computer are loaded. Depending upon the configuration of your computer, or how your computer is set up, one of two situations occurs next. First, if your computer is configured to start in Windows 2000 Professional, a Welcome screen appears.

To log on to Windows 2000, follow these steps:

  1. Press down the Ctrl , Alt, and then the Delete key. When you release all three keys, the login screen appears.
  2. Enter your Username and Password. You must use the exact username and password assigned to you by your network administrator; if you are not sure what to enter in this dialog box, ask your administrator. You should use the same username and password each time you log on to Windows so that your desktop, applications, and customization settings will always be the same.
  3. Click OK or press Enter to log in.

If your system is set for dual boot, you'll know because you will need to select the Windows 2000 Professional operating system from a list of options before you begin, and then follow steps 1 and 2 as described previously.

Tip

Don't Lose Track of Time! A dual boot setup typically allows you a given number of seconds to decide which operating system you wish to use. If you fail to choose any operating system, the computer will start up in the default system, which may or may not be Windows 2000 Professional.

Plain English

Boot A computer's starting up process, during which the operating system and configuration files are loaded into the computer's memory.

Dual Boot Computer configuration in which a computer has multiple operating systems, from which one must be chosen each time the computer starts up.

Username and Password Identifies you to your computer or to the network server, and protects your computer from illegal entry.

Log On Connecting to the network so you can use its resources—files, printers, and so on.

Follow these steps to open the Windows program if you're on a network:

  1. Enter the following information:Username: The name by which you are identified to your computer or the network.Password: Your personal watchword for logging in to the computer or network.
  2. Press Enter or click OK to start Windows.

Caution

Error Message! Many different errors could occur at this point. For example, a message might appear on your screen telling you a connection could not be restored or that you're not a valid user. First, make sure that you've typed your password correctly and used the appropriate case when typing. If you still have a problem connecting to the network, see your network administrator for help.

Tip

Should I Press Enter or Click OK? Pressing Enter in a dialog or message box is the same as choosing the OK button; pressing the Esc key is the same as choosing the Cancel button.

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