You don't need to do much, though. Microsoft designed Windows 2000 to support almost all of the products that Windows 98 uses and to work with more hardware and software than Windows NT 4.0. In fact, if your hardware was produced in the past two or three years, you won't encounter any serious problems, whether you upgrade directly from Windows 95, 98, or NT. Whatever your setup, it's wise to confirm that your hardware, peripherals, and software will clear the Windows 2000 hurdle before you install it.

Don't delude yourself: Windows 2000 won't run on your old Pentium-90 with 32MB of RAM. However, you won't need a 700-MHz monster to try Microsoft's latest OS either. Despite its past offenses of issuing bloated software, Microsoft designed Windows 2000 to run on a fairly lightweight machine--surprising when you consider all the new features in this OS.

1. Know the Minimum Requirements
First, make sure your computer meets Microsoft's specifications:

Of course, meeting the minimum requirements will give you the minimum level of performance. Independent testing by companies such as Intel and the Gartner Group has shown that you should increase your processor speed by 150 MHz to 250 MHz to get the same performance as with Windows 98 or NT.

2. Visit the Hardware Update Site
Your computer may be up to snuff, but that's not the only issue. If you have a big-name PC, such as a Dell, Compaq, Gateway, IBM, or Micron, check it against Hardware Update, a site produced by Microsoft and a number of major PC manufacturers. Just enter your make and model, and the site provides you with links to any update files you may need (including BIOSupgrades). Plus, it offers a simple checklist of steps you can take to get your PC ready.

3. Check Your Motherboard and BIOS
If your computer isn't on Hardware Update's list, you have some more work ahead. Your best bet is to contact the computer's manufacturer for Windows 2000 compatibility information (try the vendor's Web site first).

If the vendor can't help, do a component-by-component check, starting with the motherboard and BIOS. First, open up your computer, find your motherboard, and check for the name of its manufacturer. Once you know who made it, look up the maker's Web site for updates and Windows 2000 information. Next, when you boot up your system, watch carefully to see who made the BIOS (it should appear on your screen when the PC first starts up). Then, go to the vendor's site to see if it lists any Windows 2000 update information--there's no guarantee it will, but it's worth a peek. (Check out the list of BIOS makers at Yahoo to find your maker's site.)

4. Double-Check Components and Peripherals
Finally, make sure that your peripherals and internal components are Windows 2000 compliant. Go to Microsoft's hardware compatibility page and enter the names of the components in your system (such as graphics cards, printers, sound cards, and network adapters). If all of your parts are compatible, your hardware is ready to start running Windows 2000.

Windows 2000 is compatible with most existing Windows software--that's one of its strongest points. Nonetheless, it won't work with everything, so it's a good idea to make sure your software is ready ahead of time. That way, you won't waste hard-earned cash on an OS that won't work with your favorite software. Just follow these two simple steps.

1. Consult Microsoft's List
The fastest way to find out if your software will run on Windows 2000 is to visit the Microsoft software compatibility page. Enter manufacturer and product names for your major software packages. Submit the form, and the resulting page tells you whether the product is certified (meaning it uses advanced Windows 2000 technology), ready (it will run on Windows 2000, but doesn't include any new features for the OS), or planned (the vendor has plans to make the software compatible). Of course, Windows 2000's installer will allow you to cancel the installation if a critical piece of software won't work with the upgrade, but by that time, you already own the OS.

2. Ask the Vendor
Even if your software doesn't show up on Microsoft's online list of compatible software, there's still hope. Visit that product's Web site or contact the manufacturer to find out whether the program in question is Windows 2000 compatible.

Some products, especially disk utilities (including antivirus and partition management tools), may need updates to work with the new OS. However, most of these incompatible programs will have updates available online by the time Microsoft 2000 shows up in stores, and will eventually be replaced by new Windows 2000 editions. For instance, Norton AntiVirus 2000 is ready for the upgrade, but Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition (the network product) is listed only as planned.

All of this may sound like a lot of work, but considering that Windows 2000 costs at least $149 (to upgrade from Windows NT), a little preparatory research may save you some fairly expensive frustration.

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