Any way to get windows 2000 to work with a T410?

I was wondering if anyone has tried, or knows, if windows 2000 will fully work on a T410? I recently gave away my copy of XP to my brother, and have been using 7 since. I'm kind of bummed (ok very) that many of my games will not work on 7. Is there a way to hack the XP graphics driver to install on 2000?
And before you ask, 2000 was the last Microsoft OS that didn't have activation. I used it many years ago, and it was far more stable than even XP for me in recent times. I'm seriously considering going this route instead if it's possible.

 

I presume you have a valid license of 2K or are going to get one? Otherwise this is going nowhere. Actually the corporate version of XP Pro did not require activation either. Often times XP drivers, which is based on 2k, they came less than a year apart, work with 2k and vice versa. Just as Vista and Windows 7 drivers are also sometimes compatible. As to whether it will work or not I can't say. You'll probably have to be the guinea pig on this one.

 

Of course I would purchase it. There are lots of used copies at the Amazon marketplace. I buy all the software I use.

 

The lack of driver support for Windows 2000 will be a big stumbling block as it was discontinued way before the T410 was even released. Have you considered using Virtual Machines instead to see if it runs your games?

 

so you want to buy an OS that is no longer supported by microsoft? support for win2k ended in 2010.

Microsoft Support Lifecycle

have you tried running the game in compatibility mode?

 

Thanks for the suggestions, but yes, I have tried everything from compatibility mode to VMs. It's either XP or 2000 if I want to play all my games.

 

I would get another XP license then.

Windows 2000, due to its end-of-life support, has more security holes than a piece of Swiss chese. Browser support is limited to IE6 and whatever alternative browsers will run. Wireless support is poor as well.

I would not run it on any system that maintains a regular connection to the internet.

 

Well the funny thing is, I NEVER connect to the internet with windows anymore, because of security concerns. I only use windows for offline games, linux for everything else, and even then I'm in the habit of booting from a linux live cd (with no HDD installed) when I connect to the net these days. That's one reason I'm looking at getting an ultrabay adapter for easier removal of the hdd when I do want to get online.

 

A little paranoid are we?

 

You would have a hard time finding the necessary drivers for your T410 to run the windows 2000 properly. I would suggest that you go with XP pro.

 

About what?

 

Various old programs (and a few newer ones) won't work under 64 bit Windows (do you have 64 bit Windows 7?). Did you try Microsoft's XP Mode? I have it installed for occasions such as this.

John

 

As a matter of fact I do, win 7 pro 64-bit, however XP mode is only virtualpc. I remember trying that before, but it does NOT support 3d acceleration. For games that don't require that, I already have a win98 VM running in vmware player, and some work fine (but there's a vsync issue with many, games run too fast).

 

May I ask what sort of games you wish to re-play again? Are there any updated patches for them to work on the newer Windows OS?

 

It won't be pretty, but it should be doable. I did it just for nostalgia on my X100e.
There's a well-updated blog dedicated to keeping 2000 alive here:
blog.livedoor.jp/blackwingcat/

The biggest hurdle would be SATA drivers, but you can always set that to compatibility. You'd also need a core unlocking patch for 2k Pro, as well as a HyperThreading tweak.

Wifi is potentially a no-go unless you have Realtek, in which case Realtek offers a driver for 2000. FF nightly still runs. There's KDW by blackwingcat that offers newer XP and later API's in a compatibility wrapper. He also mods a few drivers for 2000. Probably not worth the effort.

I do miss the 2000 interface though.

 

Actually, if you're running a known-vulnerable OS, an air gap isn't paranoid. It's good practice.

 

did you try win7 32 bit and see if the games would run? you can use your license key for both 32 and 64 bit versions.

but like most people here said, XP is your best bet, not 2000.

 

Thanks for the replies, I know you guys are trying to help. I did try with the 32-bit version of 7 (from the "legal" windows 7 download thread), and more games worked. A lot of the incompatibilities stem from the new directx layer implemented since vista. For instance Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit and Mechwarrior 3 play fine in XP, not in vista or 7.
I thought it might be a good idea to try 2000 (don't have to worry about dealing with activation), but I may just deal with it and stay with 7 for games.

 

I'm playing Diablo II on top of Windows 7 x64, and that works fine. A lot of old stuff still runs.

I'm kind of surprised your games don't work in XP compatibility mode. Then again, Mechwarrior 3 was kind of a buggy game to begin with.

 

I'm pretty sure those games should work; you might have to install the DirectX 9.0c package on Windows 7 though.

Heh. I finally beat D2 not too long ago; always used to get bored by Act III because I'd stick around too long trying to level up.

 

Yeah. That was me too. I have the LoD add-on pack now, and I'm becoming a little sorry for choosing the assassin this time. Poor ranged damage skills = much easier target for death.

I'm in Act II; I need to decide if I want to go back and start another character, or work with the one I have. I had an Amazon in Act III at one point, who was a much better choice.

I'm really waiting for Torchlight 2. Not very patiently, either.

 

Mechwarrior 3 doesn't work properly in xp pro either, when i was playing it it was kept on freezing all the time...

 

It was flawless for me, but that is with Intel HD graphics. I don't know if your system was different.

 

i was on the Thinkstation S10 with ATI 4870 graphics card.