Win2K serial rejected, how do I get updates?!

[Archman]

I just noticed a version of Win2K that I own and have the C.O.A. for is being rejected by the Windows Update. What are my options since MS no longer supports Win2K???

 

[mechBgon]

What are my options since MS no longer supports Win2K???

Microsoft will be supporting Win2000 through August 31 of 2011, if I remember my lifecycles correctly. I don't know how to rectify your license-key rejection, but as for getting security updates, here are two easy methods:

1) go to Control Panel and enable Automatic Updates to full-auto mode, and let it do its thing.

and/or

2) use a system that passes WGA to download Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer, install it on the Win2000 system and run it. This will find stuff you should address, like the Restrict Anonymous setting, and will also give you direct download links to the patches your system requires.


My advice is to enable Automatic Updates and let it get everything it can get, then run MBSA afterwards. If you decide to use MBSA to manually download and run each patch, then reboot for any update that says you need to reboot, before piling on more patches. A good patch to start off with would be Service Pack 4 first (click "SP4 Network Installation" at the right), then reboot and install the Update Rollup 1 (you'll need a passing system to get UR1).

Other things you'd want: DirectX 9.0C and probably WMP9.

I also recommend using the Secunia online checkup in my signature every month or more often.

 

[Captain Nate]

IT's not a good answer, but, call microsoft. Be polite but firm.

When I got my system, it kept crashing into Vista. Before I could get the networking up and running, it triggered some kind of BS "lockdown" procedure because I had booted into the OS so many times without registering it. This gave me the options to basically go online or call them. Their automated service kept disconnecting me so I eventually got another number and managed to get some tech support person in india who seemed irked, but, did fix the problem.

Good luck. If you can't get it fixed through auto update like in the above post, it probably is a key problem. It's not like microsoft ever makes msitakes or anything..... (note sarcasm)

 

[RebateMonger]

Gosh. I didn't realize that WGA even applied to Windows 2000 products. Now I see that it does.