Windows 2000 is a 32-bit preemptive multitasking operating system developed by Microsoft for Intel microprocessors. It uses a micro-kernel architecture and supports features like security, extensibility, international support, and compatibility with legacy applications. The system has a layered architecture with modules like the kernel, executive, and various environmental subsystems that emulate other operating systems. It provides features like virtual memory management, process and thread scheduling, security, and networking support through protocols like SMB and TCP/IP.