I reformatted my computer and reinstalled windows 2000, and after installation, everytime the computer boots, I get the interface of a windows 95 or 3.1 OS, basically 800x600 as max resolution, and only 16bit color. When I tried to install programs like netscape, it said that i could only install on windows 2000 or higher, so clearly the OS is not recognized as windows 2000, even though I installed it from a windows 2000 CD (SP2 to be exact). Prior to reinstallation, the virus that caused my computer to crash appeared to disconnect the machine from the hard drive. Don't know if that's significant, but if anyone has any possible explanations or remedies to this it would be greatly appreciated.


Edit - Also, there doesn't appear to be a detected video card which makes the already low resoluation look even worse, with dots everywhere, and very minimal color.

That could be because you installed the first version of Windows 2000 and all your programs are wanting to use Service Pack 4. The 16 bit color (which was actually really good back in the days of win95) is a symptom of an old outdated driver. You will need to look up the driver and install it.
Good luck!

Thanks, could anyone specify specific drivers and where I can get them? And if it requires reformatting again? Another note is that the sound driver is also completely absent, much like the video card driver (I think it's running on the windows integrated card). Thanks again.

Can someone please help? I just tried installing some programs and they all said that they can't install until all windows components have been installed. So I guess that means I'm missing some drivers, but I din't know what and where to get them.

Nip off to Microsoft Rune here, Microsoft Downloads for Windows 2000 for the updates for 2000.
You need to know what graphics card you are using so you can update the driver for it.

Ok, but how about the OS issue and the sound card issue?

Ok so you have installed 2000, you have been to MS and downloaded all 4 service packs and you have got an updated graphics driver yes?
Is the sound onboard or card?