Is it possible to download a copy of Win 2000 for my laptop? Can I phone up Microsoft for a boot CD? I have a Product Key but no Os. Or would you recommend getting hold of a copy of XP from eBay? The laptop is a P III IBM Thinkpad that originally came with Win 2000 Pro, hence the key.

You more than likely are going to have to buy a replacement for your W2k, or XP. Microsoft will not send you a copy because it is an OEM install. They will refer you to IBM which may or may not stock that item any longer.
I personally would call IBM and see what they have for you.

Yeah, thanks acklan it appears that IBM no longer stock that.

Question: Can Win2K network with XP? I plan to network laptop with desktop.

Yes it can. I have Windows, Mac, and Linux all on the same LAN. It is not the computer or OS it is the protocol that determines if your computers will network. TCP\IP is the standard and it works with almost everything.
Right now I have 1-XP Pro, 1-XP Home, 1-Puppy Linux, and 1-Mac OS 9.3 and 10-W2k Pro all on my LAN. Also have a W89se and a ME box that are only turned on for reference when helping others.
I have XP Home on most of my computers and downgraded to W2k. They are P-III 450mhz and P-III 500mhz and I find W2k can do what XP home can and more. The main advantage is when running the same software the W2k box uses 120mb of RAM less than XP Home. That means I can run W2k on 256mb of RAM where I needed 512mb with XP. It maybe worst for XP Pro, but I do not know since I did not compare them.

That is good news. I am planning to use W2K on my PIII laptop as I'd heard it runs fairly quick, that is swifter than XP, which ties in with what you say 'bout it running 120MB lighter. I've just inherited my cousins old innards so with his help will be rebuilding this old crate to take 3GB of RAM, the max XP is limited to, so will be a major step up from current set-up, quite excited! Will keep the oldskool slot a processor for project build as backup/for my mum as it is her computer anyways.

What R the chances of an XP driver working in Win2K on my laptop? My Behringer mixer was built for XP.

They may or may not. Have you checked out the Behringer web site?

I hope it does *fingers crossed* as I jst purchased a copy of Win2k, though my laptop is dwn so can't try it. Have posted to technical support though will most likely jst have to try it.

It won't hurt to try. Worst that happens is it does not work.