Microsoft are to spend around $220 million on an advertising campaign hoping to increase sales in their Windows 2000 operating system which has received a slower than anticipated uptake within industry.

Windows 2000 was originally launched last February and even though it has received favourable reviews, the sales of the high-end server version has not sold as well as the desk top edition.

Some industry analysts have stated that Microsoft have not done a good job at marketing the product considering the importance they are placing on the product as part of Microsoft's strategic plan.

Even though Windows 2000 will be the main product this campaign will be aimed at, other server products and also the .NET software will also be covered.

It was also previously reported that there was a slower than anticipated uptake to Microsoft Office 2000 which may have been because of the slower-than-anticipated uptake to Windows 2000.

There have also been issues that converting from previous versions of Windows for the desk top to the Windows 2000 version has not been as straightforward as before, so if you are considering upgrading, here is a useful guide that may help with the preparation needed for making this move.