new to 2000

>>>if it is how can i boot to DOS?

No

>>>where are windows 2000 passwords stored?


In the same hive of the registry

In the same hive of the registry = In the SAM hive of the registry

Which you don't want to mess with and the passwords are encrypted so you can't just pull them out at will.

>>>s 2000 built on DOS

I  meant to say no on this rather than on "if it is how can i boot to DOS?"

is there a way to remove the sam file temporarily like copy to a floppy then put it back?

Yeah but why

You can open a command prompt by typing "cmd" into the Start>Run prompt.

There is a way to remove the SAM, but it's tricky, and once you did you'd have no real way to log back into the system, I believe.  You may be able to log back in as the administrator account, but I'm not sure.

Just as a curiousity, why would you want to 'remove' the sam file 'temporarily' and then put it back??  I can see no valid purpose to this, except to circumvent security, which is a no-no.

just to be able to do it :)

it's my own pc not a work pc or anything
where i'd be getting into other peoples stuff

Boot to the Recovery Console cd your way to the Windows\System32\Config folder and run this command

copy SAM a:\

Description of the Windows 2000 Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;229716


To start the Recovery Console, use any of the following methods:
Start your computer with the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks, or with the Windows 2000 CD-ROM. At the "Welcome to Setup" screen, press F10, or press R to repair, and then C to start the Recovery Console.