If you just need T-SQL compatibility, SQL Server 2005 Express (x64) runs on modern Windows 10. The dialect difference is minimal compared to 2000.

You cannot connect to a 64-bit SQL 2000 instance using modern SSMS. You must use:

If you have resolved the Itanium hardware issue, here is a generic restoration path.

Prerequisites:

Step-by-Step:

Attempting to install MS SQL Server 2000 Developer Edition 64 bit today is a journey in historical problem-solving.

This is the most critical point of confusion. When Microsoft released SQL Server 2000 64-bit, AMD's x86-64 (modern 64-bit) did not exist yet in a mainstream Microsoft OS. Windows XP 64-bit Edition was for Itanium.

Therefore, "MS SQL Server 2000 Developer Edition 64 bit" is likely compiled for IA-64 (Itanium), not Intel/AMD 64-bit (x86-64).

Why would a developer specifically target the 64-bit Developer Edition instead of Standard or Enterprise?