"...the OS won't auto restart the system."
What exactly are you trying to do? Go to the Start button and do a "soft reboot"? I'd like to help, but I need more information from you. Maybe you're referring to the completion of the install where the system was to automatically reboot?
In addition, have you downloaded (from Microsoft; free of charge) Service Pack 2? If not, do so......right away.
The poster who mentions "clean installs" being preferrable is dead right, but they're not always "essential". I've used Win2K Pro for some time now and have been VERY impressed with how solid it is.