Easy way to identify each picture and catalog them?

I need to get scanning and organizing over 2000 + pictures. Is there any perticular program that could help assist me in this process? Organizing probably not but I can sort them into folders.

I would really like to know if there is a program to add details to the pictures without covering the entire picture with names and text. I know windows xp does a summary but people with older versions of windows cannot read this. "like 2000,Me,98 etc." Also I didn't want to right out huge names on the files to identify them.

It would be nice to be able to give details about each picture so people would know the time frame, whom they are looking at, what occasion, etc.

If anyone can help with this delima I would gladly appreciate any input.

Hopefully these pics will last for generations but I would like there to be more info on them because pic's can't always say 1000 words especially if i'm not around!


Thanks

Chad