DO IT YOURSELF:HOME YEAR 2000 COMPATABILITY TEST

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DO IT YOURSELF: HOME YEAR 2000 COMPATABILITY TEST

For the best results, most experts recommend performing this test in DOS rather than Windows, and the safest method is to boot from a floppy disk. Remember, even if your PC passes the BIOS test, you may not be safe. An application that is not year 2000-compliant may crash or make a shambles of your data or simply generate erroneous results.

All Windows 3.x or Windows95 Users - The safest method is to boot your system from a floppy boot disk. At the very least, boot into the command line (press F8 when you see Starting Windows 95 line, then choose Command Line) to ensure that no date-dependent Windows programs, such as your personal finance package, will be affected.

Windows 3.x Users Exit program manager

Windows95 Users - From the Start menu, select ShutDown - From the ShutDown menu, select Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode

1.At the command line, type date 2.When prompted for a new date, type 12-31-1999 3.At the command line, type time 4.When prompted for a new time, type 23:59:59 5.Wait a few seconds...... 6.At the command line, type date 7.If your computer is year 2000 compliant, you will get 01-01-2000. Otherwise, you have a problem.

Determine how your system handles the turn of the century when it is restarted

1.At the command line, type date 2.When prompted for a new date, type 12-31-1999 3.At the command line, type time 4.When prompted for a new time, type 23:58 5.Power down your computer 6.Wait at least 2 minutes for the year to change 7.Power up the computer 8.At the command line, type date 9.If you see 01-01-2000, your computer is year 2000 compliant. Restart your computer one more time just to be sure the change holds. 10.If you see anything else other than 01-01-2000, you should either: 1.Determine if your dealer has a new BIOS for your computer 2.Determine if there is an upgrade for your BIOS 3.Replace your motherboard with a Y2K-compliant BIOS 4.Purchase a new system

-- --- (alph@geek.com), December 31, 1999

Answers

I'm a "computer geek" (perhaps an understatment, but what the heck) and I've been called by several hundred (it seems) frenzied people this week asking me if their computer is "Y2K compliant"... my answer:

"Don't worry about your PC."

Noswad

-- Noswad (keepitsimple@4u.com), December 31, 1999.


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