Specific Y2K-only Upgrades : BIOS/RTC,
MS-DOS, WIN_3.1x/95/98/NT
Y2Kman's Free Test
( this webpage is located at http://seasurf.com/~radioman/upgrade.html )
: see the new Questions and Answers section below !
This is a free Y2K Compliancy test for all PC computers for internal BIOS/RTC.
The test sets the internal clock ahead to December 31st, and then does successive
year tests for 2000, 2001, 2002 ... It also checks leap years. It's a complete fully
automatic test program, so just download and run :
Once you've downloaded the program, save it to an unused directory, like c:\TEMP,
then exit Windows, and run the program from DOS. NOTE: exit Win 3.1x, or EXIT
to DOS from Windows_95/98 .
The program will tell you what errors, if any, are in your system for the Year 2000
BIOS/RTC hardware chip problem .
NOTE : This test does a roll over to the Year 2000 and beyond - set your clock back
to December 1999 before running the test, and back to current when finished -- see
the 'DATE' command setting in MS-DOS ...
( more explanation about the BIOS/RTC test : is HERE )
UPDATE 1/11/00
Welcome to the London Times ( News International Ltd, London, UK at :
unix-proxy1.newsint.co.uk 143.252.84.109 )
Current Y2K Stories :
* Local Red Lion Hotel had ALL room charges default to $199.00 at the stroke
of midnight on 1/1/2000 regardless of circumstances - software is being rewritten ...
* Local Clatsop County D.A.'s Office prints out 30,000 files this month - system
is NOT y2k compliant ... plans are to set the clock back a month in January and
keep printing hard copy. New system ready for next year ... no update yet .
* Local Western Bank still has three PC's running Windows_95 that aren't fully Y2K
compliant ... auto-reset rollsover to 1/1/1980. Assistant Manager assures computers
were upgraded, but cannot find the MSDOS 'date' function to verify it's not '1980' .
* Costco nationwide dumps entire card membership system because of Y2K ... all
new software and new membership cards already issued ...
* US Forestry Service advises to 'turn off and unplug' all PCs on the 31st
then plug them back in on Jan 3rd to avoid year rollover ( NOT ... see the
small CMOS internal battery for continuous BIOS/RTC clock operation ... )
No responce, but origional WIN_98 'locks up', and WIN_95 resets to 1980 .
* Associated Locksmiths of America 'loses' entire member database due to
new database software. Asks members to 'update' essentially a blank slate
membership renewal form ... no comment received.
* Casio Digital Watch NOT compliant - new battery test to 1990, not 2000 !
rollover occured to YEAR 100 ... next critical date is 2/29/2000 ...
* Local State of Oregon offices 'think' they are Y2K compliant, yet they are
running old Windows_98, which is NOT without upgrades ... no word as yet
* Primera HMO in Bend, Oregon asking for TWO monthly payments in advance
for January 2000 due to potential billing errors ...
* Safeway Stores, Inc. issues employee bulletin to fill prescriptions in advance
at least 5-7 days in anticipation of Y2K problems. New Compaq PCs running
custom Safeway software in old MS-DOS ! No updates are available yet ...
* Portland General Electric, and Northwest Natural Gas claim Y2K compliancy ...
all operations went normally during the New Year's Weekend ...
* Many Local Businesses will 'wait out' Y2K and avoid 'unnecessary' upgrades
Many as of yet are unaware of database errors ...
* Local US West phone company switching sub-station is ancient - modems speeds
limited to 33.6 Kbps maximum here ... long distance fiber optics OK ! No plans to
upgrade outdate switch. Only 56K connections available are outside the local
service area. Internet ISPs in outlying areas getting new customers ...
* Local Computer Repair Shop offers $25.00 Y2K test only - recommends a new
motherboard replacement, with upgraded Windows ( unnecessary for Y2K ) !
see Y2K-specific fixes, and FREE Y2K BIOS/RTC test !
* Local Oregon government employees asked to work entire New Year's weekend
for emergency services ... few, if any problems were reported locally ...
* shecora.com institutes hourly Y2K updates from around the country ! Pager alert
and e-mail notification network sign-up now CLOSED ! New update : the 400+
network is now a testing/proving ground for Y2K software nationwide ... for example
we discovered that ALL Netscape web browsers older than 4.0 are NOT compliant
nor are they working correctly. Most noticed are "post" functions on the 'Net with
all local cache failing ( re-load, restore data, save cache, post, online forms that
use the local Netscape cache memory may have corrupted data ) ...
* Community College did not upgrade for Y2K - report today that, despite their being
aware of the problem, no upgrades were made at all. A few PCs were compliant. The
surprise problems included e-mails being sent out over-and-over for 30 minutes, some
difficulty sharing Word files between computers, and what sounded like a few bad
failures on the network. ALL computers are now being upgraded on weekends, and
the date of completion is targeted as two months from now ... note, re-installing WIN
98 with the newest 'upgrade' version takes nearly 2.5 hrs. Necessary Y2K-specific
patches shouldn't take over a half hour. I wonder which method is being used ...
* M.E.R.T.S. was finally planning to have their first Y2K staff meeting on Dec. 27th.
No details on their plans. Word was there were a variety of different computers,
with specifics, depending on PC age, MSDOS, and Windows' versions ...
NOTE: Windows_2000 will be OK, and the second Windows_98 is compliant ( '99 )
but re-installing the entire Windows_98 just for a few updated files is overkill .
And from WIN_95 to 98 - Critical Y2K upgrade files are NOT on the CD ! see the
free y2k test page below for the FULL story on the necessary Y2K-specific upgrades
that you will actually need for the Year 2000 ... or '1980' if WIN_95, or Year '100'
if patch upgraded via MSDOS
UPDATE : The YEAR 1980 was unexpected -vs- 1900, but that was the start-up
"Windows default year". The YEAR 100 error is currently Microsoft's best patch/fix
for WIN_3.1x through _98 so far. MSDOS is incremented ( 99 + 1 year ), but unlike
Microsoft Explorer, which displays "20" followed by "00" of the '100', for 2000 - the
Netscape actually displays the Year 100 as '100' ! ( ex: 1/1/100 ) ...
On the Oregon Coast about 15% of the several dozen computers I upgraded were
Y2K compliant. ALL computers newer than 4 months were OK. SOME nearly a year
old, but 'new' were compliant. NONE over a year old were compliant/working. Here
about 3% of the business population bothered to upgrade in an area of about
30,000 population ...
1) Fixes for old Windows ( 3.1x and 95 ) are partial - file manager / explorer works
with wrong dates ...
2) MANY web servers/e-mail servers/I.P s are doing the '900 year' rollover now. The
expected 1999 to 1900 didn't occur. INSTEAD the '99 to '100 did, so the file
integrity instead of 13/31/1999 is now 1/1/100 -an incremental rollover appear-
ing on web servers / e-mail servers, and hard drives everywhere. Some servers will
never become compliant, nor fix the 1/1/100 error. E-Mail should work normally,
EXCEPT perhaps in your own hard drive from inbasket to a 'save' directory.
UPGRADE your e-mail program to a new one before downloading, please.
Of note : some web-based forums ( like newsgroups ) also have the 1/1/100 problem
- again it avoids the 1980 error, but creates a new bookeeping one ... more errors
from Y2K to come ...
1) All NON-upgraded/patched non compliant computers will have file manager errors
which give messages like \" Do you want to overwrite a newer file with an older one ?
( from 1980 ) , or :
2) All hard drive date stamps show the years 1998 (98), 1999 (99), 2000 (100), etc.
So far tests show a correct rollover for 2010 as well !
Unfortunately the File Manager displays a 1/1/2000 file as 1/1/:0 and a 2010 file
as 1/1/;0. There is no known fix, but the File Manager (Explorer ) DOES work
correctly !
ONE FINAL THOUGHT : Seems older Windows_95 PCs roll over to 1980 ... so the
all the experts were wrong about 1999 changing to 1900 - either 1980, the start
date for Windows, OR the year 100, the incremental progression from '99 which
preserves the MSDOS integrity ( without the suppressed '1' and added '20' for '2000' )
UPDATE : Since someone expressed interest in possible virus problems with any
Internet downloads, you can alternatively do the following :
After saving 2000.exe to c:\TEMP, or your default download directory, or wherever
you chose to save it to, then get a blank diskette for your a:\ drive and copy the
test program to the new diskette :
* EXIT to DOS
* Insert a new 3 1/2" diskette into drive a:\
* type - format a: /sys ... and press enter
* Copy 2000.exe to the a:\ diskette :
for example from DOS type - copy c:\TEMP\2000.exe a:\
( OR - you can reenter Windows and use your File Manager/Windows Explorer to
move the 2000.exe file to the a:\ diskette, or copy it and delete the c:\ drive
downloaded origional WITHOUT running it on the c:\ drive ... )
* NOW delete 2000.exe from your hard drive WITHOUT running it ( from c:\ )
* re-start your computer with the a:\ disk inserted ... it's a system disk, so
it will boot ...
* run the test ... type 2000 ( from the a:\ drive ) and hit enter ...
* after the test is completed, eject the diskette and re-start the computer again
* label and save the diskette to run later after upgrades if the test failed
This is the longer way, but the test is the same. Some versions of this test actually
came on a system diskette, simply boot and run. Only 2000.exe is the actual DOS
Y2K Compliance test itself. This process, with a diskette in the a:\ drive allows the
test to be run on the diskette, not the c:\ hard drive. The move to the diskette is
unnecessary, but may alliviate any fears of running the program :-)
Even though your system may pass this test, this is only the first level of testing.
This is only the test for BIOS/RTC - a fix IS available.
Remember that any DOS below 6.0 is NOT Y2K complaint and must be upgraded.
The next level is DOS programs - most of which are NOT Y2K complaint, and must
be replaced.
Windows 3.1x - needs two specific upgrades ...
WIN_ NT - needs many more upgrades ...
WIN_95 - needs three specific upgrades ...
WIN_98 - needs eight specific upgrades ...
Lastly, after the BIOS/RTC, DOS, and Windows, the individual applications may
need to be upgraded as well : for example QuickBooks '99 is compliant, but none
of the earlier versions are - rule of thumb says any computer (PC) more than a few
months old has less than a 50% chance of being Y2K complaint for BIOS/RTC and
probably NO chance that Windows, nor individual programs will be Y2K ready either.
If you are like me, then ANY older PC is worth keeping, especially if you have some
expensive custom software running on it - and any computer from DOS 6.0 through
WINDOWS '98 can be upgraded without needing to install WINDOWS_2000 which
will not be available until after February.
Q : I got a BIOS upgrade, is that all ?
A : No, unfortunately that is only for the Real Time Clock, and DOS, Windows
are still NOT compliant for Y2K !
Q : My test said I passed, yes ?
A : Depending on WHICH test, and many bogus tests are out there, the BIOS/
Real Time Clock are what is checked, not anything else .
Q : Do I need to upgrade Windows too ?
A : Actually, no - if you're happy with Windows 3.11, or Windows 95, or Windows
98 - you can simply upgrade the CHANGED files for Y2K and keep using what you
are currently using into next year - an automatic upgrade to, say, Windows 98, will
NOT guarantee the fix for Y2K, since only Windows_98 upgrade & Windows_2000
are Y2K compliant. Besides newer versions of Windows will always need much more
memory AND run slower than whatever you are using for the same programs ...
Q : I only run DOS on a 12 yr old computer with custom software, and no Windows
so I'm OK, right ?
A : No, you still need the BIOS/RTC and DOS upgraded. Anything before MSDOS
6.0 is not compliant, either. Extra DOS utilities more than make up for the any DOS
upgrade inconviences, like the ability to 'LapLink' two DOS computers together to
trade/share files, and advanced diagnostics !
Q : Can I find all the BIOS/DOS/Windows patches/fixes on the Internet ?
A : That's where I got them a year ago, when much documentation existed. Now
after January 1999, the help articles are out of print, many of the individual patches
are off-line for Microsoft Licensed Service Technicians, and general customers, with
many files being dropped, or re-named to make them 'less available' .
Q : Why ?
A : Because of the soon release of Microsoft Windows_2000 in February, all support
for any products over 5 years ago is now offline. I recently found a Microsoft utility
for updating the WIN_95 System Registry on a file server in South Africa. Some things
may still be available somewhere, but not promising to find these files now in Dec. 99 .
Q : I don't want a new computer/motherboard, or Windows_2000 . What is left ?
A : You can continue using whatever you have now, from a 386 MSDOS to WIN_98
WITHOUT upgrading/changing anything EXCEPT a few simple Y2K patches ...
Q : Will some programs need replacing also ?
A : Yes, generally most programs before 1999, like Quicken, Quick Books, Word, and
Publisher are not compliant - you will need updated versions from manufacturers, or
the same downloads through the software manufacturer's web sites .
Q : I bought my computer three month's ago - am I compliant ?
A : No, it's probably not ... computers made before then have a 50% chance of a
recent BIOS upgrade, and remember even Windows_98 isn't compliant without some
specific upgrades ! There were three different versions of Windoes_95, and there
are currently two different versions of Windows_98 - only the updated version is OK
That means there are still 'new' PCs being sold with the earlier WIN_98 NON Y2K
compliant version out there, or those upgraded from WIN_95 to WIN_98 previously .
Q : Does someone's disbelief in PC upgrades mean that they don't need them ?
A : No ... sorry :-(
Q : Are there other remedies ?
A : Yes - a new motherboard -w- new BIOS, more memory, newer WIN_98, or 2000
but remember that a 'tune up' is all that is required for Y2K. An 'engine swap', or a
brand new one is certainly overkill for right now for just the Year 2000 problem ...
Q : If someone uses minimal software, is compliance important ?
Only if it ever uses the MSDOS Real Time Clock, or saves a file to the Hard Drive ... I
still run the WS_FTP entirely from an a: floppy disk ! Seriously, yes ...
Q : Should I download software on the Internet ?
A : Depends on the many issues, like copyrights, versions, possible viruses, and
remember the bogus Y2K tests out there that test NOTHING, so BIOS 'test' returns
that all is 'OK', even when it isn't ...
Q : Is an hour service call worth it to me ?
A : Many have thanked me for the overall speed increase after some simple tools
and diagnostics I run, and hard drive 'housekeeping', troubleshooting the modem
conection, system registry editing, etc. that may result in a 300% Internet speed
increase from what you're used to now. Even with Y2K aside, it's well worth it !
Q : Can I do this all myself ?
A : Yes, you could have until a couple months ago. Most support for Microsoft older
products is gone, or no longer supported ...
Q : What is the worst that can happen if I do nothing ?
A : Small, frequent hard drive/ file errors, warnings, repeated messages, bad data,
confirmations from the File Manager/Windows Explorer every time, minor crashes ,,,
remember that after installing a lot of new upgraded files, if you forget to then inform
that automatic anti-virus program at start-up, you'll see 'exactly' how often those files
like command.com are accessed, usually every 30 seconds or so, not counting the
special windows\system .dll files, etc., and this isn't taking into account the final
apps themselves, like Word or Publisher, and probable damaged files next January,
from date stamping on the hard drive, and all those date sensitive databases ...
please consider to upgrade for Y2K now ! There is still time ...
Y2Kman charges $50.00 per hour and a typical Y2K upgrade takes about an hour
for Y2K upgrades for Win 3.1x/95/98 depending upon the condition of your system.
Please e-mail me, or phone the number listed in the new local advertisement today .
Please leave your name, e-mail or phone number, and a brief description of what
needs to be done. Y2Kman is also available for Internet set-up, internal Hard Drive
Housekeeping, modem/general troubleshooting, and new software installations !
Calls will be returned after 7 PM, or the next business day. Thank You !
Contact : webmaster@psychicspy.com
notice : All information on this webpage can be verified independently elsewhere
