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BOOT CAMP 077
Y2K
FIXES
If your PC and the software it uses are less than two years
old the chances are it will continue to function quite normally on and after
the 1st of January 2000 but it's as well to make sure. Some older PCs may
experience difficulties but if you go about it in a systematic manner most year
2000 or 'Y2K' can be easily tracked down and fixed; this week we'll show you
how to make a start. However, before you attempt anything that could compromise
the integrity of your system make sure that all irreplaceable data and critical
system files have been backed up, just in case.
We'll confine ourselves with PCs with 486 and Pentium
processors using Windows 95 or 98 and reasonably recent applications. Incidentally,
Windows 3.1 is largely Y2K compliant but there are a few points to watch out
for, full details are on the Microsoft web site (details in a moment). Those
using really ancient 286 and 386-based systems, running date-sensitive
applications of uncertain vintage, may well find that hardware and software
fixes are either unavailable or uneconomical. However, as we said last week Y2K
compliance may not matter if you're only using the PC for word processing or
playing games.
You can start by checking the PCs clock and BIOS program
with a Y2K 'Rollover' test. This involves resetting the internal clock to a few
minutes before midnight December 31st 1999, and seeing what happens when you
switch the computer back on a short while later. There are two ways to access
the internal clock: click Start, Control Panel and select Date/Time. Change the
settings to 11.55 PM December 31st 1999, click Apply and shut down as normal. Alternatively
open a DOS window (Start > Programs > MS DOS Prompt) or restart the PC in
DOS mode. At the C: prompt type 'Time' and press return. Enter the new time --
5 minutes before midnight -- press return then type 'Date', enter the new date,
press return, type exit to close the window and shut down the PC.
When you switch back on again a few minutes later check the
date in Control Panel (or hold the mouse pointer over the clock on the task
bar). If it reads 1st January 2000, congratulations, you have passed the first
hurdle. While you are at it you may like check if your PC recognises the year
2000 as a leap year, reset the time and date to 11:55 PM 28th February 2000 and
watch what happens. If your PC fails one or both tests you have a problem that
needs fixing. However, whatever the result, before you do anything else reset
to the PC clock to the correct time and date, don't forget!
If your PC responds with an incorrect date the real time
clock or the BIOS program may need upgrading. Your first port of call should be
the PC manufacturer or dealer, to find out what provisions they've made for
their customers. This may not be possible with older machines or those made by
smaller companies that no longer exist, in which case you will have to seek
expert assistance or investigate the many and various DIY remedies.
Some PC BIOS's can be upgraded via the manufacturer's
Internet web site; you'll find a list of addresses under Contacts below. (The
BIOS name and version number appears briefly on the screen when you first boot
up your PC). There are numerous software utilities and hardware add-ons that
will make sure the PC clock and BIOS reports the correct time and date on
January 1st next year. You will find a good selection of year 2000 fixes at
most large PC suppliers, but check before you buy anything, that it is suitable
for your machine.
You might also like to try one of the many freebie and
shareware test programs that are now appearing on computer magazine cover-mount
CD-ROMs (Check 2000, Clock It 2000 etc.) and available from the Internet (see
Contacts). There's also a wealth of commercial programs with Norton 2000 the
current favourite. Most go beyond the
basic rollover test and carry out a series of extra checks -- including the
leap year test – and then go on to identify the cause of the problem. Some of
them will even install a fix or upgrade.
When you are happy with the ability of your PC hardware to
recognise the year 2000 the next step is to make sure that the operating system
– i.e. Windows and DOS – is up to date and ready for the millennium. Everything
you need to know about all versions of Windows can be found on the Microsoft
web site, http://www.microsoft.com/y2k/
. The same site also deals with compliance issues for other Microsoft products.
If you are using any Microsoft software, including Word, Office, Works, Excel,
Outlook etc., you really should visit this site. In most cases you will find
that your software is fine but if there are problems the site contains the
necessary downloads, patches and helpful advice. We have included a brief list
of web sites for other (non-Windows) operating systems in Contacts.
The final stage is to check the Y2K status of all of your
non-Microsoft, date sensitive programs. The simplest, indeed the only way to do
this is to contact each company in turn. Telephoning helplines and technical
support departments is not a good idea, apart from the frustration involved
it's unlikely you'll get a clear-cut answer or solution over the phone. It's
usually far better to visit the companies web site where the subject is usually
dealt with in much greater detail. The site should also contain links to any
resources or downloads you might need.
Next week – Power management and screensavers
CONTACTS
BIOS Manufacturers web sites
Ami http://www.megatrends.com
Asustek http://asus.com.tw
Award http//www.award.com
Gigabyte http://www/giga-byte.com
Intel http://www.intel.com
Phoenix http//www.award.com
Soyo http://www.soyo.com.tw
Supermicro http://www.supermicro.com
Y2K Test Software
www.anythingy2k.com/software.html
www.download.com
http://simplythebest.net/y2k/year2000.html
www.tucows.com
Operating Systems
Apple http://www.apple.com
IBM http://www.software.ibm.com
Linux http://www.uk.linux.org
Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com
Sun http://www.sun.com
PC Manufacturers
AST www.ast.com/
Compaq www.compaq.com/
Dell www.dell.com/
Gateway www.gateway.com/
IBM www.uk.ibm.com/
Packard Bell www.packardbell-europe.com
Time www.timecomputers.com
Tiny www.tiny.com
Toshiba www.toshiba.co.uk
Viglen www.viglen.co.uk
JARGON FILTER
286, 386, 486
Families of Intel microprocessor chips developed during the
1980s and early 1990s, forerunners of the Pentium chips used in the latest PCs
BIOS
Basic Input Output System, a program stored in a microchip
memory on the PC motherboard that checks and configures the hardware, memory
and disc drives, before the operating system is loaded
PATCH
A program or file intended to fix or work around a problem
in a software application
TOP TIP
On Internet Explorer 4 it is possible to open a second
smaller browser window by clicking on a link, so you can still see, and quickly
return to the original page without reloading it. Just hold down the shift
button before left-clicking on the link. Here are some more IE4 keyboard
shortcuts. Ctrl + D adds the current web page to your Favourite list. Ctrl + H
opens the History folder, Ctrl + N opens a new browser window, Ctrl + W closes
the active browser window and Ctrl + R reloads the page you are viewing.
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