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Y2K: Are You Ready? Don't Panic -- There's Still Time to Prepare By Eric Griffith Getting nervous? You had all year to prepare for the Y2K bug, but somehow you never got around to it. So now what? With the dreaded digits 01/01/00 soon to appear on a computer screen near you, here are some quick and easy tests and fixes that may help save your system if the lights go out on New Year's Day. What Really Will Happen on January 1? Years ago, people writing the computer programs that still run our world got a little lazy. They took a shortcut and decided to signify the year with two digits (73) instead of four (1973). Computers automatically appended a 19 to the beginning to get a complete year, if needed. Unfortunately, the result of this numeric thriftiness is that as of New Year's Day, many computers will see the year 2000 (often written these days as Y2K) as the year 1900, a major problem for some software.
Is Anyone Safe? Apple Macintosh users are the lucky ones. The Mac operating system (OS) and hardware recognize dates through the year 2034, so you've got some time -- but you may still encounter problems with application software (see What about My Software? Should I Upgrade? below). Windows-based PCs that were made after 1997 are, for the most part, safe hardware-wise. Your operating system may be another story, however. What about Windows? For PC users, there are two main concerns: the operating system and software. The most crucial is your OS. Windows 98 is your best bet because it automatically resolves many of the Y2K problems that exist in Windows 95. So if you haven't yet, now would be a good time to upgrade. Windows 98 users also should make sure they keep up to date. To do this, run the Windows Update utility, either from the Windows Start Menu or from the Tools menu in Internet Explorer. This Windows 98 online tool will check your OS against the Microsoft database and provide a list of free downloadable fixes, including patches for Y2K bugs. Windows 95 users who don't want to upgrade should make sure they run Microsoft's Windows 95 Year 2000 Update. If you've got Windows 3.1, well, go in peace, my friend. You may awake on New Year's Day to some unpleasant computer woes. And remember, none of these things is foolproof, since no one can accurately predict what January 1 will bring. Repairing your operating system's Y2K bugs helps, but it doesn't fix everything. Can't I Just Change My System Clock and See If It Works? Sure, you could do that. You could also step in front of a moving bus just to see if it really would hurt. In other words, it's not recommended (but you should try it on other household items that rely on the date, such as VCRs, to look for hiccups). If your computer's BIOS chip (the brain that starts up the computer) doesn't recognize the 21st century, then setting the computer clock ahead to Jan. 1, 2000, could cause a permanent shutdown -- which is exactly what you're trying to avoid. Should I Check My BIOS and How? You betcha. The easiest thing to do is to use a software utility such as Norton 2000 to test your system BIOS. It's also worth checking your real-time clock, which is the battery-powered unit that keeps your system's time and date even when the power is turned off. Some tools, like Norton 2000, check your entire system, real-time clock, and even data files for possible problems. Downloadable programs like SecureNet Technologies' Y2K Test 1.6 will take a look at your BIOS chip and tell you if it needs fixing, sometimes applying the fix for you.
In truth, only your system vendor can tell you with 100 percent certainty if your PC and all its components are Y2K compliant. Call customer service with your system information, especially the serial number, to find out what the company knows and what fixes it provides. Many PC vendors, including Compaq and Hewlett Packard, also offer downloadable patches on their Web sites. What about My Software? Should I Upgrade? Software applications aren't a problem if they don't rely on dates. You won't run into problems with your Web browser, word processor, or graphics editor, for example. However, the accuracy of spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel and accounting programs like Quicken rely on the date fields they generate. Luckily, the most recent versions of these products are fully compliant. To find out specifically which versions are compliant, visit the manufacturers' Web sites. As with your system, it's best to ask the software publishers directly if your applications are Y2K ready. You'll find information on their Web sites. For instance, Adobe, Microsoft, and Symantec devote sections of their Web sites to giving you information and Y2K fixes. Some older products may not be listed at the sites, though, so a phone call may be in order. Don't let anyone talk you into buying a whole new software wardrobe you don't need. Carefully consider what you use the most, do away with the flotsam, and upgrade only the applications that require four-digit date information to generate accurate data. One serious threat to prepare for is viruses. If you do nothing else, update your virus-protection software to make sure none of the new viruses can take advantage of your New Year's e-mail and downloads. Several software vendors, including Symantec and McAfee offer free antivirus updates through the end of the year. What about My Data Files? If your data files (financial files, spreadsheets, databases, and so on) use the incorrect date format (two digits instead of four), this could be your biggest problem. Programs like Norton 2000 try to flag data files with dates stored in a two-digit format, but they won't find them all. This is where Y2K becomes tedious: If having the wrong dates will create problems for you or others using the information, it's best to open your date-dependent files and check them for this potentially aggravating error. If you're not sure how to do this, consult the software manual, visit the publisher's Web site, or call customer service. If Something Does Go Wrong, Am I Covered? Not likely. Most insurance companies consider Y2K preventable -- after all, people have known about the problem for almost 30 years (mortgage companies first encountered problems trying to calculate 30-year mortgages). Without a specialized data-insurance policy of some sort, you won't be able to collect a thing if you lose a day or even a month of work due to Y2K errors. If you're worried, it's best to contact your insurance carrier to find out about its data-insurance policies. What about My ISP? My Electricity? My Toilet? You may have taken all the steps possible to make sure you're ready for the year 2000, but that doesn't mean your Internet service provider, electric company, or local water-filtration plant was smart enough to do the same. For example, some estimates say that about 15 percent of schools aren't prepared, which could affect the heating system and security alarms where your kids spend the day. Your only recourse for these possible problems is to be prepared, so don't sit back and wait -- call the school to find out what it's doing to get ready. Eric Griffith is the senior editor of technology at Access Internet Magazine and lives with little fear of Y2K -- but you still won't find him on a plane at midnight on December 31. Computer | Student Center | Real Life| Teachers Lounge | ||||
