Y2K Check and fix your home PC by yourself

You may think your PC is "Y2K" compliant, and some little tests may have actually affirmed that your hardware is compliant, and you may even have a little company sticker affixed to your system saying "Y2K Compliant"... but you'll be surprised that Windows may still crash unless you do this simple exercise below. I know that I had not thought of this and my home computer and work computer would have failed Jan1, 2000. Easy fix but something Microsoft seems to have missed in certifying their software as Y2K compliant.
This is simple to do, and but VERY important.

1. Click on "START".
2. Click on "SETTINGS".
3. Double click on "Control Panel".
4. Double click on "Regional settings" icon (look for the little world globe).
5. Click on the "Date" tab at the top of the page. (last tab on the top right)
6. Where it says, "Short Date Sample", look and see if it shows a two digit" year format ("YY"). Unless you've previously changed it and you probably haven't) -- it will be set incorrectly with just the two Y's.. it needs to be four!
7. That's because Microsoft made the 2 digits setting the default setting for Windows 95, Windows 98 and NT.
8. This date format selected is the date that Windows feeds *ALL* application software and will not rollover into the year 2000. It will roll over to the year 00. (*)
9. Click on the button across from "Short Date Style" and select the option that shows, "mm/dd/yyyy" or "m/d/yyyy". Note: this means use the drop-down menu. (Be sure your selection has four y's showing, not just "mm/dd/yy).
10. Then click on "Apply".
11. Then click on "OK" at the button.
12. Easy enough to fix. However, every "as distributed" installation of Windows worldwide is defaulted to fail Y2K rollover... Pass this along.

| Computer Technology | Web Technology | IT Careers | IT Training | Shared Stories | Poetry  |   
| Culture & Communities | House & Rent | Ski Sites Links | Banners Created | Sign Guestbook |

©1999. Last updated: 09/19/1999