STORY:
Preparing your PC for Y2K

Fixing your PC for the Year 2000 is pretty easy if you do it ahead of time

We’ve heard a lot about the Y2K computer problems, but just how will they effect the personal computer? Will your files be zapped at midnight January 1? PC owners don’t panic, if there is a problem it is fixable and is simple, but you need to take care of it now.

The personal computers won’t be nearly as hard to fix as business and mainframe computers, but they will need to be checked over. If your PC thinks its 1900 instead of 2000, some calculations could be thrown off.

If you have a Macintosh computer you should be set. Apple says its computers are Y2k ready and you don’t have to do a thing. That’s great news for all you Apple owners. If you own a Windows PC and it’s made in the past couple of years you should be fine, but if it’s a few years old there’s some things you should check out, none of them major concerns.

First of all, only the latest version of Windows, called Windows 98, is fully Y2K compatible. However, the problems with the earlier Windows programs are so rare you will probably never encounter them. One problem is with the phone dialer utility; it may incorrectly record the date of some of your phone calls. The phone dialer is rarely used, and you probably wouldn’t even notice if it recorded the wrong date.

Just to be on the safe side, you may want to upgrade your Windows programs. You won’t have to buy anything. Microsoft is providing free upgrades for Windows 95 and Windows 98. You can download the free upgrade at the Micr osoft Y2K Web site, or you can order a free CD-ROM by calling 1-888-MSFT-Y2K.

If you want to know more about operating other Microsoft programs then you can pick up free videotape, which explains the other programs and possible problems. The free rental tape is available at Blockbuster stores now.

Here’s one quick warning. You can not get rid of your Y2K problems by just changing the "short date style" specified in the "Regional Settings" control panel. This is a cosmetic setting, and it has no impact on how Windows computes dates. Changing the setting may be a good idea for clarity, but it will not fix your Y2K problems.

If you have other software programs you need to check there’s one shortcut you can use. Microsoft is offering a free product analyzer that scans your PC for Microsoft programs and prints a report on their Y2K compatibility. Norton 2000 does the same kind of scan, only it looks for software from many companies. If you use Quicken, Intuit says Quicken 2000 is compliant, and so are Quicken 98 and Quicken 99, as long as you have Revision 4 of those earlier programs.

Most home computers will pass the Y2K computer tests with flying colors, but it doesn’t hurt to look over your programs to make sure. Most companies are offering free Y2K upgrades and you might as well upgrade your programs not only for Y2K problems, but so you have the latest software the company has to offer. You can never be too prepared.

Source: Wall Street Journal

DATE: 11/8/99

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