Y2K and Microsoft Windows

 

          All versions of the Microsoft Windows Operating System have Year 2000 issues. The Microsoft main site is at http://www.microsoft.com and their Y2K product compliance page is currently at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/year2k/product/product.htm. Microsoft often changes their internal page links, so if any of these links no longer work, let me know and search from their main site. Microsoft has stated that they will offer Y2K support to their older popular product lines until January 2001, so don't put off that download! Here are the problems and some solutions.

- Windows 98 -

          Microsoft's Windows 98 has some minor Y2K issues. Their overview site is at http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/highlights/Win98Y2K.asp for the most recent information. There is a Year 2000 Update pack. To get it, start the Windows Update service from the link on the Start menu.

          One fix is to make sure you have the latest COMCTL32.DLL, available at http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/ieplatform/ie/comctrl.asp to handle dates correctly.

          Users of Microsoft's Wallet program should have version 2.1.1383 or later.

          Java applications written with versions 1.1.1 - 1.1.5 of Sun's JDK may not handle four digit dates correctly. An updated version of the Java Virtual Machine is at http://www.microsoft.com/java/vm/dl_vm31.htm.

 

- Windows 95 -

          Windows 95 Explorer and the DOS commands DATE and DIR have compliance problems. You must replace the files WINFILE.EXE and COMMAND.COM. The corrected versions of the two files can be downloaded in one package called WIN95Y2K.EXE from ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/softlib/mslfiles/WIN95Y2K.EXE.

          Internet Explorer (EXPLORER.EXE) will correctly display four digit dates, but this must be manually set through Control Panel/Regional Settings. The original release of Windows 95 only will show garbled two digit results when the FIND app is used, even if four digit dates were inputted. Search results however will not be affected.

          Java applications written with versions 1.1.1 - 1.1.5 of Sun's JDK may not handle four digit dates correctly. An updated version of the Java Virtual Machine is at http://www.microsoft.com/java/vm/dl_vm31.htm.

          After January 1, 2000 all dates entered into DOS must be entered as a four digit number. DOS assumes any two digit year from 00 - 79 is 1900 - 1979.

 

- Windows 3.1 and 3.11 -

          Windows 3.1 and 3.11 File Manager will not handle dates after January 1, 2000 correctly. The file WINFILE.EXE must be replaced. The new version is presently available at ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/softlib/mslfiles/W31FILUP.EXE.

          After January 1, 2000 all dates entered into DOS must be entered as a four digit number. DOS assumes any two digit year from 00 - 79 is 1900 - 1979.

          The mouse cannot be used to change the date in Control Panel on February 29, 2000. You must use the keyboard to input the date on that one day (a leap day).

 

- Windows for Workgroups 3.1 and 3.11 -

          Windows for Workgroups 3.1 and 3.11 File Manager will not handle dates after January 1, 2000 correctly. The file WINFILE.EXE must be replaced. The new version is presently available at ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/softlib/mslfiles/WFWFILUP.EXE.

          After January 1, 2000 all dates entered into DOS must be entered as a four digit number. DOS assumes any two digit year from 00 - 79 is 1900 - 1979.

          The mouse cannot be used to change the date in Control Panel on February 29, 2000. You must use the keyboard to input the date on that one day (a leap day).

 

- Windows CE -

          Versions 2.0 and 2.1 depend upon how the individual vendor set up CE. You must check the hardware vendor's site for more information. A list of hardware sites is here.

 

You may direct comments or suggestions about this feature to:

Andrew D. Wright,  au141@chebucto.ns.ca

 

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