Identify and inventory, based on date-acquired, potential Y2K problem PCs
(Apple Macintosh computers are not affected). This may include PCs manufactured
through 1996. Most PCs (and motherboards) introduced by major manufacturers
since the end of 1995.
Further refine potential non-Y2K-compliant PCs by matching PC model number
and Basic Input-Output System (BIOS) version with
vendor-supplied Y2K compliance lists. For example,
The Century Rollover and the PC System Date paper provided by Dell
indicates that the Dell Dimension XPS Pxx should have BIOS version A06
(release date 1995-06) installed. Be sure to look to the manufacturer of the
computer, not the manufacturer of the BIOS to get the APPROPRIATE
replacement BIOS.
TEST CAREFULLY Y2K clock capabilities on those potential non-Y2K
compliant PCs using a Y2K BIOS testing utility -- most run in MS-DOS mode. Running
in MS-DOS mode can avoid permanently setting either the internal real-time clock
(RTC) or file system time-stamps.
If testing shows that the PC clock is incapable of being set to the year
2000, mark that PC for retirement prior to the Year 2000. These are most likely
very old PCs with a BIOS that does not support changing the century indicator
in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)
memory.
Resolution
If the testing shows that the RTC/CMOS can support the Year 2000, but the
BIOS cannot set it properly, one has at least three choices that can be implemented
prior to the century rollover:
VERY CAREFULLY (i.e., best left to technical support) upgrade
the BIOS if the BIOS supports Flash BIOS.
An error during the Flash BIOS process or not using the APPROPRIATE
replacement BIOS can render the PC USELESS.
If you cannot get an upgrade to your BIOS, you can install a small resident
utility or patch that would override the improperly set clock for AT-class
PCs and PS/2s (286 through Pentium and its clones) or you can decide to
manually set the clock when the Year 2000 arrives.
Finally, some operating system vendors have made their newest operating
systems automatically detect a date that rolls incorrectly. For example,
if they detect a date of 1900 from the RTC they would either prompt the
user to change the date or correct it automatically. Installing these
newer versions (or patched versions) of Windows 95*, Windows 98 or NT
(3.5 or better) will override the improperly set clock during the booting
sequence. Microsoft provides some fixes to Windows NT in previous service
packs, but is still working on making available patches for all versions
to NT to perform both BIOS and RTC fixes. For OS/2, Linux, SCO Unix, and
other non-DOS/non-Windows operating systems, please check the vendors'
compliance information to determine your best strategy. Many of these
operating systems can be found in MITRE's
COTS Product Compliance Catalog.
*NOTE: Windows 98 handles 00 to 2000 and 01 to 1901. For Windows 95, 3.x, and
MS-DOS 5.x or later you need to use the Control Panel or DATE Command in DOS.
