Last month we suggested how to determine whether a PC is year 2000 compliant. This month we would like to suggest how to correct the problem if it is not.
There are two areas within a PC that contribute to setting the date: the computer's clock and the BIOS (Basic Input/ Output System). The computer's clock produces the year code (the "98" in 1998 and the "00,' in 2000) , and the BIOS adds the two-digit century (the "19" in 1998 and "20" in 2000) . The result is a four-digit year. Depending on when the operating system and BIOS program were written, one of the following scenarios will occur when the computer hits the year 2000: either the date will be correct, because of intervention and correction by the operating system or because the computer was made after mid-1995, or the date will show as 1900.
To manually reset the date, get into a DOS prompt screen and at the command line enter the date command. (See instructions below.) The current date of the BIOS will display as well as a prompt to enter a date. If running MS-DOS, Windows for Work Groups 3.11, Windows 3.1, or Windows 95, there will be a prompt to enter a two-digit year but, in fact, a four-digit year may be entered. Here is what the DOS prompt looks like:
(date)
Correct date is Fri 12-31-1999
Enter new -date (mm-dd-yy)
At the above prompt, type 01-01-2000 and then press the [Enter key].
The system returns to the C: prompt when a valid date is entered. Otherwise, an "invalid date" message appears. To double check, enter the date command again and the date entered should be displayed. Entering the correct date should correct the BIOS date and the system date from then on.
When the PC does not respond to a manual fix or the operating system has not corrected the date, a BIOS upgrade can probably be downloaded from the manufacturer's website. One can also go to the website (http://www.shareware.com) for programs that can be downloaded.
