|
The "Millenium Bug"?
You may not be sitting in front of a computer when the ball drops in Times Square at 11:59 p.m. on the last day of 1999. But if you are, you just might see the date on your PC change from December 31st, 1999 to January 1st, 1900. Here's why.
The BIOS of your computer (the area that controls and regulates hardware) has a built-in PC System Clock that was never meant to display the year 2000. This is because the first two digits in the date (the "19") were engineered to remain the same, making the last two digits (the "99") the variables. When most PCs try to change from the year 1999 to the year 2000, the date may either revert to the 1900 or simply show a random year in the 1900's. And since most software applications look to the BIOS for the date, the "Millenium Bug" can wreak havoc on the unwary PC user.
|
From Here To The New Millenium
The Year 2000 draws closer every day, and you can count on us every second to make
sure your MidWest Micro PC continues to function with our signature of quality and
performance. At the end of 1997, National Software Testing Lab (NSTL) tested several
of our PC configurations using the YMARK2000 test. The procedure tested the hardware
in these PCs for Year 2000 compliance, making it possible for us to confidently stand
behind our product.
(Use Adobe Acrobat Reader
to view our Year 2000 Compliance Statement.)
But what if your PC is an older model?
PCs and notebooks with 486 or older Pentium-class architecture must also be prepared
for the new millenium. Since the BIOS included in these computers may vary, MidWest Micro
suggests contacting the BIOS manufacturer for information on upgrading to Year 2000
compliance. As for computers that predate even the 486 generation, we have the perfect
solution.
The time has come to finally lay those 386 PCs to rest. No doubt your grizzled 386 computer has
provided you with years of reliable computing, but it is unlikely that the digital dinosaur will make
a smooth transition into the new millenium. MidWest Micro has the solution: the
NC-K266 PC. The NC-K266 PC, a member of our affordable family of BASICS PCs, is now available for less
than $650*. It includes Microsoft® Windows® 98 for reliability, an AMD
processor for high performance computing and Y2K compliance—a combination that propels this PC well
into the next century. Whether it's the member of a network or simply a stand-alone PC, the
NC-K266 is the ideal upgrade for older PCs that have earned their place in computer history.
Fix2000™: The Millenium Answer
As one of the millions of PC owners worldwide, you must ask yourself this question: Can my PC or
notebook stomp out the "Millenium Bug"? Eurosoft's Fix2000™ software has the answer.
Fix2000 first determines Year 2000 compliance, then makes the necessary adjustments to the BIOS'
system clock to ensure that your PC will function normally in the new millenium. But Fix2000 doesn't
stop there.
The typical software solution for the Millenium Bug may fix your PC, but usually stays dormant unless
the PC is rebooted. Software applications** that request the date from the BIOS' system clock could
still show the incorrect date because, even though the Y2K solution has been implemented, the changes
within the system clock have not yet taken effect. The dynamic Fix2000 software takes matters into
its own hands by immediately acting to ensure that the software applications receive the correct
date right when they need it.
|
