You may think your PC is "Y2K" compliant, and some little tests may have actually affirmed that your hardware is compliant, and you may even have a little company sticker affixed to your system saying "Y2K Compliant" ...but you'll be surprised that Windows may still crash unless you do this simple exercise below. I know that I had not thought of this and my home computer and work computer would have failed Jan 1, 2000. An easy fix, but something Microsoft seems to have missed in certifying their software as Y2K compliant.

This is simple to do but VERY important.

• Click on "START."
  
• Click on "SETTINGS."
  
• Double click on "Control Panel."
  
• Double click on "Regional settings" icon (look for the little world globe).
  
• Click on the "Date" tab at the top of the page. (last tab on the top right)
  • Where it says, "Short Date Style," look and see if it shows a "two digit" year format ("YY"). Unless you've previously changed it (and you probably haven't) -- it will be set incorrectly with just the two Y's...it needs to be four!

    That's because Microsoft made the 2 digits setting the default setting for Windows 95, Windows 98 and NT. This date format selected is the date that Windows feeds *ALL* application software and will not rollover into the year 2000. It will roll over to the year 00. (*)

  • Click on the button across from "Short Date Style" and select the option that shows, "mm/dd/yyyy" or "m/d/yyyy". (Be sure your selection has four Y's showing, not just "mm/dd/yy).

  • Then click on "Apply."

  • Then click on "OK" at the button.

  Easy enough to fix. However, every "as distributed" installation of Windows worldwide is defaulted to fail Y2K rollover... Pass this along to your PC buddies ... no matter how much of a guru they think they are ... this might be a welcome bit of information!

  �1999 by Steve Elliott. All rights reserved.
  
  

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  This article has been contributed by Steve Elliott, an online marketer and copywriter at TZone Design. Contact Steve by email at [email protected]

  Visit TZone Design for free articles, tips, strategies and techniques for successful on line marketing. Tzone also offers a first class web design service at http://www.tzonedesign.com

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