Okay, I have run Nuts and Bolts (McCaffee) on my system more times than I can count. It says it is Y2K compliant. But I am still concerned.

Is windows 98 compliant or not? I tried logging onto the microsoft site, but our server is so very s -l-o-w that it is impossible to get an answer....seems you have to go to some bbs and read all of the posts to get an answer.

I see that NT and 95 have problems, but was assured the 98 is y2kok.... so anybody know for sure , is it?

Should I roll back the date to 1972 just in case?

Also, anybody shutting down their computers for the new year due to those supposed viruses? For how long? Will a week do it? I hate being out of touch, but I hate trashing my computer more.

So sysman and all of you experts out there, help us out a little okay? What's your best advice on all of this?

Thanks!

-- Ynott (Ynott@incorruptible.com), December 10, 1999

Answers

There is a Windows98 upgrade that I've downloaded. It is available by calling 1-888-MSFT-Y2K and ordering the MS YEar 2000 Resource CD and it supposedly gives you a subscription to quarterly updates - whatever that means. I got this CD last month. Anyone know if they are any updates since then.

-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), December 10, 1999.

Microsoft seems to think 98 is otay. Make sure you change your short date and long date styles to display four digit years before the rollover (start - settings - control panel - regional settings - date). Also, more importantly, get compliance info on all software you can't do without; if the manufacturer is worth its weight in beans it'll have all the details on its website. If it isn't there, don't trust it unless you know the source code inside and out.

-- Mori-Nu (silkenet@yahoo.com), December 10, 1999.

It seems Windows 98 comes in several versions, somewhat compliant (original), compliant (CD), extra-strength compliant (CD + Downloads) and probably a super-dooper compliant (CD + Downloads + extra last minute panic downloads in the next couple of weeks).

Hopefully, that's the end of it, but I wouldn't count on it. Billy Boy may be planning to sell us yet another CD (Windows 98, the Final Frontier) early next year, who knows? Anyway, all of them are based on windowing the Y2K dates, a patch at best. :-))

-- John (jh@NotReal.ca), December 10, 1999.

Ynott,

Hello. I'm not a systems expert, but here's what I've done:

I've got both Win98 and Win95 PC's at home for my small business (medical transcription). McAfee is NO GOOD. I bought McAfee Office 2000 and it was a waste of $$$ - I ran the product and still didn't like it, so I bought IntelliFIX 2000 Pro (by Intelliquis) for around $40 and it fixed another 21 FILES that WERE NOT COMPLIANT - that McAfee had missed.

As for software, here's what I've done for remediation:

1. Go to: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/year2k/pca/pca.htm

and download the MSN Product Analyzer. AFter it's installed, run the program. It will provide a list of all MSN software and it's compliance status. It will provide links to the patches you'll need to be compliant.

2. (Very important) Also go to: http://www.windowsupgrade.microsoft.com

and see if there are any "critical updates" for your computer. (This site will scan your computer and give you a list of what is "critical" and what is "recommended". Make sure you download the "critical" items - if you don't you won't be fully compliant, no matter how many other Y2K patches you download. (Believe me, this is true, I've done this remediation 3 times now - I'm having to re- remediate my Win95 because the patch recently was updated...)

You can order a CD from Microsoft for Step 1 above, but I don't know how long it will take for you receive it. Downloading the patches (step 1) on line IS very slow, I agree, but it may be the only option available in the short time left. Good luck to you whatever you choose to do.

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), December 10, 1999.

After I installed 98 for the 6th time (it kept crashing on me...it's stable now...fingers crossed) I ran a couple Y2K scanning programs and was very amused to find that 100 or so files came up as non- compliant. You should have the Windows Update symbol on your start menu. If you click on it it will take you to the website where it will scan your system and give you a list of various bug fixes.

-- Ludi (ludi@rollin.com), December 10, 1999.

To check for PC compliance you can run a free audit of your entire system. Go to: http://www.tir.com/~bretzke/free.html Download the audit and run it on your PC.

This audit will check your operating system, all software, applications, etc and will identify short date issue problems....Does not check for Bios/RTC (hardware problems).

-- Brian Bretzke (bretzke@tir.com), December 10, 1999.

Don't even bother, we will all be forced into Windows 2000 in February anyway!!

-- Porky (Porky@in.cellblockD), December 10, 1999.

Forget about using any "scanner" to find Y2K compliance infor on your system. They're all useless.

Go to http://www.microsoft.com/technet/year2k/product/product.asp and select any Microsoft product for a current report on it's compliance status.

No version of Windows 98 is Y2K compliant "out of the box".

Assuming you have the original retail full or upgrade version of Windows 98 for the English language, the exact steps you need to follow to achieve what Microsoft considers to be a Y2K compliant operating system are located at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/year2k/product/user_view32165EN.htm and at pages linked to from this page.

Briefly, the steps are: upgrade Internet Explorer, upgrade Outlook Express, upgrade Microsoft Virtual Machine, install two separate Y2K patches for Win 98, upgrade Microsoft Data Access Components, and upgrade the Jet database.

After you've made sure that your hardware and operating system are up to snuff, then all you've got to worry about are all your applications and data...

-- Jerry Heidtke (jheidtke@email.com), December 10, 1999.

Win 95 and 98 are such pieces of crap. I'm not going to upgrade until way into next year, if ever. Then I'll see what the reports are on Windows 2000, if we have an internet. Maybe even Linux.

And I'll tell you this; I would rather spend more and buy a CD-ROM copier, and "share" the cost with others of whatever crap Microsucks puts out than fatten Billy's wallet any more than minimally. If that makes me a "pirate" -- f* him.

-- Jolly Roger (pirate@f-microsucks.really), December 10, 1999.

Jolly, I'm taking classes right now that require software that runs only on Win9X. As soon as I'm finished, Windows is gone and Linux is in. Don't encourage Microsoft by buying their trash; social / tech trends always begin small.

-- Mori-Nu (silkenet@yahoo.com), December 11, 1999.

Deb M:

Thanks so much for your response to Ynott. You provided VERY helpful information for folks with Microsoft products.

-- Anita (notgiving@anymore.com), December 11, 1999.

Howdy Ynott,

I still run Win/95-B at both home and work, so I don't have any first hand experience with 98.

But in general, I agree with most of the above. The Windows Update page that Deb mentioned is where to get the latest stuff. Hit the PRODUCT UPDATES link, and it will scan your machine to determine what version of Win that you have, and build a recommended updates list for you, including the correct version of the Y2K update. I suggest that you check this page on a regular basis for new releases. It builds an install history, to keep track of what updates have been applied to your system. A nice way to do it I think, so 1 brownie point for MS...

http://windowsupdate.micros oft.com/

The Technet site also has a bunch of info. Here's one more link to there:

http ://www.microsoft.com/technet/year2k/tools/software.htm

This page gives you a general overview of the OSes, and links to various Y2K tools that help analyze MANY applications. And APPLICATIONS are where the "real" problem is, IMHO. I suggest that you get as much info as you can for ALL of your applications, starting with the publisher's web sites.

Good luck! <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), December 11, 1999.