Y2K Computer Tips

Is your computer ready for Y2K? I'm sure that checking to see if all your computer software is up to date isn't very high on your list of priorities this holiday season. I know it isn't very high on mine.

The fact is, if you've purchased your computer and computer software in the past couple of years you probably won't have any major computer problems when Y2K rolls around. There is an easy way to find out if you'll have any difficulties, however, and a couple of hours spent testing out your computer will probably save you some time and money later on down the road.

The easiest way to find out if your computer is ready for Y2K is to just change the date to 1/1/2000 and see what happens! After you change your computer's date, just re-boot your computer and trying running all your software. It's that easy. Make a note of any problems you encounter. When you're done, just change the date back to today's date and re-boot the computer again. That's it.

If you're running Microsoft Windows, you probably won't experience any problems with your operating system. One thing you might want to look at, however, is if your computer displays the current date as a four-digit year (12/31/1999) or a two-digit year (12/31/99). Apparently the Windows default is to display the two-digit year, but you will need to display the four-digit year in order to be Y2K compliant. It's easy to change the date settings in your Control Panel window.

Not many people take the time to keep their operating systems and computer software up to date. Most people don't even know that it's possible or that it might be necessary to ensure maximum computer performance.

Oftentimes, software you install right out of the box contains bugs or glitches that the manufacturer goes in and fixes after the software has already been shipped. Often you can download these updates, or patches, from the manufacturer's web site without having to pay to upgrade your software. Many companies have included their Y2K compliance in their most recent software updates, so you should find out if you need to update your version of the software. Just visit the manufacturer's web site and look for a page called "updates," "downloads," or "Y2K." That should steer you in the right direction. If you don't know where to locate the web site, search for the company name in one of the major search engines. You shouldn't have any problem finding them.

Also make sure that you have installed the latest service pack for your operating system. I know it sounds complicated, but it's really as easy as visiting Microsoft's web site and downloading the latest update for your operating system (i.e., Windows 95, 98, or NT). Complete installation instructions are included with the update (it's really easy!).

Y2K is a great motivator for making sure your software is up-to-date, but there are other benefits in visiting software manufacturer's web sites for the latest updates. For instance, when I was visiting Microsoft's web site (http://www.microsoft.com) to update my ancient version of Microsoft Works, not only did I find out that the program was already Y2K compliant, I also downloaded an update that will allow me to view Word 97 documents in Microsoft Works! I couldn't believe it. Enhancements such as these are often included in a software's latest update.

So are you convinced to at least give this a try? It's a good idea to make sure your computer software is up to date at least twice a year. You may find that you can extend the useful life of your software this way without having to purchase the latest and greatest major upgrades. I have been using the same versions of my favorite software for years and don't plan to purchase any more software in the near future. Also don't forget to keep your Internet browsers up to date! If you don't upgrade these once in awhile you'll be missing out on the newest and neatest technologies the Internet has to offer. Happy Holidays!

Rachel Paxton is the Editor and Publisher of Creative Homemaking www.creativehomemaking.com. You'll find information dedicated to meeting all of your homemaking needs.

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