Should I download a Y2K patch into my PC or laptop from Web?

I understand there may be a patch or patches to make my pc or laptop which has Windows '95 or '98 loaded to make it Y2K complient. Is this true? And if it is, how do I go about getting this? Can I download it from the WEB? Thank you for your time. Ed Brown.

This question was answered on September 30, 1999. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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No, you don't need to download it from the Web However, you can solve your PC for a Y2K hoax, even your laptop Here's for a Y2K hoax that is making the rounds warning you that "...every single installation of Windows worldwide is defaulted to fail Y2K rollover" This message was either generated by an uninformed individual or someone that intended this to be a hoax The message as we received it is as follows:

"Every copy of Windows will fail on January 1st unless you fix it now, to fix it..."

Double click on "My Computer."

>Double click on "Control Panel."

>

>Double click on "Regional Settings" icon.

>

>Click on the "Date" tab at the top of the page.

>

>Where it says, "Short Date Sample," look and see if it shows a "two

digit"

>year.

>Of course it does That's the default setting for Windows 95, Windows 98 and NT.

>

>This date RIGHT HERE is the date that feeds application software and WILL NOT rollover in the year 2000 It will roll over to 00.

>

>Click on the button across from "Short Date Style" and select the option that shows, mm/dd/yyyy.

>

>(Be sure your selection has four Y's showing, not two) Then click on "Apply" and then click on "OK" at the bottom.

>

>Easy enough to fix However, every single installation of Windows worldwide is defaulted to fail Y2K rollover.

>

>How many people know about it? How many people know to change that?

>What will be the effect? Who knows But this is another example of >the pervasiveness and systematic nature of the problem.

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Posted by Ken Colburn of Data Doctors on September 30, 1999

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