The Last-Minute, Can't-Put-It-Off, Gotta-Do-It Now Y2K Guide
Published: 24 Nov 1999 15:23 GMT
Take a hint from our cooks. Make sure your Y2K check list is in order too. You've only got 40 days left before that big day.
And I've got just the thing -- a simple list to keep you, your business and your family safe from the millennial glitch. Thanks in part to ZD US's Y2K expert Mitch Ratcliffe:
Know the risks. Not every electronic device is vulnerable to the date change. TVs, telephones, VCRs, alarm clocks, microwaves should work just fine.
Check your hardware. The potential for a PC malfunction is real. Run a hardware test first, like the free version from ZDNet Downloads. This will tell you if your system's BIOS and real-time clock will handle post-1999 dates.
Fix Windows. Windows users can go to Microsoft's Web site for a free Y2K fix. (Mac, Linux and most Unix versions are already compliant)
Fix applications data. Application software and data pose Y2K risks. Check out the ZDNet reviews of commercial fixes that fit your needs, and go to the web sites of your apps suppliers for more information on specific patches.
Back up handhelds. Palm, Windows CE devices and other handhelds are already compliant. But you should back up your data since the date rollover could affect the companion software on your desktop machine.
Protect your small business. Ratcliffe says smaller firms should focus on four things: Education, assessment, remediation and contingency planning.
Check your ISP. Most Internet service providers will have no trouble. But servers that were never compliant could cause localized interruptions. Check with your ISP to make sure you'll be connected.
Thats it! You can do it. Just cut out one football match this week, and you can zoom through the check list above. And you won't be the turkey come Jan. 1.
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