NOTE: I've BOLDED some of these notes
to make it a bit easier for you to read !
And have added a few of my own comments in brackets [ ].
**********************************************************************
Microsoft Windows 95
Year 2000 Update README File
March 1999
**********************************************************************
(c) Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1999
Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure
This document provides complementary information to supplement the
Microsoft Windows 95 documentation.
The Windows 95 Year 2000 Update provides Windows 95 updates to resolve
known year 2000 issues with the Windows 95 operating systems.
For current year 2000 information regarding Microsoft products, visit
the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/year2000 or call
1-888-MSFT-Y2K or contact your local Microsoft subsidiary.
Such information is generally available to all Microsoft customers
for the sole purpose of assisting the planning for the transition to
the year 2000. This document contains the information currently
available concerning the date-handling behavior of Microsoft's products
and is subject to change, at any time, without notice. We therefore
recommend that you continue to check the information on the Microsoft
Year 2000 Web site regularly for any such changes.
NOTE: For the best readability, maximize the Notepad window.
To print this file, open it in Notepad or another word processing
program, and then click Print on the File menu.
======================================
CONTENTS
======================================
I. Installation Notes
A. System Requirements
B. This Year 2000 Update is for Windows 95 only
C. Before You Install the Windows 95 Year 2000 Update
D. Anti-virus software and Installing the Year 2000 Update
II. Installation Instructions
A. Downloading and Extracting the Windows 95 Year 2000 Update
B. Advanced Installation Options
C. Additional Installation Options for Administrators
D. Create a new Windows 95 Startup Disk
III. Release Notes
A. If You Reinstall Windows 95
B. Windows 95 Startup Disk
C. Changes to Network Settings
[ Make sure that you read the following two sections: ]IV. What Are the Year 2000 Issues in Windows 95?
V. Updating Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0x
VI. Additional Issues
A. Microsoft Jet Database Engine 3.0 and Microsoft OFFICE 95
VII. Microsoft Technical Support
==========================================================================
I. Installation Notes
---------------------------------------
A. System Requirements
You need 10 MB free disk space to install the Windows 95
Year 2000 Update. The Installation of Internet Explorer Service pack
2 (not necessary for all systems), if selected, will require
approximately 80 MB free disk space.
B. This Year 2000 Update is for Windows 95 only
This Update is not intended for use on and will not install on
computers running Windows 98, Windows NT, or Windows 2000. For
international versions of Windows 95, download and install the
appropriate language version for your location.
C. Before You Install the Windows 95 Year 2000 Update
Because the Windows 95 Year 2000 Update updates your system files
and requires you to restart your computer during installation, you
should save and close all open documents and close all programs
before installing the Update.
D. Anti-virus software and Installing the Year 2000 Update
Because the Windows 95 Year 2000 Update updates some system files it
is recommended that you disable any anti-virus software that is
running. If you choose not to disable this software, accept the
changes made to the COMMAND.COM file when prompted by the anti-virus
software during installation of the Update or after restarting your
machine.
II. Installation Instructions
---------------------------------------
A. Downloading and Extracting the Windows 95 Year 2000 Update
If you download the update from the Web site, be sure to read the
release notes completely before you extract and install the
Windows 95 Year 2000 Update.
After you download the Update, a compressed executable file
named W95y2k.exe appears on your hard drive. This executable
file contains the files you need to update your Windows 95 system
for the year 2000.
To extract the file and install the year 2000 updates:
1. Locate the W95y2k.exe file on your hard drive with
Windows Explorer.
2. Double click the file.
3. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
B. Advanced Installation Options
There are several installation options available to advanced users
when installing the Windows 95 Year 2000 Update. You can view these
options at any time by clicking Start, clicking Run, typing
W95y2k.exe /? and then clicking OK.
To use the optional installation parameters below, type
W95y2k.exe
IV. What Are the Year 2000 Issues in Windows 95?
The issues listed below are resolved by installing this Update.
1. Find "File or Folders" Dialog (shell32.dll)
The Date tab in Find "File or Folders" dialog displays the year
in YY format. This format results in incorrect displays for years
greater than 2000. For example, entering 03/20/2003 will
incorrectly display 03/20/C3. However this does not effect the
search. When searching for files changed within a certain date
range, enter a 2-digit or 4-digit date and the search will be
performed based on the dates entered. This file will be updated
only if you are running Windows 95 version 950 or 950a. This
issue does not exist in later Windows 95 versions.
2. Windows File Manager (winfile.exe)
[ I'd NEVER recommend anyone use this old Win 3.1x program anyway! ]
Windows File Manager does not display or sort dates beyond the
year 2000 correctly. When using Windows File Manager to view the
contents of folders, and you have selected to view "all file
details", the dates of files created in the year 2000 and beyond
may appear as follows:
January 1st, 2000 would appear as 1/1/;1
February 3rd, 2023 would appear as 2/3/>3
March 5th, 2036 would appear as 3/5/=6
3. Command Interpreter (command.com)
The DATE command (internal to COMMAND.COM) does not
correctly handle 2-digit dates from 00-79. Entering 2-digit dates
within this range returns the error "Invalid Date".4. Date/Time Picker (comctl32.dll).
Previously, when you set your Regional Settings in the Control
Panel to handle years as two digits, the Date/Time Picker function
did not correctly reflect the date. This update addresses that
issue.
5. Phone Dialer applet (dialer.exe)
The Show View Call Log option doesn't display the date properly
after successful completion of a telephone call. If the system
date is adjusted to the year 2000, the date is displayed as 100,
101,102, and so on.
For example, in the year 2000, you make a call using the Dialer
applet. The log file created or appended to after the completion
of the phone connection displays the year portion of the call date
incorrectly, such as 101, 102, 103, and so on.
6. Time and Date Control Panel applet (timedate.cpl)
When you select the date February 29 and change the year using the
up and down arrows in the Date/Time Properties dialog box, the
calendar displays February 29 every year, whether it's a leap year
or not. This is a display issue in the applet.
7. DHCP Virtual Driver (vdhcp.386)
Winipcfg /all - IP Leases obtained on or after 3/01/2000 are
reported as being obtained the previous day. The system date is
displayed properly but the DHCP client reports a date one day
prior.
For example, if you log on to a LAN after March 1, 2000, and you
run Winipcfg /all from Start\Run or Ipconfig /all from a DOS VM,
the lease obtained date is one day behind. After 2/28/2000, the
lease obtained date is one day behind the expected date.
8. Microsoft Foundation Class Library file (mfc40.dll)
After the year 2000, programs that use the built in operators of
the COleDateTime class may incorrectly parse a date. For example,
02/05/2000 may display as 2/05/100. Microsoft has modified the
COleDateTime class so that it is less sensitive to program
assumptions.
9. DOS Xcopy (xcopy.exe, xcopy32.exe)
When using xcopy in real mode with the optional parameter /D:date,
xcopy does not accept years entered as two digits, except for the
years 80 through 99. The message "Invalid date" is displayed. When
using xcopy in protected mode (from within Windows) two-digit
dates are accepted but are recognized as being within the 20th
century (02/05/01 is seen as 02/05/1901).
10. Microsoft Run Time Library file (msvcrt40.dll)
Some applications that utilize this runtime library may behave
as if the current time is one hour earlier than the correct time
shown on the Windows clock. The problem will continue for one
week from April 1 through April 8, 2001, after which these
applications will shift to daylight savings time and again be in
sync with the operating system. The problem results from the fact
that April 1, 2001, falls on a Sunday, which confused a small
algorithm in the run time library file that checks for the start
of daylight savings time.This is not a year 2000 issue but rather
a daylight savings time issue. It could occur in the years 1973,
1979, 1984, 1990, 2001, 2007, 2012, 2018, 2029, and 2035. What is
common about these years is that April 1st falls on a Sunday.
11. OLE AUTOMATION (oleaut32.dll, olepro32.dll, stdole2.tlb, asycfilt.dll)
The Microsoft Automation library contains routines for interpreting
two digit years and provides a convenient way for applications to
create unambiguous (serial) dates. In Windows 95 the current two
digit year cutoff is 1999. This means that two digit years beginning
with 00 will be interpreted as being in the 20th century, i.e. 1/1/00
is converted to 1/1/1900
V. Updating Microsoft Internet Explorer
------------------------------------------------------------
Windows 95 Year 2000 Update will check your system for Microsoft
Internet Explorer. If a version of Internet Explorer prior to version
4.01 Service Pack 2 is detected you will see a message explaining that it
is necessary to install Internet Explorer 4.01 Service Pack 2 to correct
several minor year 2000 issues. If you are already using Internet Explorer
version 4.01 Service Pack 2 or a later version of Internet Explorer, or if
you do not use Microsoft Internet Explorer as your browser, the Internet
Explorer components below do not need to be updated.
For more information about Microsoft Internet Explorer and year 2000 go to
http:www.microsoft.com/ie.
Note: The download time for Internet Explorer 4.01 Service Pack 2 can be
about 2 hours for a Standard installation, depending on the speed of your
Internet connection.
If you are using a version of Internet Explorer prior to 4.01 Service
Pack 2 the issues listed below are corrected by installing this Update.
For Internet Explorer 4.0X the following issues are addressed:
1. Microsoft Virtual Machine
Year 2000 issues have been reported in connection with Java
virtual machines based on the Sun Microsystems Java Development
Kit versions 1.1.1 through 1.1.5. Applications written in Java
that make use of the java.txt.SimpleDateFormat class library may
handle 4-digit dates incorrectly.
For example, if you have a Java applet or application that uses
SimpleDateFormat and you enter four digits for the year, the date
functions may truncate the year and use only the first two digits
(for example, 2000 might become 20).
2. Microsoft Wallet (actpmnt.ocx)
When entering credit card information in versions of Microsoft
Wallet earlier than version 2.1.1383, you must enter the month,
day, and year for expiration dates beyond the year 2000. Otherwise,
information may not be handled as expected.
For example, entering a credit card with an expiration date of
1/01 is handled as January 1 of the current year. This behavior
was changed in Microsoft Wallet version 2.1.1383 and later.
3. Microsoft Data Access (msdadc.dll, msadce.dll)
The msdadc.dll file is part of the OLE DB core components and a
part of the Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC). If you code
to ADO, and your ADO Recordset includes Date data types, such as
adDate, adDBDate, adFileTime, or adDBTimeStamp, and you're using
a date format in which periods are used instead of slashes for
date separator (for example, 01.01.98 instead of 01/01/98), and
you specify a year less than 60, then Data Convert (msdadc.dll)
might translate your date as a time.
For example, 01.01.01 (January 1, 2001) might be converted to
01:01:01 (December 30, 1899, 1:01:01A.M.).
For more information about OLE DB compliance, visit the Microsoft
Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/year2000.
1. Click Product Guide.
2. In Compliance Information for Microsoft Products, select
Microsoft OLE DB. Under Data Access, select Microsoft OLE DB.
3. Click Search, and the latest compliance documentation will be
displayed.
For Internet Explorer 3.0x the following issues are addressed:
1. If a web site uses a cookie with a 2-digit year of "00", Internet
Explorer recognized the cookie as expired. Cookies with 4-digit
expiration dates, or expiration dates before and after the year
2000 are not affected.
2. If a web server communicates a 2-digit year of "00" in its HTTP/1.0
header, Internet Explorer will recognize pages on that site as
expired and not cache them locally. Browsing of the site will work
normally while connected, but will not be available for offline
browsing. HTTP/1.1 headers, headers with a 4-digit year, or headers
containing 2-digit years before and after the year 2000 are not
affected.
3. If you change your control panel settings (International -> Use
Century format (1990 vs 90)) and browse to an FTP server with files
created in 2000 (according to the server), IE will display the files
as created in 1900.
4. The Javascript getYear() function/method calculates the year "00"
(2000) as "100", and the year "01" (2001) as "101" etc. Scripts
will need modifications to work around this issue. [Note: Some Perl
CGI scripts at various websites on the Net have similar symptoms!]
[5]. The date function (java.util.date) in the Microsoft VM based on Sun
Microsystems Java Development Kit 1.0.2 does not interpret two digit
dates correctly. The function maps a two-digit date to the 1900s and
doesn't take into consideration the year 2000.
NOTE:
====
During the setup of Internet Explorer 4.01 Service Pack 2, if you choose
the Installation Option "Browser Only Installation" rather than the
default "Standard Installation", the updated files that correct the above
year 2000 issues will not be installed. The "Browser Only Installation"
will install only a subset of the entire Internet Explorer Service Pack
and will not update your system for the above year 2000 issues. You
should choose either the default Installation Option of "Standard
Installation" or choose "Full Installation" to ensure that all updated
files and Internet Explorer 4.01 Service Pack 2 components are installed
on your system.
[ Comment from The Starman: At first glance I thought this was either one
of the most incompetent or 'heavy handed' things that Microsoft had done!
In order to get the updated files, it forces you to install some software
that you may not want on your system; for example, their Media Player 2
which I find disgusting! To avoid having to go this route, I decided to
do the 'Browser Only Installation' and then add the JAVA Virtual Machine
update using a separate download from their site. QUITE FRANKLY, it MAY
BE that the comments in RED above simply mean that 'Microsoft Wallet'
wouldn't be updated if you do the Browser only install. I need to do a
file-by-file comparison before I can say that for sure! Does anyone else
know? Overall, I still think Microsoft should explain this better! ]
VI. Additional Issues
-------------------------------------
A. Microsoft Jet Database Engine 3.0 and Microsoft OFFICE 95
When you try to synchronize two members of a replica set that was
created before the year 2000, and the current date on your computer
is after the year 2000, a synchronization message might appear. This
is because of how the expression service mishandles date entries in
the MSysExchangeLog table in replicas. When a replica set created
before the year 2000 is compacted after the year 2000, exchange
information relating to synchronizations after the year 2000 is
deleted from the MSysExchangeLog table. After this information is
deleted, the generation information in the MSysExchangeLog table and
the MSysGenHistory table does not match, and the replicas cannot be
synchronized. To resolve this issue, download the latest Microsoft
Office 95 Service Release from the Microsoft Web site at
http://www.officeupdate.microsoft.com
VII. Microsoft Product Support Services
-------------------------------------------
Technical support for this component is provided in the United States
and Canada by calling (425) 635-7222, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.,
Pacific Time, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. For help after
hours, visit the Options topic at http://www.microsoft.com/support.
For customers using text telephone (TDD/TTY), technical support for
this component is available by dialing (425) 635-4948 in the
United States and Canada, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., Pacific Time, Monday
through Friday, excluding holidays. For support information outside the
United States and Canada, contact your local subsidiary. Phone numbers
for Microsoft Subsidiaries are subject to change. For the most recent
listing, see the Support Online Web site at
http://support.microsoft.com/support. If there is no Microsoft
subsidiary office in your country, contact the vendor from which you
purchased your Microsoft product. Microsoft's support services are
subject to Microsoft's then-current prices, terms, and conditions,
which are subject to change without notice.
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS
PROVIDED TO YOU FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING
THE PLANNING FOR THE TRANSITION TO THE YEAR 2000.
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS THE INFORMATION CURRENTLY
AVAILABLE CONCERNING THE BEHAVIOR OF MICROSOFT'S
PRODUCTS IN THE NEXT CENTURY AND IS UPDATED
REGULARLY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE. WE THEREFORE
RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONTINUE TO CHECK THE
INFORMATION LOCATED AT http://microsoft.com/year2000
REGULARLY FOR ANY CHANGES. CONSQUENTLY, THE
INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS"
WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS
ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING
THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT
CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES
WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, PUNITIVE OR
SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR
ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION
OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR
INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY
NOT APPLY. THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS INTENDED
TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER INFORMATION
LOCATED AT http://microsoft.com/year2000, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO THE DEFINITION OF THE VARIOUS COMPLIANCE
RATINGS AND MICROSOFT'S YEAR 2000 TESTING PRACTICES.
TO THE EXTENT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS
DOCUMENT CONFLICTS WITH THE INFORMATION LOCATED
AT http://microsoft.com/year2000, THE INFORMATION LOCATED AT
http://microsoft.com/year2000 SHOULD BE CONSIDERED MORE UP
TO DATE.
ANY STATEMENTS MADE TO YOU BY MICROSOFT OR CONTAINED
HEREIN IN THE COURSE OF PROVIDING YEAR 2000 RELATED FIXES,
YEAR 2000 DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS, OR REMEDIATION SERVICES (IF ANY)
ARE SUBJECT TO THE YEAR 2000 INFORMATION AND READINESS
DISCLOSURE ACT (112 STAT. 2386). IN CASE OF A DISPUTE, THIS ACT
MAY REDUCE YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS REGARDING THE USE OF ANY
SUCH STATEMENTS, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED BY YOUR
CONTRACT OR TARIFF.