Some PCs think it is 1980

By MICHAEL FOREMAN

Reports from personal computer users suggest that older stand-alone equipment and software could be the largest source of Y2K problems - but only minor ones.

On local internet newsgroups yesterday, most users were sounding a Y2K all-clear. But one PC user, Boyd Pearson, complained on the nz.comp newsgroup that his computer thought it was Friday, January 4, 1980 (the first date recognised by Microsoft's Windows operating system) when he started it up on New Year's Day.

Mr Pearson said he managed to reset the date and the computer appeared to be working correctly.

Microsoft reported that it had received 10 calls to its Y2K helpline since New Year but these were ordinary customer queries and not Y2K-related.

"Microsoft and the [Y2K] Readiness Commission have gone a long way to making the transition to the new century a smooth one," said Microsoft spokeswoman Carol Leishman.

However, she warned computer users to expect minor problems throughout this month, especially after Wednesday when most people returned to work.

"Y2K is not over yet," she said.

Rob Harrowfield, of Auckland computer dealer Axxon Computertime, said he had received a few reports of similar date problems encountered by customers using older Dos operating systems.

But most of the few faults reported to the company's helpline were not Y2K-related.

"We have seen a couple of people have problems who had turned off their computers and then had hardware failures when they were turned on again," he said.

"Overall it has been very quiet, and I am definitely of the opinion that's because of all the work that we and our customers put in beforehand."