Microsoft Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure & Resource Center

Windows Operating System Interactions with BIOS and Real Time Clock

The following tests were designed to determine whether or not a machine's Windows NT« operating system and RTC/BIOS combination are Year 2000 ready. Microsoft recommends that you conduct the following Year 2000 rollover tests off-line. As a precaution, do not run any applications while testing with future dates.

Before testing, isolate the test machine from the network, exit all applications, and disable all local time-synchronization services, time-based programs such as Schedule +, and evaluation software with time expirations ("betas").

See if the date rolls over to year 2000 while the machine is off:

1. After signing in, click Start and click Run. Type cmd and press ENTER. In the cmd window, type DATE and press ENTER. Set the date to 12/31/1999 and press ENTER. Type TIME, press ENTER and then set the time to 23:57:00 and press ENTER.
2. Click Start and then click Shut Down and select Shut down the computer. Wait for the operating system to notify you that it is okay to turn off the machine.
3. Turn off the machine before the operating system time reaches 24:00:00. Wait for 3 minutes (until after the simulated time is 24:00:00).
4. Restart the machine and boot up Windows NT. After signing in, click Start and then click Run. Type cmd and press ENTER. In the cmd window, type DATE and press ENTER. Check the operating system date information, and then press ENTER.

If the date does not read 1/1/2000, the BIOS may not allow certain valid date ranges. (Case 2).

See if the system recognizes the year 2000 as a leap year:

1. In the cmd window, type DATE and press ENTER. Set the date to 2/28/2000 and press ENTER. Type TIME, press ENTER and then set the time to 23:57:00 and press ENTER.
2. Click Start and then click Shut Down and select Shut down the computer. Wait for the operating system to notify you that it is okay to turn off the machine.
3. Turn off the machine before the operating system time reaches 24:00:00. Wait for 3 minutes (until after the simulated time is 24:00:00).
4. Restart the machine and boot up Windows NT. After signing in, click Start and then click Run. Type cmd and press ENTER. In the cmd window, type DATE and press ENTER. Check the operating system date information, and then press ENTER.

If the date does not read 2/29/2000, the system does not recognize the year 2000 as a leap year.

See if BIOS Setup can change the year to 2000:

ONLY DO THIS STEP IF YOU ARE A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN. If you change a setting you are unfamiliar with, your system may not restart.

1. In the cmd window, type DATE and press ENTER. Set the date to 12/30/2000 and press ENTER.
2. Click Start and then click Shut Down and select Shut down the computer. Wait for the operating system to notify you that it is okay to turn off the machine.
3. Turn off the machine. Wait for 3 minutes.
4. Restart the machine and enter the main BIOS Setup area. (Please refer to BIOS documentation that came with your machine or follow the directions on the screen when the machine is restarting.)
5. Try to change the date to 1/1/2000.
6. Quit BIOS Setup.

If the date does not read 1/1/2000, BIOS Setup will not accept a valid date (Case 3).

After 12/31/1999, if BIOS Setup does not accept a valid date, use the following workaround:

Enter a date in the past that is acceptable to the BIOS. Then quit BIOS Setup WITH SAVING.

Start Windows NT. After signing in, click Start and then click Run. Type cmd and press ENTER. In the cmd window, type DATE and press ENTER. Type the current date and press ENTER.

Or contact the PC manufacturer to obtain a BIOS fix.

See if BIOS Setup can keep the year 2000.

ONLY DO THIS STEP IF YOU ARE A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN. If you change a setting you are unfamiliar with, your system may not restart.

1. After signing in, click Start and then click Run. Type cmd and press ENTER. In the cmd window, type DATE and press ENTER. Set the date to 1/1/2000. Then type TIME, press ENTER and set the time to 12:00:00 and press ENTER.
2. Click Start and then click Shut Down and select Shut down the computer. Wait for the operating system to notify you that it is okay to turn off the machine.
3. Turn off the machine. Wait for 3 minutes.
4. Restart the machine and enter the main BIOS Setup area. (Please refer to BIOS documentation that came with your machine or follow the directions on the screen when the machine is restarting.)
5. If the date does not read 1/1/2000, BIOS Setup will not keep a valid date (Case 3).
6. Quit BIOS Setup.

After 12/31/1999, if BIOS Setup does not accept a valid date, use the following workaround:

Enter a date in the past that is acceptable to the BIOS. Then quit BIOS SetupWITH SAVING.

Start Windows NT. After signing in, click Start and then click Run. Type cmd and press ENTER. In the cmd window, type DATE and press ENTER. Type the current date and press ENTER.

Or contact the PC manufacturer to obtain a BIOS fix.

Reset the computer operating system to the current date.

1. After signing in, click Start and click Run. Type cmd and press ENTER. In the cmd window, type DATE and press ENTER. Set the current date and press ENTER.
2. Restore the machine to its original operating configuration: reconnect the machine to the network, restart applications, and enable all local time-synchronization services, all time-based programs such as Microsoft Schedule +, and evaluation software with time expirations ("betas").

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This site is being designated as a Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure and the information contained herein is provided pursuant to the terms hereof and the Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act.