As the year 2000 approaches, computer users around the world are growing more concerned about how computer systems will handle the transition. The basic problem is that hardware and software that use a two-digit format for the year may roll, for example, from 1999 to 1900. The good news is that for users of HP Brio PCs, HP Vectra PCs and HP Kayak PC Workstations, the impact is minimal and any non-compliance in older machines is simple to resolve. What’s more is that all new HP Brio PCs, HP Vectra PCs and Kayak PC Workstations are NSTL YMARK2000 certified.

For software, HP Brio PC users, HP Vectra PC users and HP Kayak PC Workstations users should contact their software suppliers about the required actions to ensure that their applications will continue to run correctly in 2000. Most software vendors are already working to fix any limitations in their software.

Hewlett-Packard has already addressed the year 2000 transition in its HP Brio PCs, HP Vectra PCs and HP Kayak PCs Workstations. HP Brio PCs, HP Vectra PCs and HP Kayak PCs Workstations introduced since the end of 1995 handle the rollover to the year 2000 without any problem.

All products listed here will rollover correctly, without any user action required, regardless of BIOS version.

HP Vectra VE 5/xxx Series 2

HP Vectra VE 5/xxx Series 3

HP Vectra VE 5/xxx Series 4

HP Vectra VE C/xxx Series 7

HP Vectra VE 6/xxx Series 8

HP Vectra VEi 7

HP Vectra VEi 8

HP Vectra VL 5/xxx Series 4

HP Vectra VL 5/xxx Series 5

HP Vectra VL 6/xxx Series 6

HP Vectra VL 6/xxx Series 7

HP Vectra VL 6/xxx Series 8

HP Vectra VLi 8

HP Vectra VA

HP Vectra XM 5/xxx Series 4

HP Vectra XA 5/xxx

HP Vectra XA 6/xxx

HP Vectra XW 6/xxx

HP Vectra 500 models 510/5xxx and 515

HP Vectra 500 models 320, 520 and 525

HP Net Vectra

HP Brio Model 71xx

HP Brio Model 80xx

HP Brio Model 81xx

HP Brio Model 82xx

HP Brio Model 83xx

HP Brio Model 84xx

HP Brio Model 85xx

HP Brio BAx

HP Brio BA

HP Kayak XA 6/xxx and 7/xxx

HP Kayak XA-s 6/xxx and 7/xxx

HP Kayak XU 6/xxx and 7/xxx

HP Kayak XU Xeon 6/xxx and 7/xxx

HP Kayak XW 6/xxx

HP Kayak XW Xeon 6/xxx

If your PC has been introduced before 1995 or is not part of this list, we have the solution below.

If customers do not wish to update the BIOS, or have a 386 or 486 HP Vectra PC or a HP Vectra 500 Series PC, they have several options. Although the date will not automatically roll, it can be set to the year 2000 because the HP Vectra PCs store the year on four digits.

Many corporate networks are configured to synchronize all PC clients’ internal clock to the date and time kept on a server. These network-connected HP Vectra would then have date set to the correct value by the server automatically.

Several Operating System Vendors have already announced that their O/S will detect a date that rolls incorrectly. For example, if they detect a date of 1900, then they would either prompt the user to change the date or correct it automatically.

For users of standalone PCs who do not wish to update the BIOS or the operating system, or install a device driver, there is a simple way for making their computer work correctly after Jan 1, 2000. If the clock doesn't roll to the year 2000 automatically, the date can be corrected manually. This is a straightforward task. Use either of the BIOS setup programs; Date command in DOS, or, Date/Time program in Operating System Control Panel. Users of Non-Standard Applications

The huge majority of PC users run applications that meet standard software design rules accessing dates from the Operating System clock or via the BIOS. These users will be satisfied with the solutions outlined above. Also, all Windows NT users are safe, as Windows NT automatically manages all date readings.

However, a limited number of users have specific applications that directly interface with the Real Time Clock (built-in hardware clock), bypassing the BIOS and the Operating System. As far as HP is aware, this is done by test programs only. These applications may get incorrect date data because they do not benefit of the data validation performed by the BIOS at each date reading.

One solution is to stop the PC before the Year 2000 transition, and restart it after. At each restart, the BIOS validates the values in Real Time Clock hardware.

For users who cannot stop the PC, Hewlett-Packard will make available a new option in the BIOS setup menu of new products. When "Standard application" is set to "Yes", its default value, it has no effect on the system. When "Standard application" is set to "No", it makes the values in the Real Time Clock hardware being permanently monitored. Click here to get the list of these PCs.

On the other products, permanent monitoring is accomplished by a software device driver. Visit this web site to get details about the software device driver: http://www.hp.com/desktop/year2000/device_driver.html

These two solutions will not provide any benefit if your applications do not access the Real Time Clock directly. These solutions might slightly affect the overall PC performance.

HP does recommend the use of applications that meet the standard software design rules, and do not directly access the Real Time Clock.

In summary, whether the date is updated through a BIOS, a Network connection, an O/S, or by using the BIOS setup or O/S Date/Time, the end result is the same, the date will be updated correctly. Hewlett-Packard HP Vectra PC customers should find that the transition to the year 2000 will be a very minor issue.