One of the easiest tests for the MB and BIOS is from the National Software Testing Labs. If your MB or BIOS fail this test, you don't have a prayer of having a Y2K compliant system. This file is available on the AE Systems FTP site.Y2K test program. The WIN95 and WIN98 Y2K patches are listed on this page, since they are a bit hard to find. Some MB manufacturers have a posted Y2K approved BIOS list.

To use this program please make a barebones boot disk. Use DOS for the OS or run the SYS command from a DOS prompt on your WIN95 or '98 PC, for example SYS A:. Do not use a CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Then expand this file on the floppy. The main file is 2000.EXE.

• Boot from this floppy and change the date to 2000 using the DOS DATE command.
• Reboot the PC with this floppy still in place.
• Run the 2000.EXE file.
• It will check the MB BIOS and hardware for Y2K compliance. It also checks for leap year issues.
• Be sure to put the date back to 1999 when you are done!

If this test fails, the BIOS or other hardware will need to be upgraded. Some of the MB BIOS update sites are listed on this page. Be aware that if you have an older MB, the manufacturer may not be around anymore to provide updates. Or, they may be alive but not support your old MB. In that case you would have to go to the vendor of the BIOS. These vendors are AWARD, AMI, and Phoenix. These guys don't just give you a flash update file or a chip. They will charge you. The cost for a single user BIOS update for your old MB is $79. Ouch. You can almost buy a new MB for that. A lot of times you will get a cleaner and faster PC you upgrade your MB rather than pay the $79 for the BIOS update.

If it passes, then at least the MB and BIOS are Y2K compliant. This doesn't mean the PC is Y2K compliant just the MB and BIOS. Software issues can still exist.