Simply saying "Y2K" makes our hearts beat a little faster, doesn't it? If we knew exactly what to expect, it would be different, but we don't. No one really does. Companies are spending literally billions of dollars in preparation of Y2K, trying to cover all bases so that when the clock rolls over to the new millennium, our computer systems worldwide won't shut down.

The Necessities

Let's begin at PC Magazine's Y2K Resource Center, where you can download free utilities that will allow you to test your computer system for Y2K compliance. The site offers articles on how to assess your Y2K risk and how to fix your Year 2000 problems. Be sure to read the feature story, "What you need to do to protect yourself from the millennium bug."

Microsoft has created a website to address Year 2000 issues from the point of view of both individuals and companies. TechNet - Year 2000 offers an online Year 2000 Seminar where you can learn how to evaluate the impact of Y2K on your organization. You'll even find solutions and ways to solve problems that affect hardware, operating systems, applications, and data interfaces. Click on Product Guide for details on Y2K compliance of Microsoft products, or click on services and tools for services that will help you analyze the applications you're running, no matter what operating system you use.

An excellent resource for Y2K information is Everything 2000. Under Computer Date Crisis, click on Home PC to see how your personal computer could be affected. Or, access business resources, legal issues, or learn how Y2K could affect your utility system. Read articles on why the Net is not immune to Year 2000 problems. Learn about movements affected by the Year 2000 in religion, environment, space, peace, and more.

"For many computer and software systems, the year 2000 will bring a host of problems related to software programs that record the year using only the last two digits." At The Year 2000 Information Center/Millennium Bug, you can learn the legal, accounting, and insurance aspects of the Year 2000 problem to avoid liability and maximize recovery. Join an email mailing list where you'll receive the latest Y2K information on a regular basis, or click on Hardware/Software Compliance Information for links to compliance data from major providers.

More Information

Yahoo! News offers a listing of articles related to the Y2K issue, including "Y2K fix at small firms can be simple," and "Schools tackle Y2K risks, solutions." Post questions at a message board, listen to real audio speeches about Y2K, or attend live chat events.

Yahoo! offers another comprehensive listing of Y2K resources that bears a good look. At the Year 2000 Problem, you'll find links to how Y2K will impact public health information systems, affect communication and broadcasting companies, and basically be the ultimate challenge of the century.

Finally, The Millennium Bug - A Year 2000 Problem with a 2000 Year Old Solution, offers an impressive listing of Y2K resources, such as Management's Top 5 Y2K Issues, Concrete Y2K Solutions, and even Y2K humor.

Robin Nobles is a freelance writer who can be reached at robinnobles@robinsnest.com.

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