There are several methods to test your PC for the Year 2000. First, check with your PC manufacturer for their test. Most manufacturers offer Year 2000 tests from their web sites at no charge. If you cannot contact your manufacturer directly, check with the computer’s BIOS provider.
NSTL offers an automated test that is commonly used in the PC industry for Year 2000 certification. This test is available at no charge for individual users.
If the automated test you use does not perform the “PC is Off” test, we recommend that you perform the manual “PC is Off” test (See below).
In lieu of an automated test, there are two manual tests you can perform on your PC hardware to ensure Year 2000 compliance.
The “PC is ON” test checks correct reporting of the date by the PC as the next century arrives
The “PC is OFF” test checks correct reporting of the date when the PC is powered ON after the century changes.
NOTE: If your PC fails the Year 2000 test, you may be able to upgrade it to meet compliance specs. Your PC manufacturer will provide guidance for upgrades.
If your BIOS cannot be upgraded, the PC may still be Year 2000 operational in accordance with the Alliance specification by choosing one of these one-time interventions:
Set the date manually and verify the ability of your PC to remember that date
or
Install Year 2000 tools recommended by the PC manufacturer.
IBM has created a comprehensive hardware evaluation tool that should work with most computers.