April 19, 1999
Cover

CHECKING FOR BUGS AT HOME

BY WARREN CARAGATA

Not all Y2K problems are found in big corporate and government computer systems. There could be some in the average home.

* HOUSEHOLD COMPUTER: The older the computer, the more chance it will not accept a system date in the new year. If you use your computer for simple tasks such as surfing the Net, writing letters to family and playing games, the date probably won't matter. But if you use it keep track of finances, organize schedules or run complicated software, it may. Check with the company that made it. The same advice applies for software.

* SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM: It may contain a chip that keeps track of the date. Check with the supplier.

* PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT: Again, check with the supplier.

* PHONES: For an ordinary phone, there will be no problem.

* VCRS: Try to the set the date to Jan. 1, 2000. If it doesn't work, set it to 1972, which follows the same calendar as 2000. The same trick will work with any electronic appliance with a date function, provided the correct century is not important.