Y2K info for Windows 95


Windows 95 has several Y2K issues; none of them are critical to the normal operation of the system, but they may pose a nusiance. Microsoft has provided a fix for the following problems:
  • The Windows File Manager (winfile.exe) will not correctly display or sort years past 1999. This problem will only be manifested if you have the "all file details" option turned on. Microsoft has provided a fix for this problem in the form of an updated winfile.exe file.
    **NOTE**   This is NOT the same as Windows Explorer, the file management program which is native to Windows 95. Windows Explorer is started by selecting it from the Program menu inside the Start menu; it is also invoked any time you open My Computer or any other folder on the desktop. Under ordinary circumstances, unless you upgraded to Windows 95 from a previous version of Windows or you manually created a shortcut for winfile.exe, you are probably using Windows Explorer and do not need to be concerned about this problem.
  • The date command (used at a DOS prompt) does not properly handle two-digit years from 00 to 79. If you attempt to enter a two-digit year in this range, it will generate an "invalid date" error.
  • The dir command (used at a DOS prompt) only displays the last two digits of the year.
After downloading and installing the Windows 95 Y2K patch:
  • The Windows File Manager (winfile.exe) displays years after 1999 correctly.
  • The date command accepts any two-digit year. Years in the range 00 to 79 will be interpreted as being in the 21st century (2000 to 2079). To enter years after 2079 (and to avoid confusion) use 4-digit years.
  • The dir command can display 4-digit years - you must use the /4 switch. (i.e. dir /4)

There are other Y2K issues with Windows 95 for which Microsoft has not provided fixes (and apparently does not intend to do so). If any of these problems creates an inconvenience for you, it is suggested that you upgrade to a later operating system.
  • The Date tab in the Find Files or Folders dialog box does not correctly display years after 1999. This does NOT affect the ability to correctly search by years.
  • If a date style which uses two-digit years is selected on the Date tab in the Regional Settings control panel, date functions in other parts of Windows may not operate properly after 1999. Be sure to select styles which uses four-digit years.
  • After February 29, 2000, the DHCP client (used for obtaining an IP address when you use dial-up networking) will report an incorrect date when you run winipcfg.
  • In the Date/Time control panel, if the date is set to February 29 in any valid leap year and the year is changed using the tumbler buttons, the calandar display will not update properly.
  • The Phone Dialer call log will not correctly display years past 1999.
  • The two-digit year handling used by the /D switch of the xcopy command is not consistent with the two-digit year handling used by other commands.

More detailed information is available at:
Microsoft's Y2K pages for Windows 95
Back to Y2K Links for DOS/Windows PC's
questions, comments, or suggestions?
Send them to y2k-help@udel.edu