Since IBM started to manufacture the IBM Advanced Technology Personal Computers, well known as the IBM AT, a clock device has been part of the design of all personal computers. This clock device provides the correct date and time once correctly configured. A battery backup saves the date and time during a power off period of the machine. The clock chip, however, has one small problem build right in. It does not automatically count to the next century!
The importance of a correct date and time on a personal computer is evident. Documents, spreadsheets and other files produced by you, the computer user, should have the correct date and time. A correct date and time becomes even more important when sending and receiving electronic mail. Sending a message today that is received by the addressee as being from the past is at least a little bit clumsy. Not to mention the confusion that might be raised this way. Other types of applications, like databases for example, simply rely on a correct date and time.
Almost all computers sold nowadays and for the past year or so have this clock chip problem solved by letting the BIOS check the date and time. The Basic Input Output System is a computer program stored in hardware. This program is a collection of routines that check and control hardware components like the keyboard, mouse, disks and others. The BIOS of a new, Millennium compliant PC, controls the clock chip in such a way, that when the time goes from 23:59:59 on December 31 1999, the century value in the clock chip is re-programmed.
So how can you be sure that the personal computer or computers you are working with are Year 2000 compliant? First of all you could check with the vendor or computer store. Another option is to manually check each computer with the DOS Date and Time commands and power them of and on again. Then you know that a PC is or is not compliant. But what if you manage ten or hundred computers at work? Or maybe even more...
That's when MILLCARE becomes important to you. Our utility automates the testing of PCs and PS/2s and, even more important, provides a solution in case the tested computer is not capable of switching to the next century on it's own. The clock fix we developed saves you the costs of a hardware BIOS upgrade. The easy to use, menu based test program lets you validate computers in minutes and apply the programmatic clock fix when needed. When using in batchmode, testing and fixing can be done within ten seconds all together!
When this utility has been downloaded from the Internet or other online source, the separate program modules and documentation files are packed in an archive file. This archive file itself is a program that should be run first. When done, the separate files are extracted in the same directory as where the archive file has been downloaded. When the program was received on a license diskette, all the separate program modules and documentation files are ready for use.
The MILLCARE utility does not need to be actually installed first. It can be used directly from the distribution diskette or from a harddisk directory where the archive file was extracted. MILLCARE can be started from the DOS prompt with a command like for example: a:\millcare.
When using MILLCARE in combination with Windows, it can be started like any DOS program from the command line in a DOS box. However, there are some specific options to start and use MILLCARE in a Windows environment. These options are described in one of the following chapters.
The first option in the menu is the actual Year 2000 clock rollover test. When selected, the clock chip will be programmed to just a few seconds before the Year 2000. The date and time are being checked for four seconds and the results are shown in two separate windows. The first window shows the Software Date & Time as well as the Hardware Date & Time. The Software Date & Time should always correctly move from the last two seconds in the year 1999 to the first two seconds in the year 2000.
The Hardware Date & time is the place to check! When the hardware and/or the BIOS of this computer is not capable of adjusting the century value of the clock chip, the new year will be 1900! Then you are advised to install the Millennium Clock Adjust Program by selecting menu option two or three.
When the computer being tested is Year 2000 compliant, the information in the Hardware Date & Time window will show the correct value, 2000 instead of 1900. No further action is needed and the program can be ended. After the Rollover test has been completed, the original date and time of the computer is restored.
The second and the third menu option can be used to install the Millennium Clock Adjust Program. This program can be installed in two ways. The most secure way is to install it as a so called Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) program. Once installed the program acts as a kind of watchdog that monitors changes in the date and time of the computer and adjusts the clock chip accordingly.
The other way to install the Millennium Clock Adjust Program is as a non- resident program. When installed this way the Millennium Clock Adjust Program checks the date & time and adjusts the clock chip accordingly but only once during the startup of the computer.
When the installation of the Millennium Clock Adjust Program has completed, a new file (MILLCAP.COM) has been placed in the root directory of drive C:. The AUTOEXEC.BAT procedure has some new lines added to the top in order to execute the MILLCAP.COM program whenever the PC is started. The line in AUTOEXEC.BAT that executes the MILLCAP.COM program also shows the option /TSR or /ONCE, depending on the previous selected menu option.
There are two ways to start MILLCARE in combination with Windows 3.x. The first and most obvious way is to open a DOS box, change to the correct drive and directory and type the name of the program. The other way is to use the Program Manager -> File -> Run menu. When using this Program Manager Run option, MILLCARE runs in a more secure way without being interrupted while doing it's job.
There are three ways to start MILLCARE in combination with Windows 95 or Windows 98. The first and most obvious is to open a DOS box, change to the correct drive and directory and type the name of the program. There are, however, two safer methods to use this program. One method is to use the Start command in a DOS box, like "c:> start millcare". The other is to use the Run option of the Start Menu.
When using the second or third start method, MILLCARE runs with more priority and cannot be interrupted while doing it's job.
Utilities who's design is based on the use of a menu with options are in general considered more user friendly then utilities that do not have a menu. However, when checking a large number of computers with a menu based utility the user friendliness becomes counter productive. In order to offer the best of both worlds, MILLCARE can also be used with command line options to speed up the test and installation process. One command line option specifies that MILLCARE should immediately start the Rollover test, whereas another command line option can be used to specify if the Millennium Clock Adjust Program needs to be installed. That is, if the Rollover test fails. The command line options are;
/run batchmode without installation. /tsr installation of MILLCAP with TSR option. /once installation of MILLCAP with Once option.
An example of a command line execution is:
[Dos] C:\DATA\MILLCARE>millcare /run /tsr MILLCARE version 1.1. Millennium Clock Test and Adjust. Copyright (c) 1999, Confirm, The Netherlands, All Rights Reserved. Demonstration version for 30 days of evaluation. Software Date & Time Hardware Date & Time -------------------------------------------- 31-12-1999 23:59:58 31-12-1999 23:59:58 31-12-1999 23:59:59 31-12-1999 23:59:59 01-01-2000 00:00:00 01-01-1900 00:00:00 01-01-2000 00:00:01 01-01-1900 00:00:01 The result of the Millennium Clock Test was NOT okay. You are advised to install the Millennium Clock Adjust Program by selecting the second or third option in the Options menu. The Millennium Clock Adjust Program has been installed and will be activated the next time this PC is started. The internal clock of this PC will then have the correct date and time in the Year 2000. [Dos] C:\DATA\MILLCARE>
When using the command line option /run, MILLCARE can return an errorlevel other then zero. The value of the errorlevel can be used in batch procedures if needed. Since errorlevels are mainly used in batchfiles the interactive, menu, usage of MILLCARE always returns errorlevel 0.
EL Meaning 0 This PC is compliant. 1 This PC is not compliant. 2 PC is not compliant, installation of MILLCAP with /Tsr okay. 3 PC is not compliant, installation of MILLCAP with /Once okay. 8 Cannot perform because running under Windows NT. 9 Syntax or other error.
Most of the textual information displayed in the menus and as messages on the command line are defined in the file MILLCARE.MSG. This is a plain ASCII text file that can be modified with any text editor like Notepad for example. The purpose of this message file is to be able to modify or translate the textual information of this program as needed. Individual strings and text blocks can be modified, but within the bounds of the available space in the menu border and text borders. No individual string or text block should be completely deleted since the program depends on this information to display what's going on. The first block of strings are the keywords below the [menu] identifier. These keywords each represent one line of text displayed in the Options menu and text that is displayed on the last row of the screen.
[menu] options=Options... test=Do the Rollover test tsr=Install the TSR solution non=Install the NonTSR solution ...
Below the [menu] section are a number of text blocks, each representing a certain message to be displayed in a text window. These blocks of text have a limit of three rows and sixty-six characters per row.
[info_test] The test will set the clock to a few seconds before the Year 2000 and continue to inspect the effect of the rollover. The results will be shown and you will be advised what to do next.
The last part of the message file starts with the [header] identifier. The text below the [header] identifier is prefixed to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file when the Millennium Clock Adjust Program is installed. This information will inform and remind the users of the purpose of the extra command line added. When the [header] section is removed, no information will be prefixed to the AUTOEXEC.BAT, but the installation will still complete.
; ; The [header] text block is prefixed to AUTOEXEC.BAT when ; the Millennium Clock Adjust Program is installed. ; [header] echo off rem rem The MILLCAP.COM program is used to adjust the hardware clock of this rem PC when the date changes from December 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000. rem Do NOT remove this program from autoexec.bat. rem
MILLCARE can be used on Personal Computers, IBM Personal System/2 and any compatible type of PC. The Millennium Clock Adjust Program needs at least a 80286 type of processor. This should not be a problem since the original IBM AT computer, the first with a clock chip, was based on a 80286.
MILLCARE and the Millennium Clock Adjust Program have been tested with MS DOS version 3.1 and above. Older versions of DOS might work fine but could not be tested.
MILLCARE can be used on DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 95 and Windows 98. This utility should not be used in combination with Windows NT workstation or Windows NT server.
Some particular brands and versions of BIOSes, for example the Award version 4, forces the date to be between 1994 and 1999. Please send us such a machine if you can spare one.
Please see the following files:
PRICES.TXT for discount information.
ORDERNL.TXT for orders from the Netherlands.
ORDERDE.TXT for orders from Germany.
ORDEREEC.TXT for orders from other countries of the EEC.
ORDER.TXT for orders from all other countries not mentioned above.
Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to purchase a license. Individual programs differ on details. Some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. When purchasing a license, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below.
Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones. The main difference is in the method of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their software.
Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs, whether it is commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are also low. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee. If you do not use the product, you do not pay for it.
This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals. ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 USA, FAX 616- 788-2765 or send an email message to omb&asp-shareware.org.
Users of MILLCARE must accept this disclaimer of warranty:
"MILLCARE is supplied as is. The author or Confirm disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of MILLCARE."
MILLCARE is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your colleagues, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system. The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. If you find this program useful and find that you are using MILLCARE and continue to use MILLCARE after a trial period of 30 days, you must place a purchase order. You can order by filling in one of the order forms you find on the diskette or the ZIP file and send it by fax or airmail to Confirm in the Netherlands.
Users of MILLCARE must purchase a license and pay for their copies of MILLCARE within 30 days of first use or their evaluation license will be withdrawn.
Anyone distributing MILLCARE for any kind of remuneration must first contact Confirm for written authorization. This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the ASP as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering MILLCARE immediately. However, Confirm should be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of MILLCARE.
MILLCARE is distributed as Shareware. Get your copy from the Downloads page! MILLCARE is a registered trademark of Confirm. Please send questions, bug reports and other remarks to:
| Confirm Ardechelaan 35 6904 NG Zevenaar The Netherlands |
Phone: +31-316-342224 Fax: +31-316-341580 Email: info@confirm.nl Web: www.confirm.nl |