Year 2000 program fix

Version 1.2

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The RTC_2000 is Copyright  of Transvision Software, Eirik Kim Pedersen

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www.eirikkim.com  /  mail address : eirikkim@online.no
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RTC_2000

Year 2000 program fix for certain types of non-compliant PC's


WHAT IS THE RTC_2000?
*********************
RTC_2000 is a program that may enable certain
non-compliant PC's to function after 1999.12.31.


WHY IS IT NEEDED?
*********************
Certain non-compliant PC's will allow the clock to be set
manually beyond 1999.12.31. However, since the BIOS on these
machines does not allow the RTC to work properly after 
1999.12.31, this requires that the PC date is set every
time the PC is turned on.

The program is design to be used by PC's that allows for
manual adjustment of the date after 1999.12.31. 
Uncertain whether your PC is Year 2000 compliant? Try the NSTL
YMARK2000 program.


HOW DOES RTC_2000 WORK?
***********************
The RTC_2000 will set the system date in relation to the
Real Time Clock. It will move the system time by default
12 years ahead of the RTC while keeping the original
setting of the RTC. It supports moving the year ahead
between 2 to 24 years.

The RTC_2000 is placed in the AUTOEXEC.BAT of the system.
Every time the machine starts, the RTC_2000 will move the
internal system clock 12 years ahead of the Real Time
Clock. The clue is that the Real Time Clock is left
ticking away in 19xx. The Real Time Clock will never know
that the rest of the world has moved to the 21st century.
The RTC_2000 will run something like this :

Original date in Real Time Clock (RTC) : 1988.08.24 
Setting the internal system date:        2000.08.24
Resetting the Real Time Clock :          1988.08.24
As you can see, the Real Time Clock is in 1988, while the
internal system date is set to 2000. RTC needs to be reset 
back to 1988 since setting the system clock will also set
the RTC to the same date.


INSTALLING RTC_2000.EXE
***********************
1) Download RTC_2000.EXE
2) Place the RTC_2000.EXE in root C:\
3) Edit AUTOEXEC.BAT and place RTC_2000 at the top of the file. 
4) Set DATE to today's date MINUS 12 years. Example: 14.08.1987
5) Restart your computer

At reboot the system date is moved 12 years ahead.
The RTC_2000 may be run in a DOS windows, and may be run
multiple times without moving the year ahead more that it
should.


OTHER WAYS TO RUN RTC_2000
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RTC_2000=>        Sets internal date 12 years ahead (default)
RTC_2000 8 =>     Sets the internal date 8 years ahead 
RTC_2000 0 =>     Displays current RTC date
RTC_2000 HELP=>   Further information
RTC_2000 DEBUG => Displays debugging information

Be aware that the date should be move ahead by a multiple
of 4 years to accommodate for leap year.


HOW DOES IT INTERFACE WITH WINDOWS?
***********************************
It does not directly interface with Windows. Windows will
read the internal system date (which has been set by
RTC_2000) and work according to this date.

Windows does, however, set both system date and Real Time
Clock when you try to view the date. By doing so, the Real
Time Clock will now be in 20xx when the RTC_2000 runs at
next reboot. To avoid RTC_2000 to move the year ahead from 
20xx (set by Windows) it will keep track of the original
year first encountered in the RTC. If the year has changed
by more than one year, it will reset the RTC year to the
original year.


WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS?
*************************
This is NOT a 100% fix of the Year 2000 problem, but may
work in some instances. Any program reading the RTC directly 
will therefore malfunction.

Certain non-compliant PC's will reset when the RTC is
moved beyond 1999. RTC_2000 will only keep track of year.
Any reset of month and day will cause the system clock to
reset as well. RTC_2000 is therefore not designed to
handled this form of non-compliancy.

It is generally not recommended to use any program fix to
solve the Y2k problem for any PC running any form of a 
critical process. This goes for RTC_2000 as well.

Furthermore, RTC_2000 is developed to work in day-by-day 
operation. It may not work properly at each year-end roll-over. 
Each roll-over requires a manual verification.

RTC_2000 requires the PC to be rebooted at least once a
year, i.e. it requires RTC_2000 to run a least once a
year. This will enable the RTC_2000 to adjust itself after
a new year.


ERROR SITUATION
***************
Once installed, the RTC_2000 will overwrite the system date 
each time the RTC_2000 program is run. On occasions, based on
a particular non-compliant BIOS, the internal RTC is set in 
state in which the RTC_2000 cannot evalaute correctly the true
year. 

In such a situation it may be necessary to reset the RTC before
reinitiation the RTC_2000 date conversion. This may be done
as follows;

 - Set DATE to today's date MINUS 12 years. Example: 01.01.1988
 - DEL C:\RTC_2000.DAT

Next time RTC_2000 is run, the conversion will be based upon
1988.01.01, i.e. system date will be set to 2000.01.01.

If this situation reoccurs, the RTC_2000 is not able to handle
your non-compliant BIOS. Sorry...


DISCLAIMER, TERMS AND CONDITIONS
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Since all BIOS systems are so different, it is impossible
to forsee all possible situations or to accommodate for
all different BIOS versions operating today.
RTC_2000 is NOT developed to work with all BIOS system in
operation. If it works - so much for the better. If it 
doesn't - try something else.

The RTC_2000 program must be thoroughly tested ON EACH
PARTICULAR MACHINE to ensure that it works properly. The 
program is no matter what run at your own risk.
Neither the author Eirik Kim Pedersen nor Transvision
Software are in any way, shape or form responsible for any
erroneous setting, processing or presentation of the
system date/time or the Real Time Clock of any system
caused either directly or indirecly by the use of RTC_2000.EXE.

Transvision Software has no obligation to correct any
function that may perform erroneously on any particular
piece of hardware.


DOWNLOAD THE RTC_2000.EXE
*************************
By downloading the program, you accept the terms and
conditions in which this program is provided.

The RTC_2000.EXE program is available at www.eirikkim.com
(15 104 byte file size). 
Version 1.30 / Release date 1999.09.01

This program is shareware, and may be used by anyone. It
may be freely distributed provided there is no charge and
no alteration of the program code.
Shareware means a free trial period. If it works and you
like it, and you wish to use it, you are recommended to
pay a nominal fee. In this case there is a suggested fee 
of US$10.00 for each PC.


Good luck!
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The RTC_2000 is Copyright  of Transvision Software, Eirik Kim Pedersen

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www.eirikkim.com


Updated 1999.08.31
