I read a recent Tech Talk column in which you indicated there may be Y2K-compliance issues with e-mail programs. What specific safeguards or measures - short of buying new computers - can be taken? We use Eudora Pro version 4.1. Is there any patch that we need to download to guard against any Y2K problems? Must we also download patches from Microsoft for Windows 95 and, if upgrading this year, Windows 98 ? I would appreciate any information on these points.
SURIYA R Hong Kong I did not say e-mail programs by themselves would be non-Y2K compliant. Rather, the e-mail program you are using - or any other program - would be a secondary issue if your computer is non-Y2K compliant at the basic input-output system level. If the computer fails, there is no hope for the programs.
If your computer is older than 1995, there is a strong chance it will need to be replaced. I pointed out that changing the computer date to several years before 2000 would result in problems with e-mail dates, among other things.
On the subject of spam, any e-mail you received offering to fix Y2K problems did not come from me, or from the South China Morning Post.
I have a Dell Inspiron 3200 that came loaded as Win98. Recently, I had to re-format my drives. Since I reloaded Windows my Dial-up Networking has not worked properly. The first time I dial my ISP (it is a university proxy server) I get: 'Error 630: The computer is not receiving a response from the modem.' When I immediately redial the computer connects as normal.