Microsoft admits Windows 98 could have `minor' Y2K difficulties

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Dec 8, 1998

REDMOND, Wash. (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft's Windows 98 operating system has "minor" problems in correctly reading the year 2000 and could display wrong dates in "rare" instances, the world's biggest software maker said Monday.

The so-called Y2K bug can cause computers to interpret the year 2000 as 1900 because many older machines read only the last two digits of the date. That bug could prompt computers to shut down or provide bad information.

The problem with Windows 98, used by 10 million customers, means dates in 2000 and after could be displayed incorrectly in "rare scenarios," Microsoft said. The bug poses no threat that data will be lost, and customers face only a small chance of encountering the glitch in everyday use. To fix the problem, Microsoft is making software available online and on CD-ROMs. "Even though there may be an issue, it's not one of a drastic nature," said Rich Scocozza, a Bear Stearns analyst, who has a "buy" rating on Microsoft. "Overall, they have a good record" on year 2000 glitches. One instance of the problem occurs in phone calls, Microsoft said. After a phone number is dialed using the Windows 98 program, the computer could in "certain instances" create a log that incorrectly displays the year of the call date. Further, if a PC user starts the machine at the fraction of a second when a date is changing, the system may display the wrong time or date, the company said. "We have identified and fixed these minor year 2000 issues," Rich Kaplan, director of the platforms infrastructure group, said in a statement. The company wasn't immediately available to comment further. The updated software is available on the Web at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/, the company said. Customers can order the CD-ROM by calling 800-363-2896.