Sunday December 26 2:18 PM ET Microsoft Says It's Ready for Y2K By MICHAEL J. MARTINEZ AP Business Writer

SEATTLE (AP) - New Year's Day will start early on Dec. 31 for Microsoft President Steve Ballmer.

Ballmer will be on the phone first thing in the morning on New Year's Eve, talking with Microsoft's Asian offices and getting an indication of how Microsoft products, and the world, is handling the rollover to the year 2000.

At midnight local time, if all goes well, Ballmer and chief operating officer Bob Herbold will be presiding over a party for some 300 of the software giant's employees and their families, while 6,000 operators remain on standby to take tech support calls.

And if all doesn't go well? Microsoft says it's prepared, but isn't too concerned.

``In a way, I'm excited. I'm looking forward to it,'' said Don Jones, head of the company's Y2K efforts. ``I think we're excited to see all of our work pay off.''

Over the past two years, Microsoft has worked to make the vast majority of its software Y2K-compliant, from current products like Windows 98 and Office 2000 to years-old products that aren't even produced any more.

``We discovered that Microsoft Word 5.0 for DOS, which shipped in 1983, is not compliant,'' Jones said. ``We actually had a few people still using it, so we shipped them Word 5.5, which is compliant. We had to scrounge around for the 51/4-inch floppies to copy it on, but we got it out to them.''

The Y2K problem stems from fears older computers programmed to read just the last two digits of a year will read ``00'' as ``1900'' rather than ``2000.''

Some popular Microsoft programs require software patches to function correctly on Jan. 1. These patches are available on Microsoft's Web site, and generally take a few minutes to download. Still, Jones doesn't expect every user will go and actually download the patch - some users might not even know how to do it.

``Chances are, even if customers don't download the patches, there won't be any Y2K issues anyway,'' Jones said. ``We're aware, though, that some customers won't do the downloads, and we've taken steps to get information and patches out to them.''

Those efforts included distribution of 10 million free Y2K CD-ROMs in cooperation with Blockbuster video stores, and the creation of a special hot line for Y2K issues - 1-888-MSFT-Y2K.

Analysts who have studied the Y2K issue give Microsoft credit for its preparations in both software and tech support, even though they probably won't be needed.

``I'm sure that a handful of older computers might need some help, but really, most people who have had some kind of Y2K exposure have fixed their critical systems already,'' said Bob Austrian, Y2K analyst with Banc of America Securities. ``Will there be a few Y2K problems? Sure. Will they be major issues? No. People have been and are continuing to get prepared.''

Microsoft has seen increased volume on its Y2K hot line - up to 65,000 calls per week in mid-December, Jones said. However, on its regular tech support line, only three out of every 1,000 calls have been Y2K related, Jones said.

``Most of those are just questions, people who didn't get the Y2K number,'' Jones said. ``That's a great indicator for us.''

Still, Microsoft employees plan to be on the company's campus the night of Dec. 31 to troubleshoot any ...

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http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/19991226/tc/microsoft_y2k_1.html

-- LOON (blooney10@aol.com), December 26, 1999

Answers

Ohhhhhhh. They are so baaaaad. Oh, they're sooooo bad. Ohhhhh, they're sooooo baaaaaad. Those boys are gonna fry.

Even though I know Bill isn't responsible, I'm GLAD the sheeple are gonna blame him. Microsoft lied so much! They could have made a difference. No mention of Bill's location during the CDC, as if couldn't help but notice...

-- Clare (clarehamilton@mindspring.com), December 26, 1999.

Is Billy-boy still in Australia on his boat (actually a converted navy ship, I understand), or is he at, or steaming to, his South Pacific Island retreat?

-- A (A@AisA.com), December 26, 1999.

DELETE this drivel/propaganda/crap. This is the first time I have requested this.

No mention of the CIO leaving last June for a "year's sabbatical", nor the recent CFO departing, nor Gates away 4000 miles off NZ.

For any of you who subscribe to "The Wall Street Underground", by Nick Guarino, read the latest issue DEC 1999 for his view on MICROSLOP and the Antichrist.

-- profit of doom (doom@helltopay.ca), December 26, 1999.

Item: The "boat" is the pride and joy of media magnate Kerry Packer! not Kerr Klinton

Wonder if its Nav Pack is Y2K compliant?, I would hate to see it careen into the Sydney Opera House!

-- scarletbreasted (scarletbreasted@hotmail.com), December 26, 1999.