Microsoft KB Archive/216913

= BIOS Date Value Does Not Immediately Update on January 1, 2000 =

Article ID: 216913

Article Last Modified on 2/23/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 1
 * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2
 * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3
 * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4
 * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4
 * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5

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This article was previously published under Q216913



December 29, 1999

Microsoft has determined an incompatibility exists between BIOS3-fix and Kernel-fix. For additional information on Kernel-fix, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

234557 Executable with Specially Malformed Image Header Crashes Windows

Because of this incompatibility, if you have installed Kernel-fix, you should uninstall it and then reinstall BIOS3-fix. After applying BIOS3-fix, do not apply Kernel-fix. For additional information on how to remove a Hotfix, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

184305 How to Install and Remove Hotfixes with HOTFIX.EXE



SYMPTOMS
Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5 addresses the following problem in Windows NT 4.0:

When the Windows NT System Time value rolls over from the year 1999 to 2000, the Century Byte value stored in the real time clock (RTC) is not changed until up to one hour later when the time daemon writes out the date. This issue only affects systems with older BIOSes that do not automatically update the century byte on reboot (contact your hardware manufacturer for BIOS details).

This issue may cause unexpected behavior under two conditions:


 * When your computer is configured using the dual boot option where another operating system may not handle this situation properly. All versions of MS-DOS fall into this category.
 * Some computer hardware BIOS configurations detect this behavior as an invalid date and present a query for the correct date. This may prevent a computer from restarting without user input.

NOTE: This problem only occurs if the computer is restarted during the time lapse when the dates were out of synch.

On August 5, 1999, Microsoft released an updated version of BIOS-fix (BIOS2-fix) that was originally included with Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5. In addition to the above, the latest version of this update corrects the following problems:
 * If a computer is set to a time zone which does not participate in Daylight Saving Time, refreshing the real time clock for the Year 2000 does not work.
 * The original update did not replace the multi-processor kernel if it existed. The updated version does.

On November 3, 1999, Microsoft released an updated version of BIOS-fix (Microsoft BIOS3 Y2K Update) that, in addition to fixing the above, fixes the problems listed below:
 * In rare cirumstances where the real time clock is slightly behind the system clock, refreshing the real time clock for the Year 2000 may not work.
 * 241040 Daylight Saving Time Change Not Applied Immediately



Windows NT Server or Workstation 4.0
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 service pack. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

For your convenience, a supported software update that corrects this problem is also available from Microsoft, but it has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. If you are not severely affected by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you install the latest Windows NT service pack that contains this software update.

If you are running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6:

The Microsoft BIOS3 Y2K Update is installed as part of Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6.

If you are running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 or 5:

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center or Microsoft's FTP site. Click the file names below to download the appropriate file:

x86:

Microsoft Download Center: Download Biosfixi.exe now

FTP: Download Biosfixi.exe now

Alpha:

Microsoft Download Center: Download Biosfixa.exe now

FTP: Download Biosfixa.exe now

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

The Terminal Server post-SP4 hotfix is available at:

ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes/usa/nt40tse/hotfixes-postsp4/y2k/bios3-fix/



Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT version 4.0 Service Pack 5.

Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition, Service Pack 5.

Additional query words: y2k tse wts

Keywords: kbdownload kbbug kbfix kbgraphxlinkcritical kbqfe kbwinnt400sp5fix kbwinnt4sp6fix kbyear2000 kbhotfixserver KB216913

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