6/26/24, 2:59 PM
`
`CNN - Windows 95 Y2K fix was kept from users - May 3, 1999
`
`I
`
`sci-tech > computing> story page
`
`.com.
`
`~
`MAIN PAGE
`WORLD
`ASIANOW
`U.S.
`LOCAL
`POLITICS
`WEATHER
`BUSINESS
`SPORTS
`TECHNOLOGY
`
`£2!!!!;!Utlng,
`i;iersonal technologv.
`irnace
`NATURE
`ENTERTAINMENT
`BOOKS
`TRAVEL
`FOOD
`HEALTH
`STYLE
`IN-DEPTH
`
`custom news
`Headline News brief
`dailY. almanac
`CNN networks
`CNN P.rQ9@!!1§
`on-air transcri[!ls
`news guiz
`
`ENliSPAA'O
`em DOllllauie
`SVtE .• S KA
`NCJPHi
`daftmal'II:
`TIME INC. SITES:
`Go To ... v
`MORE SERVICES:
`video on demand
`video archive
`audio on demand
`news email services
`free email accounts
`desktoP. headlines
`P.Ointcast
`P.sgenet
`
`DISCUSSION:
`~
`geboards
`chat
`feedback
`
`SITE GUIDES:
`helP.
`contents
`search
`
`Windows 95 Y2K fix was kept
`from users
`
`May 3, 1999
`Web posted at: 11 :28 a.m . EDT (1528 GMT)
`
`r'\. .2k
`i,,;.,y
`
`by Julia King
`
`(IDG) -- For almost a year,
`Microsoft Corp. withheld from its
`125 million corporate users of
`Windows 95 the information that a
`software patch was in the works to
`make the desktop operating system
`fully year 2000-compliant, a
`Microsoft official confirmed last
`week.
`
`ALSO
`fil9.!l.Y.P. for the ComP.uter Connection
`email service
`
`"I don't want people taking action
`For more com(!uting stories
`based on Microsoft thinking about doing something," said Don Jones,
`year 2000 product manager at Microsoft. "Until I'm 100% sure that
`we're going to provide an update or fix, I don't want to tell anybody,"
`Jones added. "People will spend millions of dollars, [implementing
`strategies based on such information], and the last thing I want to do is
`spread fear, uncertainty and doubt in their minds."
`
`One company now gearing up to spend millions on an upgrade from
`Windows 95 to 98 -- based at least partly on year 2000 concerns -- is
`Electronic Data Systems Corp. Until mid-March, EDS officials
`believed -- like all Windows 95 users -- that Microsoft wouldn't make
`Windows 95 fully year 2000-compliant. At best, they were told,
`Windows 95 would be "compliant, with minor issues."
`
`Jones' comments are the latest in a series
`of clarifications, memos and statements to
`emerge from Microsoft since March 29,
`when Computerworld ran a front-page
`story about EDS's about-face plan to
`migrate 100,000-plus desktops from
`Windows 95 to 98.
`
`Previously, EDS planned to stick with
`Windows 95, but it changed course on
`Microsoft's advice to the company,
`according to an internal memo by former
`CIO Gary Rudin, who abruptly resigned
`from EDS on March 31.
`
`MORE COMPUTING INTELLIGENCE
`
`I~ I IDG.net home PJ!.9!
`
`Com12uterworld's home P.sgg
`
`Com12uterworld Year 2000 resource
`center
`
`Com[!uterworld's online subscriP.tion
`center
`
`Reviews & in-depth info at IDG.net
`
`IDG.net's P.ersonal news P.agg
`
`Year 2000 World
`
`Questions about com[!uters? Let
`IDG.net's editors help you
`
`Subscribe to IDG.net's free dailY.
`newsletter for IT leaders
`
`Search IDG.net in 12 languages
`
`News Radio
`
`Comi;iuterworld Minute
`
`FASTER ACCESS:
`
`fil!.[Q[!l!
`
`Microsoft denies
`
`www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9905/03/fix.y2k.idg/
`
`1/3
`
`

`

`6/26/24, 2:59 PM
`
`WEB SERVICES:
`
`CNN - Windows 95 Y2K fix was kept from users - May 3, 1999
`But then and now, Microsoft officials
`insist they never advised EDS or any other
`corporate customer to remain on Windows
`95 or to upgrade to Windows 98 for year 2000- readiness reasons.
`
`Fusion audio P.rlmers
`
`So why would the CIO of EDS send out a memo saying as much?
`
`"You'll have to ask Gary [Rudin]," Jones said. "It's certainly not our
`policy. We do recommend that people go to the latest versions of our
`operating system, but not for year 2000 reasons."
`
`Rudin didn't return telephone calls last week.
`
`Also, following the March 29 story about EDS, Microsoft issued an
`internal market bulletin to its sales staff to eliminate what it described
`as "confusion" generated by the Computerworld story.
`
`Among other things, the bulletin told salespeople that "the
`Computerworld article is very misleading," and despite the article's
`suggestions, "Microsoft's position on Windows 95 Year 2000
`compliance has not changed."
`
`Yet under a section titled "Facts Regarding ... Year 2000 Compliance,"
`the company tells its salespeople that "Microsoft is providing a
`software update for Windows 95 to resolve the outstanding minor
`issues."
`
`When questioned by Computerworld reporters, Microsoft officials
`couldn't specify any incorrect or misleading information in the March
`29 story.
`
`SPECIAL SECTION:
`
`Looking at the Y2K Bug_
`
`RELATED STORIES:
`
`Test v.our sv.stems for Y2K
`~P.Ot & fix Y2K 12roblems in Windows 9x & NT
`Y2K niP.S NT users
`
`RELATED IDG.net STORIES:
`
`Look closelv. at Y2K-readiness
`( Computerworld)
`Medicare's Y2K-readiness in doubt
`(FCW)
`Old switches, routers 12ose Y2K threat
`(Network World Fusion)
`What's the deal with Y2K cards?
`(PC World Online)
`Microsoft releases Y2K tools
`(PC World Online)
`Norton 2000 stam12s out elusive Y2K bull§.
`(FCW)
`Download the Windows 95 Y2K 12atch from FileWorld
`(PC World Online)
`IDG.net's Year 2000 World
`(IDG.net)
`
`Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
`External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
`
`RELATED SITES:
`
`Microsoft Cor12.
`Electronic Data Sv.stems Cor12.
`
`Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
`External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
`
`LATEST HEADLINES:
`
`SEARCH CNN.com
`
`Enter keyword(s)
`
`www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9905/03/fix.y2k.idg/
`
`2/3
`
`

`

`6/26/24, 2:59 PM
`
`Back to the toP-
`
`CNN - Windows 95 Y2K fix was kept from users - May 3, 1999
`
`© 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved .
`Terms under which this service is provided to you .
`Read our P.rivacy_guidelines.
`
`www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9905/03/fix.y2k.idg/
`
`3/3
`
`