What is the story of Y2K?

Question

I heard something of computers crashing, but I'd like more details. Any bit could help-thanxs.

So basically Y2K was about the computers crashing? Did people believe it? What did they do to get ready for it?

Answer 1

You can read more about Y2k here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y2K

Basically Y2k was a somewhat serious computer glitch regarding the date of most computer systems. While it was serious it was still blown way out of proportion by people panicing, stockpiling food and supplies because they thought it was going to bring about the end of the world and armageddon.

Answer 2

When computers were first made, they only used the last two digits of the date to save memory, processing power and basically cut corners. So 2001 would read as 1901 on these computers. That's fine because these computers were made in the 1950s-1980s and nobody thought that people would be using those computers in the 1990s. They were wrong. The government is still using punch card computers today. Even the main program we use at work was written in the 1970s. So people had to hire computer people to look through old code to put the four digits in the year.

There ended up being very little problems. The biggest one was a store sued a company that made the billing software. The software company said the program was Y2K safe, but a customer ran his card through that expired like in 2001 and the whole billing software crashed preventing the store from using their cash registers for hours until somebody came out and fixed the problem.

Answer 3

The Year 2000 problem (also known as the Y2K problem, the millennium bug, and the Y2K Bug) was the result of a practice in early computer program design that caused some date-related processing to operate incorrectly for dates and times on and after January 1, 2000. It caused widespread concern that critical industries (such as electricity or finance) and government functions would cease operating at exactly midnight, January 1, 2000, and on other critical dates which were billed as "event horizons". This fear was fueled by the attendant press coverage and other media speculation, as well as corporate and government reports. People who understand how computers work recognized that finely tuned systems could get "confused" when the 97, 98, 99, ?? ascending numbering assumption suddenly became invalid. Companies and organizations world-wide checked and upgraded their computer systems. The preparation for Y2K thus had a significant effect on the computer industry. No significant computer failures occurred when the clocks rolled over into 2000. Debate continues on whether the absence of computer failures was the result of the preparation undertaken or whether the significance of the problem had been overstated.

Answer 4

returned interior the Nineteen Sixties, while computing device storage (extraordinarily RAM) replaced into high priced -- approximately 50 cents in line with byte -- programmers used different shortcuts to shop memory. one way replaced into to apply in straight forward terms 2 digits to symbolize the three hundred and sixty 5 days. Few (if any) people on the time theory that the courses they have been writing could nevertheless be in use in 2000; they can even have theory that the hardware could have stronger adequate via then that it would not be a huge concern. nicely, the courses did stay used, and there replaced into the drawing close difficulty that an excellent variety of calculations that depended on the date (which contain the three hundred and sixty 5 days) could flow badly incorrect. This replaced into because of fact all years have been assumed before everything 19 -- yet in 2000, the two-digit date technique could tutor the three hundred and sixty 5 days as 1900. there replaced into some possibility of different systems crashing or in basic terms battling, however the bigger possibility replaced into in financial calculations that depended on having the final date. Many, many programmers have been positioned to the job of rewriting the old courses; an excellent variety of those have been retirees, re-employed on an emergency foundation (and for substantial pay), because of fact they knew the old textile maximum suitable. (that they had created an excellent variety of it, even with each little thing.) by way of heroic quantities of attempt, the Y2K difficulty replaced into oftentimes eradicated; while the calendar went to 01/01/00, there replaced into no longer a lot disruption. a lot pf people, on account that there replaced into little concern that got here approximately on that day, scoffed on the former predictions: "See? It wasn't almost as undesirable as you reported. You have been incorrect!" ...yet those people did no longer comprehend how a lot artwork had long previous into making the priority strengthen into small. The programmers have been the "hidden heroes"; thank a nerd on the instant! :-)

Answer 5

The COBOL (Common Business Oriented Programming Language) only allowed for dates in double digits - thus at 1999 ( = 99 in COBOL) to 2000 (= 00 in COBOL) 100 hundred back we go - or so it was feared.

The problem not so big as was feared, and a few carry over patches got us all through.

End of story.

Answer 6

short version-there was fear that software would get confused over whether 00 would equal the year 1900 or 2000 so software was changed to four places for the year to compensate. Considering our country is run by computers, etc. it was a big deal.