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

ID: Q216913

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, Terminal Server Edition

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:
Q234557 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:
Q184305 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.


  • Q241040 Daylight Saving Time Change Not Applied Immediately



RESOLUTION

Windows NT

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 service pack. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q152734 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: Biosfixi.exe

FTP: Biosfixi.exe
Alpha:
Microsoft Download Center: Biosfixa.exe

FTP: Biosfixa.exe
For more information about how to download files from the Microsoft Download Center, please visit the Download Center at the following Web address
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.asp
and then click How to use the Microsoft Download Center.

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, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q152734 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/


STATUS

Windows NT 4.0

Microsoft has confirmed this to be 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 this to be 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 : kb2000 nt4sp5fix
Version : winnt:4.0,4.0 SP1,4.0 SP2,4.0 SP3,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: January 4, 2000
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