About Central Time Servers

Year 2000 Compliance Information for PC Systems

Handling PC's System Date/Time Before Y2K Testing

About Central Time Servers

The most common windows operating systems that are currently supported by ITSC are Windows 95/98 and Windows 3.1. Please note that the system date/time setting of these system environments (provided by ITSC) will be synchronized with central time servers automatically during each PC re-boot. It means that even if you change the date/time of your PC when it is running, the date/time setting will be re-initialized later by system's startup programs (will synchronize PC's system date/time with central time servers) during next re-boot.

A known problem of PC is that its Real-Time Clock might become inaccurate due to some reasons (for example, Real-Time Clock battery is used up or out of order). The inaccuracy can range from few seconds to several minutes per day, then the system can lose track of hours/days at a certain time. This inaccuracy in time will create confusion (for example, emails/files that have date/time stamped on them will be incorrect). The main reason of having central time servers is to try to make all networked PC clients conform to a uniform network time (of course this network time should be as accurate as possible).

Hence, if your PC is running a windows system provided by ITSC, or if you know that the PC will refer to network time server by whatever means, you need to take special care on PC's system date/time before performing Y2K testing.

PCs Running ITSC's Windows Systems

If your PC is running a windows system provided by ITSC and you want to perform Y2K compliance testing:

For ITSC's Windows 95/98 system: The most simple way to stop PC from synchronizing its date/time with central time servers is to physically disconnect the PC from network. However, if your Y2K testing does require network, please send e-mail to CCHELP for technical advice.

For ITSC's Windows 3.1 system: If possible, you are recommended to create & use a DOS bootable floppy diskette to carry out the Y2K testing (in a pure DOS environment). However, if your Y2K testing does require ITSC's Windows 3.1 system, please send e-mail to CCHELP for technical advice.