> From: Irena Thomas <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: [PCSOFT] net2000 software scanner and win95y2k.exe (long post)
> Date: Tuesday, February 02, 1999 7:49 AM
>
>  The OS is win95 4.0.0.950a, the PC is dell dimension xps pro 200n.
> I downloaded and ran Micosoft Y2K patch win95y2k.exe:
>
> win95y2k.exe    UPD980323B1  Windows 95 Year 2000 Update
>              256136               COMMAND.COM   4.0.0.256
>                                   WINFILE.EXE   4.0.0.951
>
> After that I downloaded from www.suttondesigns.com their freeware,
> Net2000 Software Scanner (n2000tr.exe) which was to detect which file
> could cause a problem next year. The (abbrevated) results follow.
> Question : is the scanner over-sensitive or real serious problems are
> looming ahead ? Should I start testing my software behaviour with the
> clock pushed forward or just buy the fix offered by the same site ?

It's pretty difficult to answer any questions on what this scanner is doing
without knowing what it means by an "instance" that it has found.  It is
even more difficult to recommend a course of action based on this.  I don't
know anything about this company or their software.  It might be really
good stuff or even the magic bullet everyone is looking for, but I find
that hard to believe.

Does an "instance" mean the scanner simply found the use of a date or does
it mean it found where a date was used incorrectly?  In general, it's
pretty difficult to interpret what the output of an automatic scan like
this means without a lot of research.  It's possible that since you say
that they also offer some type of Y2K fix that this is more a marketing
tool.  If that is the case, the scanner will be over-sensitive and vague on
whether what it finds is a real problem or a possible problem.  Automatic
scanners will help you find the obvious problems, but it is almost certain
it will not find all the problems.

There are a lot of factors to consider.  For example:  Exactly how are you
planning to use the scanner's results?   If you develop software and can
use the scanner to fix your own software, it might be worth it.  If you are
just trying to find problems in commercial software, it will not help you
to get those problems corrected.  You will still have to depend on the
software manufacturers to fix the problems so the scanner is really not
going to do you much good.

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