answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

In the 1960s and 1970s, computer space was expensive. One cost-cutting measure was to render the year as two digits instead of four. So, for example, a computer would recognize the year 1974 as just "74". This works great until you get to the year 2000, which the computer will render as "00" and mistake for 1900.

Why is this a problem? Well, let's say there's a library with a non-Y2K compliant computer. You check out a book on December 21st, 1999. The book is due on January 3rd, 2000. The next day, you return the book and the library computer says you owe them millions of dollars in late fees. How can this be? Well, the computer recognized the current date as 12/22/99, the date the book was due as 01/03/00, and concluded the book was 99 years overdue. Now imagine the same kind of errors affecting other "date-sensitive" programs, such as the computers in charge of bank accounts.

The problem was overhyped to the public as a technological apocalypse, leading people to think planes would fall from the sky, computers would explode, etc. This is pure nonsense and no one who actually understood the problem expected that kind of stuff to happen.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What was supposed to happen during y2k?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Why did Y2k Not happen?

because they were wrong about the evidence


How serious will y2k be?

If Y2K was going to happen, it would have happened on January 1, 2000, so you're probably safe.


Did y2k happen?

penis hole tastes like chicken!


What years was the Y2K bug supposed to happen?

The Y2K bug was supposed to happen January 1, 2000. Many computer applications stored dates with only two digits for the year. For example, December 31, 1999, was stored as 12-31-99. The problem was that the following day, January 1, 2000, would be 01-01-00, which would appear to be before any other dates in the system, causing confusion and errors.


What does Y2K stand for?

Year 2000 Y = Year, 2 = 2, and K = 1,000


Where can you find the movie Y2K?

There is no y2k movie yet!


What operating system was coined the operating system of the century?

Mac OS 9 was prevented from Y2K in case it did happen


Why did the federal reserve increase the money supply during y2k scare?

they wanted to create a bubble.


Why were people afraid of Y2K?

Well i think people were scared of Y2K cuz they crazy. They be thinking that something wuz gonna happen, but nuthin DID!


What would happen if Y2K happend?

the world would go into an apacoliptic state in short terms "back to the stone age"


What does y2k stand for and why is it import t?

Y2K commonly stands for "year 2000" it was important because before 2000 it was said there was going to be a mass computer bug on the year 2000 it was supposedly an extremely big deal (very similar to the 2012 thing) but turned out to not even happen it is now said to happen in 2038.


What is the difference between the Y2K bug and the Y2K virus?

According to the experts at F-Secure, the "Y2K Virus" is just a misnomer given to the Y2K bug by media personnel who didn't completely understand the problem.