The Cinderella Method
(Version 3 - 1999-07-15)

The Cinderella method is based on the "Two Minute Zero Cost Solution"
(See http://www.cinderella.co.za/twomin.htm)

1. Test your Bios and decide your approach
(see http://www.cinderella.co.za/pccomply.txt)

If, for some reason, you do not wish to use rely on bypassing a BIOS error, look at the Cinderella BIOS links to check how to physically upgrade the hardware Bios (see http:/www.cinderella.co.za/bios.htm)

2. Never allow your machine to set back to 1980
Why? (see http://www.cinderella.co.za/slug2000.txt)

- put a "protector" in the autoexec.bat file
USE SLUG2000.EXE from (ftp://ftp.cinderella.co.za/pub/slug2000.zip) or Download the Toolkit for DOS, Win3.xx, Win 95 and Win 98
(ftp://ftp.cinderella.co.za/pub/toolk12.exe)

or
YEAR2000.EXE from http://www.Rightime.com
and
for good measure, do the "belt and braces test"
(see http://www.cinderella.co.za/beltbrac.txt)

3. Set Windows system default to yyyy-MM-dd and HH:mm:ss
(thus implementing the hidden ISO8601 support)
(see http://www.cinderella.co.za/newsflas.txt)

4. Apply appropriate Patches for your Operating System
(see http://www.cinderella.co.za/cindpat.htm)

5. Change the defaults in your Office Software, Spreadsheets and databases to use 4 digit years. The "Cinderella Test Reports" are designed to help in this process.
(See http://www.cinderella.co.za/test0000.htm)

6. Change the data in your existing spreadsheets and databases and applications to use YYYY-MM-DD. The "Cinderella Spreadsheet Torture Tests" examine this problem.
(see http://www.cinderella.co.za/test0003.htm)

7. Check the Applications you use, using a Formal set of Test Criteria.
(see http://www.cinderella.co.za/criteria.txt)
record the results,
(see http://www.cinderella.co.za/testrslt.txt)

and complete the Header
(see http://www.cinderella.co.za/testhead.txt)
and Summary.
(see http://www.cinderella.co.za/testsumm.txt)

If Applications do not work Acceptably, replace them. And if you have any doubts about what is acceptable or not
(see http://www.cinderella.co.za/complia.htm)

For lists of Test results (see http://www.cinderella.co.za/cindtest.htm)

8. Insist that any new purchases that you make are compliant.

9. Adopt a proactive stance to informing your customer
and supply chains, formally adopting the "Corporate Statement"
(http://www.cinderella.co.za/corpstat.htm)
paying regard to Legal Implications.
(http://www.cinderella.co.za/y2klegal.htm)

10. Adopt a formal Y2k Project Management approach for Inventory, Assessment, Remediation, Testing, Contingency Planning and Business Continuity Planning. Frequently asked Questions and Answers can be found at
(http://www.cinderella.co.za/minifaq.txt)

Small Business Owners should read "Case Study 001" at
(http://www.cinderella.co.za/case001.htm)
and for further Product Compliance info and Business related strategies should follow the relevant links on the Small Business page
(http://www.cinderella.co.za/cindsme.htm)


Chris Anderson
Usual disclaimers
page last updated 1998-11-01