Y2K Problem? What Y2K Problem?

For Down and Dirty Details: Norton 2000

Symantec's Norton 2000 touches all of the major Y2K bases. It tests a computer's BIOS chip, as well as common applications and personal data files. And although it won't correct date problems in your database files, it will tell you exactly what could go wrong. It even includes an update feature that connects you to an online list of Y2K-related bugs.

Norton really excels at flushing out Y2K bugs in database and spreadsheet files that are generated by programs like Access, dBase, Excel, FoxPro, Lotus 1-2-3, Paradox, and Quattro Pro. It even digs deep into formulas and macros that you have written yourself -- including those that you may have forgotten about.

Coordinates: $49.95. Norton 2000, Symantec Corp., www.symantec.com

For a Complete Computer Checkup: 2000 Toolbox

While Norton 2000 can go over the top with its detailed reports, Network Associates's 2000 ToolBox tries to demystify the Y2K-testing process by dealing with big-ticket items only. Like Norton 2000, 2000 ToolBox tests software and data files, as well as a system's BIOS. In hardware tests, though, this utility sometimes won't tell you exactly what's wrong.

When testing software, 2000 ToolBox is not as thorough as Norton 2000. But it does cover all major problems, and it even suggests remedies (like using a four-digit year in spreadsheets). A bonus: It also includes links to the software manufacturers' Web sites.

Coordinates: $29.95. 2000 ToolBox, Network Associates Inc., www.nai.com

For No-Fuss Hardware Help: PCfix 2000

PCfix 2000 does just one thing -- it diagnoses and repairs BIOS problems -- but it does that one thing very well.

As soon as your computer boots up, PCfix identifies the correct century and notifies the computer's BIOS chip. When PCfix completes its mission, it gets out of the way (unlike some programs, which can cause problems when they remain in memory). If you're using a nonstandard operating system, such as OS/2 or DOS, PCfix is a good choice, since it works with those systems as well as it does with Windows 95, 98, and NT.

Coordinates: $74.95. PCfix 2000, the About Time Group, www.pcfix2000.com

For Complete Testing and Online Advice: Check 2000 PC Deluxe

As the name implies, Check 2000 tries to check nearly everything on your computer, including its BIOS chip, its operating system, your applications, and your data files. The package uses a wizard (an interactive help utility) to guide you through the testing process.

If Check 2000 encounters a bad BIOS, it will offer a fix. When it runs into date-dependent applications and files, it will advise you on how to patch them. It will also notice if your Windows system is set (incorrectly) to accept the two-digit date format. And if you need more information than the program delivers, go to the Check 2000 Web site: It's packed with enough detail to satisfy even Type-A geeks.

Coordinates: $49.95. Check 2000 PC Deluxe, Greenwich Mean Time, www.gmt-uta.com

Contributing Editor John R. Quain (www.j-q.com) appears regularly on CBS News's "Up to the Minute."