by Arie Slob

Dear Windows-Help.NET Subscriber, To help people assess and prepare their home PCs for the Year 2000, Microsoft recently launched a new Y2K Web site specifically aimed at consumers. The Web site is intended to provide home-PC users with the simple information they need to assess the Year 2000 readiness of their home PCs. A March Gallup telephone survey of 1,021 adults found that 28 percent of Americans plan to prepare for the Y2K issue by stockpiling household supplies such as food and water, and 20 percent plan to have more cash on hand or to closely monitor their financial records. By comparison, only 4 percent plan to update their home computers. Mark Light, Year 2000 Product Manager at Microsoft said "Most consumers are aware of the issue, but they have not really awakened to what they need to do to update their personal computers." The consumer Web site will be translated into nearly 30 languages. It will include an easy-to-understand product guide that describes how most Microsoft software applications handle dates, as well as information regarding what action, if any, consumers need to take to prepare their applications for the Year 2000. The Web site also allows users to download the "Microsoft Year 2000 Product Analyzer", which automatically scans a user's hard drive and determines what Microsoft products are on the computer. The product analyzer then generates a report telling users the compliance status of their system. It also provides online access to Year 2000 software updates, if needed. For those who prefer to have information mailed to them, Microsoft is offering a subscription to a free "Year 2000 Resource CD." The CD, which is available in 14 languages, includes the Microsoft Year 2000 Product Analyzer. It also includes the necessary Year 2000 updates for Microsoft's most popular products as well as white papers and other information about the Year 2000 issue. America Online to Buy Internet Music Companies America Online said on Tuesday that it would buy two Internet music companies, Nullsoft Inc. and Spinner Networks Inc., for a total of $400 million in stock. The acquisitions by America Online underscore the growing popularity of playing and listening to music over the Internet. It will combine AOL's 17-million-plus subscribers, Nullsoft's 15 million WinAmp users, and Spinner's 1.5 million monthly listeners, thereby creating an online audio powerhouse, already nicknamed "The MTV of the Web". AOL IM 2.1.1187 Beta Released AOL released a new beta of their popular Instant Messenger (IM) client. AOL Instant Messenger allows you to easily converse and send files among your friends all over the world. Version 2.1.1187 adds the simple yet useful option to switch screen names without having to signoff, as well as the ability to hide IM windows while away. Download =Sponsored Link= CyberGold, is the web site that "Pays For Your Attention". CyberGold pays you money to read advertisements on the Internet, fill out surveys, complete subscription forms, and offers great savings on many consumer products. Best of all, membership is free.

Office 2000 Upgrade Tool
Find out which Office 2000 products you can get at the upgrade price! The Microsoft® Office 2000 product family uses Web technology to help you improve collaboration, enhance workgroup productivity, and analyze business information. If you own select Microsoft or other third party software, you may be able to get an Office 2000 product at its upgrade price. Use this Upgrade Tool to find out which Office 2000 upgrades you qualify for.

Office 2000 Upgrade Tool

BackOffice Server 4.5 Evaluation Kit
Evaluate Microsoft BackOffice Server 4.5 for 120 days. This kit provides all the tools and information you need to evaluate BackOffice Server 4.5 and to decide whether it is the right solution for your organization. These resources are designed to make evaluating BackOffice Server 4.5 as your branch office, department, Intranet and Internet, or line-of-business server as seamless as possible.

See this Microsoft page for more details, and to reserve your copy of the Evaluation Kit ($29.95 USD).

Windows Utility Software

Windows Utility Software
Enter E-mail address

Subscribers will receive occasional email announcements of special offers.
More lists.

Windows Tip:
Remove the "Log Off user" from the Start menu

Follow these instructions to remove the "Log Off user" from your Start menu:

Windows 95
Windows 98

Windows 98 Tip:
Remove My Documents folder from the Desktop

Follow these instructions to remove the My Documents folder from your Start menu.

Recommend this Newsletter to a Friend! (And you'll have a chance at winning software in our weekly drawing!)

Ask your Windows 95 / 98 / NT questions here!