How to Inventory Your Desktop Machine
For Windows 3.1 Machines
  1. Obtain information about memory size: Under the "Program Manager" open the "Main" icon if it is not already open. - you should find an icon called MS-DOS Prompt - open this by left clicking once. A screen should appear with the phrase C:\WINDOWS> where the cursor is positioned. At thi spot, type "mem" and press the return/enter key. A table should be produced in the window. At the bottom of the second column (labelled "Total") should be a number indicating Total Memory similar to nn,nnnK (where nn,nnn are numbers); copy down the number as the amount of memory in your computer. Also, write down the number under "Free space" as this will be what is available for upgrades.

  2. Get a list of applications software on your hard disk: Be sure that cursor is positioned after C:\WINDOWS> At this spot, type the following (be careful to use spaces only where indicated):

    dir c:\*.* > c:\$y2klist.txt (press enter/return)

    This should produce a list of files in a file named $y2klist.txt. Type "exit" after C:\WINDOWS> to close the DOS window. At the Program Manager level, open the "main" program group and double click on "File Manager" to open it; single click on C:\ to open the disk and find the file $y2klist.txt; double click to open. This should display a list of files which you can print by pulling down the menu under File and clicking on Print.

  3. Find out the version of each of the applications on your hard disk: Read down the rightmost column of the printed $y2klist.txt file and place a check next to the name of each file or directory that is an application (ex.Word, Powerpoint, Eudora, etc.) In order to inventory the applications, each program must be opened. This can be done by going to the File Manager and double clicking on the program icon in the Applications window, the Net Clients window or a window with the application name. DO NOT LOOK IN THE APPLICATIONS SERVER WINDOW. When the application is open, look under the Help menu and select "About" or "About " to open another window with the version number of the product. Write the complete version number next to the name of each application on your list. (ex. 2.02 for Netscape)

  4. Compare your inventory with the table: Go to the Web and find the URL
    http://www.brown.edu/Research/Unix_Admin/y2000/Wintable.html
    which lists the most commonly used software. Compare the list of your software with this table and circle any on your list that is lower than the version listed in the table. If you cannot find the software listed in this table, you will have to try to find it at the vendor site. To find the vendor site, try a Web search on the vendor name (not product) and select the entry that appears to be the home page. Once there, use the company's search button to look for "Year 2000." Some vendors may not have this information on the Web and a call to your local sales representative will be necessary.

  5. Determine if you can upgrade to the necessary versions: For those products that are below the compliance level, compare the necessary memory required for the newer version with the "free space" size to see if you have enough memory. Remember that you will gain some space with the removal of old software. If you have a number of products to upgrade, add together the amount needed for each and compare it with the amount of free space.

  6. Report needed upgrades: If there is not enough space to upgrade to the newer applications software, indicate this information in a memo to your chairperson/department head. Be sure to complete the entire inventory so you can determine the total additional space required.
This completes the inventory of your Windows 3.1 computer. Please keep the list and your notes in a secure place until your applications software is at a level compliant with year 2000. At this time, it is not necessary to install the newer software however, this must be done before the new millennium and should be arranged at a time convenient for your Department Computing Coordinator.