Volume 4 Issue 11

June, 1999

YEAR 2000 Bug

Everyone’s heard of the Y2K bug; the one that makes computer programs not recognize the imminent new century.

Some changes need to be done with some of our own programs to overcome this shortcoming and some of you may need to make a few changes yourself.

Cove's Upgrades
The only programs we have identified as "Y2K challenged" are our TimeCheck program and our WebLog program suite. We are currently replacing both services and should have the new ones up and running around mid-July at the latest.

Until then, the TimeCheck will be inoperable. Website clients will continue to be served by WebLog until the change is made.

Windows 3.X / System 7.1
PC users who still use Windows 3.1 or Windows 3.11 and Mac users still using System 7.1 or lower should be aware that their systems will not work properly in the year 2000. They must upgrade their operating systems before the new year.

Windows95A (aka the original Windows95 Upgrade)
PC users running the original Windows95 upgrade are also liable, but there is a simple fix. Just open the International Settings (in Control Panel) and change the Long Date Format to 4 digits.

Phone Line Quality

Many subscribers are justifiably frustrated with the sometimes poor line quality in our area. We have found some interesting ways to check your line quality and actions you can take to improve your situation.

IBM has a webpage with tips on checking line quality and how to deal with the phone company to get the quality improved. The URL is help.ibm.net/helplib/tlcoinfo.html.

Also, 3COM has a phone number you can call; which will actually analyze your phone line! The number is (847) 262-6000.

Office Notes

From June 7 to June 20 the office will only be open from 9am to 4pm, with messages being checked at 6pm.

If you would like to pay for your service using direct deposit, please contact your bank for details.

Help Desk Notes

We received a few calls this month from subscribers not being able to send email. This is usually caused by an incorrect email address in the first email message in your outbox. Removing this message should allow any others to be sent. Another cause may be a corrupted outbox. In that case, simply compact your folders.

We ask our subscribers who are new to using the Internet to spend a little time with our Help Section, located on our main page. There, you will find several references on using browsers and email programs. There is also a very good tutorial site called the Beginner’s Guide, containing many interesting, informative links and pages.

New Subscriber Referral Promotion!

Are you pleased with our service? Do you know someone who is unhappy with their current Internet/On-line service?

Why not do them, and yourself, a favor?

Just recommend our service to them. If they subscribe, we will give you a free month of access!

They will appreciate your advice and you'll save a little money!

Again this month, over a dozen subscribers are getting their access in June for free - by referring new subscribers.

Everybody wins!

SysAdmin's Corner

We installed a new authentication server over the holidays and a few subscribers needed to have their passwords updated. Otherwise, all is still quiet at the Cove.

There were no significant outages on our network or our upstream links to report.

If you are interested in seeing the Internet's performance statistics, we recommend the Internet Traffic Report, located at the bottom of the Internet Section of our website.

Internet Training

Classes at our Salem facility will be in June on the 22nd and in July on the 20th.

What's New at the Cove is a monthly publication of Cove Communications.

Publisher, Bill Ostaski
Editor, John Trefry

27 Congress Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 741-5300
(978) 282-3399
office@cove.com

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