[NTLK] Patch 712000 testing

[Eckhart Köppen]

So here it is for the brave among you: https://40hz.org/Pages/newton/patches/patch712000/

In case anybody feels comfortable testing the updated patch for the Y2010 problem, and has ways to recover a bricked machine (swap the ROM board with an eMate one, or a German MP2100), would be great if we could get some testing out of it.

I recommend also installing the contained Y2010 Diagnostics package to clear the Alarm soup from the nightly todo-rollover alarms before installing the patch.

The Patch can be installed on a blank (717006) or patched (711000) US MessagePad. I hope to get to German MessagePads and eMates next if everything goes well.

The patch doesn’t have much safeguards against installation on anything else than a US MessagePad 2x00! It can be by the way installed in Einstein, but Einstein has a different approach to dealing with the Y2010 problem, which needs likely a different fix.

That said, I really hope this is now it, and look forward to reports. I’ve updated two Newtons here, and so far it’s working.

Eckhart

PS: This patch will expire 2040. That’s also when the lower levels of the NewtonOS will run into more serious issues...