Read Me First
This software update is part of the Windows® 98 Service Pack 1. The following updates are included the Windows 98 Service Pack 1:

• Windows 98 System Update
• Internet Explorer 4.01 Service Pack 2*
• Windows 98 Year 2000 Update*
• Windows 98 Year 2000 Update 2*
• Outlook® Express Year 2000 Update*

For best performance and reliability of your Windows PC, Microsoft recommends that you download all the components of the Service Pack from the Windows Update Product Catalog if you have not done so already. You can also get Outlook Express Year 2000 Update and the other Windows 98 Service Pack 1 components, along with Internet Explorer 5 and other new features, by ordering the Windows 98 Second Edition Updates CD for existing Windows 98 users. To order, please click here. 

For more information on Windows 98 Second Edition, click here.

Download this fix to resolve a Year 2000 issue with Outlook Express 4.01, which is installed in a standard Internet Explorer 4.01, SP1, and SP2 setup. The Year 2000 issue occurs when receiving an IMAP mail message or a News message with a 2-digit year as the sent date. The date can be misinterpreted under certain conditions. If the 2-digit year is anything other than '99, Outlook Express assumes the century value is the same as the current century. If the current year is 2000, and a 2-digit date is received as '97, then the year will be interpreted as 2097. However, there is one special case when different logic is applied. If a 2-digit year of '99 is received and the current year is a multiple of 100 (e.g. 2000), the year will be interpreted as the current year plus 98 (e.g. 2098).

If you require technical assistance with this issue, please contact Microsoft Technical Support .

How to download and install

1. Click the Download button at the top or bottom of the page.
2. Follow the instructions on your screen.

How to use
You don't need to do anything after downloading.

Uninstall is not available for this component.

For Year 2000 information regarding Microsoft and its products visit our YEAR 2000 Web site or call 1-888-MSFT-Y2K or contact your local subsidiary.

ALL COMMUNICATIONS OR CONVEYANCES OF INFORMATION TO YOU CONCERNING MICROSOFT AND THE YEAR 2000 REFLECTS INFORMATION THAT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL SUCH INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH AT MICROSOFT'S YEAR 2000 WEB SITE LOCATED AT http://www.microsoft.com/year2000/ AND IS INTENDED TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER INFORMATION LOCATED AT THE Y2K WEBSITE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MICROSOFT'S YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE STATEMENT, THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CATEGORIES OF COMPLIANCE INTO WHICH MICROSOFT HAS CLASSIFIED ITS PRODUCTS IN ITS YEAR 2000 PRODUCT GUIDE, AND THE MICROSOFT YEAR 2000 TEST CRITERIA. MICROSOFT THEREFORE RECOMMENDS THAT YOU CHECK THE YEAR 2000 WEBSITE REGULARLY FOR ANY CHANGES TO ANY MICROSOFT YEAR 2000 STATEMENT. ALL SUCH INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND AND PROVIDED AS A YEAR 2000 READINESS DISCLOSURE.