In the end, Y2K was a nothing burger due to years of preparation.
I worked for a mainframe manufacturer. We started more than five years before midnight on December 31st, 1999 examining all of the hardware and software we ever sold. Had to identify all instances of two digit years and make a plan to update everything installed worldwide.
It was also a massive undertaking to educate all of our customers on what we were doing and how to inspect and repair all of their application software. Likewise to educate all of our worldwide support employees.
We wrote manuals and held classes. In many cases, customers with really old hardware and software had to upgrade or purchase new as well as update their applications. We provided features in our operating system to simulate the date and time turnover.
I spent many weekends at customer sites installing new hardware or software, or updates, or performing tests.
So while it all appeared seamless to users, it was quite traumatic within the industry. The after effect was that all large computer users were fully up-to-date and would not have to make any purchases for several years. That is what earned me a buyout and early retirement in 2001 after 37 years.
re: “ We started more than five years before midnight on December 31st, 1999 examining all of the hardware and software “
And BANKS had been making loans (mortgages) for HOW MANY YEARS into the future? Think amortization schedules (I had one for my house because of a second note.)
(Not to mention bonds, other multi-year financial instruments payable on some FUTURE date well past the year 2000 WITH clauses for early redemption as any time.)
This whole thing was - a charade.