The problem faced by computer users when the year 2000 (y2k) was reached. Many accounting and database applications had, for years, used only two digits to represent the year in a date; i.e. they would use 31.12.99 to represent 31 December 1999. This would obviously give incorrect follow-on dates for 01.01.00, and incorrect sorting of records in date order. Another problem involved the BIOS giving incorrect dates after 31.12.99. A considerable amount of money and time was spent by companies preparing for y2k. Most problems were solved by new software issues or by patches to existing software, and the major disruption that many had predicted did not materialize.