Do you know when 32 bit OS will stop working?
Or
When will 32 bits computers stop storing data?
Before moving forward, it's always good to know the content:
1) When 32 bit Unix Based OS will stop working exactly?
2) Why it happens on exact time and date so?
3) What are bits and Maximum value of standard bits?
4) Obviously 32 bit has such a big capacity to store data/values, then on what type of storing data or values will lead to cross 32 bit maximum value ?
5) Why time has to be memorized by OS. Is there any significance of time as such?
6) Is there any particular date from when OS has to remember the time?
7) Why 1901 is considered to be birth or origin of computers??
8) And in what unit does the time is being stored in 32 bit Unix-based OS ??
9) Calculation of seconds to be stored since 1901 till 1938 ?
10) What all are the Devices that will be impacted by this ??
Note: OS refers to 32 bit Linux or Unix based OS.
When 32 bit Unix Based OS will stop working exactly?
19 January 2038, at 03:14:07 UTC
Why it will happen on particular date and time( and particular second too) so?
Because on that particular time, the 32 bit will be exact to its maximum value. After one second later it will cross its maximum value. Due to which it won't be able to store further value of time.
Extra knowledge
Techie detail:
When it gets to Tue, Jan 19 03:14:07 2038, the next second(03:14:08) will be Fri, Dec 13 20:45:52 1901. Can you see the difference in the day & date at 7th and 8th second respectively. At 7th seconds it's a Tuesday,Jan 19 03:14:07 2038 and just one second later at 8th second it's a Friday, Dec 13 20:45:52 1901. However internally, if the code calculates the difference of time from Tue, Jan 19 03:14:07 2038 to Fri, Dec 13 20:45:52 1901, this is still just 1 second because that is how the numbers work internally - that is what the roll-over is about.
What are bits and their Maximum values ?
Before moving forward let me introduce you to the basic terminologies:
Bit or bit : a single block([]) or one container in which either 1 or 0 is stored.
Similarly,
2 bit means 2 blocks( [], []) or simply 2 containers in both either 0 or 1 can be stored.
Similarly there are some standard bits in the OS world.
Standard bits:
Let's look at the standard bits, such as 4 bit, 8 bit, 16 bit, 32 bit, 64 bit and 128 bit.
4 bit:
4 containers ( [], [], [], [] )
8 bit:
8 containers ( [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] )
16 bit:
16 containers ( [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] )
32 bit:
32 containers ([], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [])
64 bit:
64 containers,( [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] . . . . . . . [] )
Each containers or block allows to store either 1 or 0
Extra Knowledge:
To know how numbers are converted into binary , switch here. And from binary to decimal, switch here.
But why does the OS store data in the form of binary ??
It's because the hardware understands either True or False, 1 or 0, switch ON or Switch OFF.
Similarly, the hardware of a laptop/computer understood in binary format( 0 or 1) only. Whereas it doesn't understand human readable numerical format(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0). Basically numerical format is first converted into ASCII values and then converted into binary format.
Let's get back to our topic and talk about the maximum value that can be stored in standard bits.
Maximum value of standard bits?
Maximum values that 4 bit, 16 bit and 32 bit can store ?
Condition of maximum value in any bits: When all container or block are filled with 1
For example:
In 4 bit, maximum value that can be stored is: 15
[1][1][1][1] = 1 x 2^3 + 1 x 2^2 + 1 x 2^1 + 1 x 2^0 = 8 + 4 + 2 + 1
Similarly in 16 bit:
[1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1] = 1 x 2^15 + 1 x 2^14 + 1 x 2^13 + 1 x 2^12 + 1 x 2^11 + 1 x 2^10 + 1 x 2^9 + 1 x 2^8 + 1 x 2^7 + . . . . . + 1 x 2^3 + 1 x 2^2 + 1 x 2^1 + 1 x 2^0 = 65535
Similarly, in 32 bit:
[1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1] . . . . . . . [1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1] = 1 x 2^31 + 1 x 2^30 + 1 x 2^29 + . . . . . . .
- 1 x 2^3 + 1 x 2^2 + 1 x 2^1 + 1 x 2^0 = 4,294,967,295 = approximately
429 crores.
So, finally we came to know about the maximum value that 4 bit, 16 bit and 32 bit can store. Now you tell me, when will 32 bits stop working. So your answer will be:
And what type of data it will store. Because obviously 429 crore is such a big number ?
The data is time which is to be stored in seconds since 1901. And we all know time always increases, so it's value will keep on increasing further.
Why time has to be memorized by OS. Is there any significance of time as such?
For now accept that Time plays a very important role in operating systems. For more.
Is there any particular date from when OS has to remember the time?
It's from 1901.
Why 1901 is considered to be birth or origin of computers??
It's because 1901 is considered as the reference time for the origin of Unix-based OS, In actually Unix-based OS were born around 1970. See, basically we count birth day on that particular day on which you were born. In Linux since the time is being counted from 1901 as a standard so just for sake 1901 year is called as the origin of the computer because of the time of the Unix based 32 bit OS is considered 1901 year as the origin.
And in what unit the time is being stored ??
It's a small unit of time called a second.
Calculation of seconds to be stored since 1901 till 1938 ?
Oh got it that the Unix-based 32 bit OS has been storing time in seconds since 1901. For example, suppose the 1st day passed after 1901, then 32 bit OS has to remember total seconds equals 24 hrs x 60 min x 60 sec = 86400 seconds. This number can't even be stored in a 16 bit register as it crosses the maximum value of 16 bit , i.e 65535. Now suppose a year passes w.r.t 1901. Means you are in 1902. Total number of seconds a 32 bit OS has to be stored is 365days x 24 hrs x 60 min x 60 seconds = 31,536,000( ~ 3 crores)
Look at the number, are you able to digest how big this 31,536,000 number is.
Now let's calculate the total number of seconds for 10 years: 10 x 31,536,000 = approx 31 crores.
And as we know that the maximum limit of 32 bits is approx 429 crore. Are you able to feel how fast within the coming years it will surpass 32 bit maximum numbers.
It has been said that in the year 2038(19 Jan) the 429 crore number will be surpassed.
Let's feel it and prove it.
The difference in years b/w 1901 to 2038 is 138 years. And if you talk about the actual value of seconds passed in 138 years, plus 18 days and time at 03:14:07 UTC(I.e ). But don’t get into actual value, just remember approx value of second in 137 years.
1) Total passed years = 136. ---> Total second = 136×31536000 = 4,288,896,000 ~ 428 crores
2) And on 137th year, on 19 Jan at 3:14:7 second. = 18×24×60×60 seconds = 1,555,200 ~ 10 lakhs
Total seconds from 1901 to 19 Jan, 2038 = 429(428 crore + 10 lakh) crore = Maximum value of 32 bit = all 32 boxes or container filled with 1. To store more values needs more container or boxes. That's why 64 bit was considered over 32 bit.
And max value of 32 bit is also approx to 429 crore. And as the 32 bit OS starts storing values greater than say 429 crore then it has to shift from 32 bit to 64 bit to store values greater than 429 crores.
That's the exact reason why 32 bit Unix-based OS will stop working after 19 Jan 2038 at around 3 AM, 14 minute and 78th second.
What all are the Devices that will be impacted by this ??
As far as operating systems are concerned, Windows is okay, its operating system used a different method for dates from the start.
There are still some issues for 32 bit versions of the Linux operating system but they are being fixed. It should be okay by 2038 so long as you are able to update to the 64 bit of the operating system.
Android is based on Linux, so if you have a 32 bit Android device then the operating system might not be able to handle dates beyond 2038 - but if not this should be fixed well before 2038.
This was all from this blog, hope you get to learn something interesting today. That's all from my side keep learning and keep upgrading yourself.
And last but not the least, let me know if you found any error in the blog through comment. That would be really appreciated ☺️
Keep this flow chart for future reference
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