Tom wrote:

And although I can't find it, I do recall one of the SETI@home guys
posting this link to set us straight:
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/tech_news99.html

For what it's worth, I agree with you about May 14 because I remember
the announcement too.  But the general consensus reached back then was
May 17.

The *official* launch was Monday May 17, 1999. But like many brick and
mortar store grand openings, seti@home opened its doors to the public a
few days early.

-- 
Tony Sivori