' Define an unitialized date.
Dim date1 As Date
Console.Write(date1.ToString())
If date1.Equals(Date.MinValue) Then _
   Console.WriteLine("  (Equals Date.MinValue)")
' The example displays the following output:
'    1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM  (Equals Date.MinValue)

// Define an unitialized date.
DateTime date1 = new DateTime();
Console.Write(date1.ToString());
if (date1.Equals(DateTime.MinValue))
   Console.WriteLine("  (Equals Date.MinValue)");
// The example displays the following output:
//    1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM  (Equals Date.MinValue)

' Attempt to assign an out-of-range value to a DateTime constructor.
Dim numberOfTicks As Long = Int64.MaxValue
Dim validDate As Date

' Validate the value.
If numberOfTicks >= Date.MinValue.Ticks And _
   numberOfTicks <= Date.MaxValue.Ticks Then
   validDate = New Date(numberOfTicks)
ElseIf numberOfTicks < Date.MinValue.Ticks Then
   Throw New ArgumentOutOfRangeException("ticks", _
                   String.Format("{0} is less than {1} ticks.", _
                   numberOfTicks, _
                   Date.MinValue.Ticks))
Else                                                   
   Throw New ArgumentOutOfRangeException("ticks", _
                   String.Format("{0} is greater than {1} ticks.", _
                   numberOfTicks, _
                   Date.MaxValue.Ticks))

// Attempt to assign an out-of-range value to a DateTime constructor.
long numberOfTicks = Int64.MaxValue;
DateTime validDate;

// Validate the value.
if (numberOfTicks >= DateTime.MinValue.Ticks &&
   numberOfTicks <= DateTime.MaxValue.Ticks)
   validDate = new DateTime(numberOfTicks);
else if (numberOfTicks < DateTime.MinValue.Ticks)
   throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException("ticks", 
                   String.Format("{0} is less than {1} ticks.", 
                   numberOfTicks, 
                   DateTime.MinValue.Ticks));
else                                                   
   throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException("ticks", 
                   String.Format("{0} is greater than {1} ticks.", 
                   numberOfTicks, 
                   DateTime.MaxValue.Ticks));