Microsoft Advises Double Checking Vista/XP for DST Change
Microsoft Advises Double Checking Vista/XP for DST Change
by , 1:10 PM EST, March 7th, 2008
Microsoft has set up a page to assist users with checking their Vista and XP system to make sure they are in compliance with all the local Daylight Saving Time (DST) rules. In some cases, time zone settings may be incorrect, according to Microsoft. There are no known issues with Mac OS X.
The Microsoft advisory says: "Observance of DST, and 'Summer Time' in much of Europe, is often different around the world; many areas, countries and territories shift their clocks at different times throughout the year. During these changes, clocks are usually shifted by one hour. Some locations follow a set of standard, uniform rules for the start and end dates of DST, but some locations determine the dates on a much more dynamic basis.
"Unless certain updates are applied to your computer, the time zone settings for your computer's system clock may be incorrect during this four-week period. In particular, you must make sure that both your Windows operating system and your calendar programs are updated."
Microsoft is still working out how to implement calendars in their OS, according to Information Week on Friday: "Thousands of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 users found that out the hard way last week when the software got flummoxed by the February 29 leap day."
There are no known issues with Mac OS X in the U.S. Recently some countries have been tweaking their DST rules, and updates have frequently appeared for MaBaSoft's World Clock Deluxe as a result, so worldwide Mac OS X customers may still want to check their Software Updates.
Apple customers can read more at the Apple Support Page on Daylight Saving Time.
For most of the U.S., Daylight Saving Time goes into effect Sunday Morning, March 9th at 2:00 AM when clocks are turned forward one hour.
Observer Comments
Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:11 pm Subject:
Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:30 pm Subject: Why they are having problems
QuoteGuest wrote:
You've got to be kidding me! Windows Server 2007 got "flummoxed" over leap day? Good Lord man, didn't they know it was coming?
Just another small example of the third-rate software that comes out of Redmond.
For many years we shifted to Daylight Savings Time on the 1st Sunday in April and operating systems were written to that date. Then as a result of Energy Policy Act of 2005 the date was changed to the 2nd Sunday in March.
Now mind you software publishers had two years to update their operating systems so I have no sympathy for MicroSoft's problem.
There is a plus side to DST; We get 25 hours in a day until November when we go back to a standard day of 24 hours. At least that is what the proponents of DST would have you believe, it has been my observation that there is no difference in time between meridian passages of the sun, the days are still 24 hours long.
I was a ship's navigator and got into this stuff. Some places are on the half or quarter hour, it depends on the meridian that they use. For example Singapore is -7.5 hours from Greenwich where as adjacent Malaysia is -7 hours and the Philippines is -8
Here are some current times in various places around the World:
6:25 San Diego, California
6:25 Tijuana, Mexico
6:25 Ile Clipperton
6:25 Pitcarin Island
6:25 Hong Kong
6:25 Vladivostok, Russia
6:25 Vancouver, Canada
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