Effective this year in Canada and the US, Daylight Saving Time has been extended by four weeks – it will now start on March 11th and end on November 4th – and depending on what operating system and applications you’re using, you may or may not have to make some adjustments.  

Windows Vista shipped with all the necessary updates.  If you’re using Windows XP Service Pack 2 with automatic updates turned on, it may have been updated already, or will be when Microsoft rolls out a package containing 12 fixes and updates this Tuesday.  Windows XP Service Pack 1 is no longer supported – nor is Windows 2000, unless you have extended Hotfix support.  However, all versions of Windows can be modified manually using the tzedit tool from Microsoft.  

As for applications, Outlook 2007 is already patched; updates for older versions are available in the Microsoft download center.  Database software may need updating as well, and there’s an update for the Mac operating system.  

Edgeblog has more information on this, and links to updates from various software outfits.

What about my VCR & DVD Recorder which automatically update their clocks for DST?  Last summer I installed a programmable light switch which also updates.  I wonder what else I have that updates on it's own as well...

Well, anything that auto-updates is hard-coded for the standard DST window.  If it connects to Tah Intartubes to update (which my Toshiba VCR does), and assuming the boffins have tweaked things to make it update according to the NEW window, you should be okay.

Of course, assumption usually makes an ass out of -- well, you know how the old saw goes.

Don't be alarmed the "Geek Squad" Will  provide 24-hour, on-site emergency response to you.

Also be aware of the fact that anything that auto-DST's itself, and doesn't when it should this year, will probably wrongly move the clock forward 4 weeks later at the time that DST has been since 1986.

IBM has set up a DST Project Office structured like their Y2K Project Office, and has customers who've been working through the issue since at least last summer.  My former employer's front doors would have opened an hour late, had they not done work on their security system.  Major organizations are combing their entire corporate technology inventory for problem areas come next month.

It's bigger than the clocks going from 1999 to 2000.



RM - Next question please. Yes you.

Quoted from ScottJames

Well, anything that auto-updates is hard-coded for the standard DST window.  If it connects to Tah Intartubes to update (which my Toshiba VCR does), and assuming the boffins have tweaked things to make it update according to the NEW window, you should be okay.

Of course, assumption usually makes an ass out of -- well, you know how the old saw goes.

If not, become a Dixie Chick and blame George W, it was HIS idea...

Thanks for the info, scott. This is the first I've heard of the new change.