This year in the USA and Canada daylight savings begins three weeks early and extends one week later than historical periods. March 11, 2007 marks the new DST change date.
Previously DST started on:
First Sunday of April (04/01/07)
With the new law, DST will start on:
Second Sunday of March (03/11/07)
Previously DST ended on:
Last Sunday of October (10/28/07)
With the new law, DST will end on:
First Sunday of November 11/04/07
There are several computer software systems that track when the change to and from DST happens and that automatically change calendars and clocks for you. You should check to ensure that your systems are updated before March 11, 2007 to prevent issues with schedules, clock dependant functions or shared calendar meeting times.
Here is a partial list of the most common Microsoft programs that will require updates.
- Windows XP Home and Professional Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2003:
Use http://update.microsoft.com/ and check for the DST update. This update may be installed automatically on February 13th depending on your computers settings.
- Outlook 2000, 2002 and 2003:
Download the update and read the directions for use at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e343a233-b9c8-4652-9dd8-ae0f1af62568&DisplayLang=en
- Windows Mobile (Including Outlook) patch:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/daylightsaving/default.mspx
- Windows 2000 and older Microsoft OS's:
Unofficial patch/updater available at http://www.intelliadmin.com/blog/2007/01/unofficial-windows-2000-daylight.html
More information about the DST change and other Microsoft applications may be found at http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cp_dst.
( A big thank you to
- Linux:
For most Linux distributions, you can find background info and links at http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS6300294422.html. For those of you with Gentoo, just an "emerge sys-libs/timezone-data" should do the trick.
- Apple:
Apple users should refer to http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305056 to find patches or instructions to fix the DST changes manually, depending on your OS version. You will also find links on that page containing special instructions to update your Java and WebObjects environments.
- Java:
Sun has posted DST instructions for Java at http://java.com/en/download/faq/dst.xml. In certain cases (but not all) you may wish to remove older versions of Java if you update to the latest and greatest. Directions for that process may be found at http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/5000070400.xml.
- Palm OS (PDA's):
Thanks to
For Palm PDA users, there's some patch info at http://www.palm.com/us/support/downloads/dst_palmos.html
Deadline for doing these updates is this coming Saturday, March 10th. If you miss the deadline, don't panic. You can still do the updates at any time, but your calendars and clocks may not show the correct time until you complete the task.
Edits
March 5, added link for Windows 2000 unofficial patch
March 7, added link for Windows Mobile patch
March 8, added links for Apple and Linux users
Feel more than welcome to link, copy, distribute, share or otherwise use this information. I don't care who get's credit, as long as people get the message.
