As an energy
saving measure, Congress recently extended the
duration of Daylight Savings Time (there's a joke in
there somewhere about wasted energy and hot air in
Washington, but we're not going for it). Daylight
Savings Time (DST) normally runs from the first Sunday
in April to the last Sunday in October, but this year
it will begin on the second Sunday in March and end on
the first Sunday in November. On it's face, this
change seems pretty harmless. However, our lawmakers
apparently failed to check with Bill Gates before
creating this legislation and, as a result, some
computers that run his software are going to have a
hissy fit. It's not quite another "Y2K" event, but
it's a significant problem that will affect a lot of
people. Here's why:
At 2:00AM on March 11, most of the world will "spring
forward" by one hour, but your computer might not.
You may have noticed that twice a year Windows
notifies you that it has automatically adjusted your
clock for the time change. It can do this because it
knows the dates of the changes -- the old dates. This
is not a huge problem for most home users, but for
anyone who uses a computer to set appointments, it'll
be a headache. For banks, stock brokerages and others
it'll be a much bigger pain in a lower part of the
anatomy. As always though, we're here to tell say,
Don't Panic!
Here's...
All You Need to Know, Part 1
First, you need to find out what version of Windows
you have. To do this, right-click My Computer
and select Properties. That information will
be listed in the ensuing window.
If you have Windows
Vista, you can stop reading now. It's ready for the
time change and nothing needs to be done.
If you have Windows
XP, Service Pack 2 and are receiving and
applying automatic updates regularly, you
should be OK. A patch has been released that will
handle the change for you. However, we recommend
you check it after Sunday morning, just to be sure.
All other versions
-- including Windows XP pre-Service Pack 2, Windows
2000 Professional, Windows 95/98/ME and Windows
Server -- will not change the time automatically.
If you have one of these operating systems on your
computer, keep reading.
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By the way, no one should be running Windows XP without
Service Pack 2. SP2 is a compilation of updates and
patches, most of which are security related. And since it's
a free upgrade, there is no reason not to have it. You can
get it from Microsoft, or if you'd like us to come and
install it for you, just say the word.
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All You Need to Know, Part 2
If you own one the Windows versions that is susceptible to
this problem, you have a few options.
1.) Cheap and low-tech:
You can simply change the time manually on the new beginning
and ending DST dates. It couldn't be easier: just
double-click the clock in the lower right corner of your
screen. Remember though that when the old DST dates come
around, your PC will change the time again and you'll need
to correct it. This is a workable solution for home users
who don't live and die by a calendar program. Business
users should choose a better fix.
2.) Higher-tech:
You can get complete details and instructions for dealing
with the situation from Microsoft (http://support.microsoft.com/gp/dst_topissues).
Depending on your Windows version, it may involve
downloading and installing a small program that will correct
the time automatically, or you may have to alter the Windows
registry. If your version requires registry changes, we
strongly suggest you take a pass and use one of the other
options. Adding or deleting registry keys incorrectly is
one of easiest ways to turn your computer into a boat
anchor.
3.) Easy and effective:
Pick up the phone and give us a call. As always, we'll come
to your home or office and take care of everything.
