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Daylight Saving Time Changes & Your Computer

In 2005, the United States government passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which changes the start and end dates for Daylight Saving Time (DST) as of Spring 2007.

Starting this year, DST will begin on the second Sunday in March (11 March 2007) and end on the first Sunday in November (4 November 2007).

Please review the appropriate sections of this document to ensure that your own system settings have been corrected to reflect the DST change.

Windows XP
Windows 2000
Windows ME & 98
Macintosh OS
GroupWise for Windows Calendar
Microsoft Email Clients
Java-based Applications
Mobile Devices
    BlackBerry
    Palm Pilot & Handspring
    Windows Mobile-powered Devices




Windows XP

The latest round of critical Windows updates includes a change that adjusts your system clock to accommodate the new starting date for Daylight Saving Time. To find out if you have already installed the specific update that corrects the date:
  1. Open Internet Explorer.
  2. Go to the Tools menu and select Windows Update.
  3. Click on Review your update history on the left.
  4. Check to see if Windows update KB931836 is listed as successfully installed. 

If update KB931836 is already installed on your computer, you're all set.  If it is not:

  1. Click on the Windows Update Home link on the left to return to the main Update page.
  2. Click on the Express button to run a scan that checks the status of your system updates.
  3. Install all missing critical updates recommended by the scan.
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Windows 2000

Windows 2000 users must manually configure daylight saving time dates using a program called Time Zone Editor, as follows:

  1. Download and install the Time Zone Editor program:

    1. Click on this link:  TZEdit.exe

    2. When the Download window opens, click Save and save the program to your Desktop.

  2. Double-click on the Time Zone Editor icon on your desktop.

  3. In the Security Warning window, click Run.

  4. In the Time Zones list, select: (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada), then click on the Edit button.

  5. In the Edit Time Zone dialog box, click on the Automatically set Daylight Saving Time checkbox to select it.

  6. Specify the correct daylight saving time start and end days:

    1. In the Start Day box, click Second, click Sunday, and click March.

    2. For the start time, select 2:00 A.M.

    3. In the Last Day box, click First, click Sunday, and click November.

    4. For the end time, select 2:00 A.M.

    5. In the Daylight Bias list, leave the default setting at +1:00 to set the clock forward 1 hour.

    6. Click OK to save your changes and close the program.

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Windows ME & 98

There is no automatic updater tool for Windows ME or 98, so you must adjust the date and time manually. You will need to be repeat the steps below twice a year: prior to the second Sunday in March (March 11, 2007) and on the first Sunday in November (November 4, 2007).

  1. Click on Start, then Control Panel.
  2. Double-click on Date/Time.
  3. Click the Time Zone tab.
  4. Locate the checkbox beside “Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving changes”.  If it has a check mark in it, click on it to remove the check mark.
  5. Click on the Date/Time tab.
  6. Manually adjust the time and date to the correct settings.
  7. Click on OK.

Faculty and Staff: If you are running Windows ME or 98 on your computer, please contact Kate Etzel.

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Macintosh OS

The 2007 time zone and Daylight Saving Time rule changes for the United States and most of Canada are already available in Mac OS X 10.4.5 (released February 2006) or later.

Apple is also providing software updates for Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4 and later based on worldwide time zone information available as of January 8, 2007.

To make sure that your clock maintains the proper time, simply install the updates that are shown for your computer in Software Update. You should install these updates even if your computer is used in a time zone that is not affected.

For more details about the available updates, or if you have an earlier Mac OS version, see: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305056

Faculty and Staff:  If your Mac OS version is earlier than 10.3, please contact Kate Etzel.

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GroupWise for Windows Calendar

  1. Install all critical Windows updates as described above, and confirm your system clock settings:

    1. Check to make sure that the time display in the lower right corner of your desktop is correct.

    2. Double-click on the time display to open the Date and Time Properties window.

    3. Click on the Time Zone tab, and confirm that Eastern Standard Time is selected. If it isn't, select it.

    4. Confirm that Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving changes is checked. If it isn't, check it.

    5. Click OK to close the window.

  2. Reset your Work Schedule Start and End times.

    1. In the GroupWise client, select Tools, then Options, then double-click on the Date and Time icon.

    2. In the Work Schedule area, even if the Start and End times are displayed correctly, change the Start time and End time values to something different, then click OK.

    3. Double-click on Date and Time again.

    4. Set the Start time and End time values back to the original values or your desired values.

    5. Click OK, then Close.

  3. Verify and adjust scheduled events between March 11th and March 31st, 2007.

    If you created appointments in this time period before you updated your computer's time zone settings, you will need to adjust scheduled events occuring in this period.

    • Adjusting Posted Appointments:

      Drag and drop the appointment to the new time.
      OR
      Open the appointment, modify the time, then click Post.

    • Adjusting Sent Appointments:

      Note: Resends of recurring appointments must be done for each instance of the recurring appointment. Drag-and-drops of recurring appointments can be done on the first instance of the appointment to change all instances of the recurring appointment.

      Drag and drop the appointment to the new time. When prompted to edit, choose No. The old appointment is retracted and the new one re-sent.
      OR
      Select the appointment. Choose the Resend menu option. Modify the time (and other changes if desired) then click Send. Choose Yes to retract.

    • Adjusting Posted All-Day Events:

      Drag/Drop the all-day event onto the same day.
      OR
      Open the item, click the all-day event check box, then click Post.

    • Adjusting Sent All-Day Events:

      Select the all-day event. Choose the Resend menu option. Click the all-day event check box, then click Send. Choose Yes to retract.

    • Adjusting Received Appointments or All-Day Events:

      Contact the event organizer and ask them to adjust and resend the item.

  4. Verify and adjust scheduled events between October 28th and November 4th, 2007.

    Follow the procedures in step 3 above as needed for any scheduled event in this time period.

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Microsoft Email Clients (not supported by Smith)

Microsoft Office Outlook for Windows
The Time Zone Data Update Tool adjusts Microsoft Office Outlook calendar items after a change in time zone definitions. To download the tool, click here.

Microsoft Office Outlook for Macintosh
Microsoft has not released an update at this time.

Microsoft Entourage for Macintosh
The Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.3 Update includes a Daylight Saving Time fix for Entourage. For more information, click here.

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Java-based Applications

The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) stores rules about DST observance all around the globe. Older JREs have outdated rules that will be superseded by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. As a result, applications running on an older JRE may report incorrect time from March 11, 2007 through April 2, 2007, and from October 29, 2007 through November 4, 2007.

If you are concerned about application failures that may result from these DST changes, you should update your Java Runtime Environment. For more information, see: http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/Intl/USDST/

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Mobile Devices

If you own a brand of PDA that is not covered by this section, we recommend that you check the vendor's website for information about any necessary DST-related updates.


BlackBerry

  1. First, determine which software version you have on your BlackBerry:

    1. On the main page, open Options.

    2. If you see 2007 DST Patch, you're all set and can ignore the rest of these instructions.  (BlackBerry enterprise users should all be in this category.)

    3. If you don't see the patch listed, open About. You will see something like this:

      BlackBerry [model number]
      Wireless Handheld [carrier id]
      v [version number] Platform [platform number]

  2. If your BlackBerry version number is older than 3.6, your update will come out later.

  3. If your BlackBerry is version 4.x, check to see if your full version number is listed on this web page.

  4. If your full 4.x version number is listed on the web page, follow these steps:

    1. Close the BlackBerry Desktop Software if it is running on your PC.
    2. Disconnect your BlackBerry Device from your PC. You'll be prompted to reconnect it with the USB cable.
    3. Click here to download the required patch.
      Note: If Internet Explorer or your device stops responding, please view this article.
    4. A reset may be required, and will take 15-20 minutes.
    5. Once the patch is applied, you can view the status of the patch in Options / 2007 DST Patch.

  5. If your version number is not on the web page, your update will come out later.

For more information, see: http://www.blackberry.com/DST2007/patch/index2.shtml


Palm Pilot & Handspring

Palm devices, both smartphones and handhelds, need to be updated so that they reflect the correct time when the new DST changes take effect. Without the Daylight Saving Time Updates, calendar events and email messages will indicate an hour off the actual time in locations that observe DST. For more information, visit the Palm update site:
http://www.palm.com/us/support/downloads/dst.html


Windows Mobile-powered Devices
See the following web page for information about updating Windows Mobile-powered devices, such as the Dell Axim, for the new Daylight Saving Time:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/daylightsaving/default.mspx

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