Daylight Saving Time: The Unauthorized Manual

Tue Mar 6, 2007 3:50AM EST

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We're mere days away from the government's oh-so-wise-let's-do-it-three-weeks-early switch to Daylight Saving Time, and if you haven't heard yet, it's causing havoc with various computer systems, mobile phones, and calendar entries that people created months ago and only now are starting to realize that they may soon be incorrect when DST hits.

On your PC, adjusting for Daylight Saving (or Savings) Time means more than just tweaking your clock ahead an hour. The problem is with third-party applications and with devices that you attach to your PC and which sync with it. If one of your programs or devices doesn't know about the early switch to DST, that could throw a major wrench into things when you try to synchronize data. At worst you might be an hour late for a meeting or two over the next three weeks, but there's no reason to subject yourself to such a headache. Patch your gear now and avoid frustration come March 12.

Here's what to do, broken down by gadget.

Windows PCs. If you're running Windows XP or Vista, running the regular Windows Update patches will ensure your system is up to speed.  But you'll also need patches for Outlook, if you use the program. The best place to start is Windows' DST center. Just click the link and step through the options, indicating which OS and Outlook version you use. If you have an older version of Windows (2000, 98, 95, or NT), I have a post here on patching your older PC for DST. You'll also have to patch Outlook separately. Here's the download and instructions for doing that.

Macintosh Computers. You may need more than one patch to handle DST, depending on which apps you run, but start with patching OS X to at least 10.4.8. Other updates (you will have to search for "Daylight Saving Time" to find them all) are available for earlier OSes and other programs. All patches are here. (As of November 2007, most Macs should be fully patched.)

Smart Phones. This is the real trouble, where most of the headaches will arise for people due to the aforementioned out-of-sync issues. For best results, patch your smart phone immediately after patching your computer. Still, I've read reports that even with a patch, some appointments made in the past may not be properly timed, so spot-check your phone's calendar after you run the patch to see if appointments are correct. Remember also that if you use push email from your company, it's critical that it patches the email server as well. Bug your IT guy and make sure this has been done, which any decent-sized IT department will have already completed. Here are links for the most important devices: RIM BlackBerry, Palm Treo, Windows Mobile devices.

Everything Else. TiVos have already been patched via an automatic download. Sunbird is patched in the latest release. I can't think of any other devices or programs that might require special patching (most will simply sync with your PC or via the network), but if you have an obscure calendar or PDA, try searching for the model name plus "DST," and you should turn up any available patches. Note that older gear that is no longer supported will probably not have a patch available, so you may have to set the clock forward manually this weekend then adjust accordingly in the first week of April. Don't panic.

Comments on Daylight Saving Time: The Unauthorized Manual

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  • 46 Posted by alexiamadigan@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    For those of us in So Cal where's it's already in the 90s this weekend, the additional DST does nothing but add to our electric bill. Nice that folks back east get a break on heating bills, but what about our cooling bills? 8 months is excessive for DST.

  • 47 Posted by mdhr0312@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    How much money will people LOSE when there alarm clocks set themselves in April and MILLIONS of people LOSE an Hour of work cause there clocks woke them up a hour LATE!!!!!............Hmmmmmmm THINK ABOUT IT

  • 48 Posted by r3a6m@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Daylight Saving Time! "bunch of crap" just more daylite for golfers & 9 to 5'ers to play. Farmers work daylite til dark then turn on lites & do some more.If you want to save fuel have everybody work days & sleep at nite. then when you save fuel they will raise the price of it so they don't lose money rt. LEAVE TIME THE WAY IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN!!!,and speak ENGLISH !!

  • 49 Posted by alsubino on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    GEE THANKS ADMINISTRATORS... I HOPE ALL YOUR WATCHES AND CLOCKS ARE WRONG AND EVERYONES LATE FOR WORK MONDAY!!!

  • 50 Posted by lucky75122@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    What about Halloween?! Since DST doesn't end until after we've entered November it's going to be an hour lighter on a supposed night of darkness. Didn't anybody think about this. I'm sure the jack-o'-lanterns are devastated. What about education?! The kids are going to be playing longer outside into the night. Then they will have a harder time doing their homework and getting to bed at a decent hour. Children are already sleepy when they come to school. How does this help? Why does this always happen? Technology tries to help us so much that it actually makes life harder. Couldn't they manufacture products more adaptable to the changes of the world? It is always about cutting corners.

  • 51 Posted by frizzlefrymi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    Try dealing with this from an It perspective..its it a HUGE nightmare !!! Millions of americans may be saving money but corporations are spending millions trying to get there systems patched for this update. I think this change should have been given more though on how it affects the systems we use to keep this country running on a dialy basis. The headache and energy we put into this probably out weighs the money I will be saving!

  • 52 Posted by tsukerman@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    Dear people, Have you ever seen school students at 7 a.m. when they come to their schools and want nothing more than to sleep. Do you think they will want to sleep less and to study more when they come to schools even one hour earlier? And about electrical bills saving - all big stores have light on for 24 hours a day. So, how much will they save changing nothing, but only day time? Curious reader

  • 53 Posted by waddsworth69 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    I could care less about the "headaches" of electronic clocks. Or about corporate IT hours spent on this (Its probably deductable anyway). I appreciate the extra hours of daylight. I guess if you're a fat slob who sits in front of the TV all day and is upset about having to be proactive in changing your DVR's clock you have a legit beef. Maybe I'll save a few bucks in electricity. But I won't be concerned about my own "internal clock" because I'll be more active, and more energetic.

  • 54 Posted by chefphelan on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    Just changing times wouldn't work for most Americans- they obey the clock. Just the golf industry alone is expecting $200 million in extra revenues in the 3 weeks during the change. Spring break is a major factor too.

  • 55 Posted by joedan104@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's not absurd to change clocks. It'll lower electric costs because it's an hour earlier we don't need to put on lights. Also, everyone can use an extra hour of sunlight. Especially those who are screwed up with thinking this is stupid!!!

  • 57 Posted by angie44041 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    Living in Ohio I've been eager for this weekend and kept an eye on this issue since 2005. My big issue with IT is...where were the patches all along? Congress specifically made the law apply in 2007, not 2006, so IT would have time to catch up. And just the past few months Microsoft issued patches? And now they don't work because of pre-scheduled meetings during the 3 new DST weeks... Understandable about devices pre-2005. But if you're still using a Palm III you take your chances on support. Household electronics evolve fast. As for banking and other integrated systems, they've had 18 months to dig up some support for this.

  • 58 Posted by islandtransport5868 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    It is a bunch of crap for any of this to happen because now we have to make sure that we are on top of everything

  • 59 Posted by jandis5457 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think that we should have had a lot more notice than this. I work as a computer tech for linux point of sale systems and have been installing the scripts all day long for our thousands of customers. I'll be nursing a bottle of Tylenol tonight.

  • 60 Posted by ckfarrick@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    I really have to laugh at all of this.....I think that I saw only one posting that mentions that we're not getting any more daylight out of this. What is gained at the end of the day with DST is lost in the morning. My child is on the bus at 6:40am as it is.....it will now be dark until the middle of April when she gets on the bus in the morning. The lights not turned on in the evening will be necessary in the morning!! We only truly get more daylight as June 21 approaches - after that, it goes the other way again. And yes, if you have appliances and gadgets that are older, you will have to manually set them to the correct time this weekend, and then set them back an hour when they "automatically" spring ahead in three weeks. I like the idea of springing ahead at 2pm on a Monday (Friday afternoon would be even better!!). Parts of Indiana have the right idea - they don't observe DST at all!!

  • 61 Posted by lrevere21 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    Poster #68: The bill dictating the change was passed on July 29, 2005. How much notice did you need?

  • 62 Posted by gambinotoo@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    This change takes absurd to the limit! The congressman who pushed this through should be hung by the neck until dead. When will the American people stand up to this nonsense and show that we do have a brain, and that the number of daylight hours remains the same! These people that claim they like the extra hour of daylight must have a brain the size of a chicken.

  • 63 Posted by truesam@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    Rep. Markey's remarks show what a brainless bureaucrat he is. Not to worry though, I am retired and plan to keep my watches and clocks on standard time and live accordingly. Any personal time appointments will be simply adjusted an hour. More than one way to skin a cat.

  • 65 Posted by fjf40@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think they should do away with daylight saving time and, keep our clock's on stantard time always, what right do these people have to take control like this, it should be put to a vote from the people...........

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