OOPS! I Forgot Daylight Saving Time
SHA Newsletter: Vol. 3 No. 3

So Daylight Saving Time is upon us now, and you forgot to update your computer. Now what do you do?

If you checked your computer after Sunday morning, and the clock was automatically set to the correct "spring-ahead" time, you can stop reading. Your computer is good to go. But if you checked the clock and found it one hour behind, this newsletter is for you.

In many cases, you can handle this in two steps. First set the clock properly. Then correct the time zone data that your computer uses to track the time. On Windows PC's, one of the recent Critical Updates will fix your time zone data for you. But there's another way to do it if you are unable or unwilling to apply a bunch of security patches.

Microsoft has released a small program called TZEDIT.EXE, which you can download by following a link on this page. TZEDIT is a tool for editing the Registry keys that tell the computer when DST starts and ends in your time zone. You can use this tool to prepare your computer for the new DST dates or to check that your computer is ready. Of course, if your computer's time sprang ahead one hour on Sunday morning, then you know it's OK.

From this page, you can also find out about other steps you might need to take if you use the calendar in Microsoft Outlook. Some of your calendar entries might need to be updated if (1) you didn't update your computer in time, (2) you have some "recurring meetings" that land during the extra weeks of Daylight Saving Time, and (3) you have "all-day events" scheduled during these weeks. This issue arises because Microsoft Outlook considers your local time zone when you schedule these types of meetings.

You'll also find a lot of information that is meant for administrators who run big Microsoft Exchange servers. Unless you are a system administrator, you won't have to worry about that.

Please note: Any trademarks and trade names of others mentioned in this message are the property of their owners, and not Stoney Hill Associates, LLC. We respect the intellectual property of others. The information provided is believed to be reliable, but we cannot guarantee that the procedures and information given here will work correctly for your specific situation.

If you would like help with a computer or software problem you face, contact us. Send an email to request@stoneyhillassociates.com.

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