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Updated: July 3, 2007

Daylight Savings Change on Windows XP Computers

Background

Starting in the spring of 2007, daylight saving time (DST) start and end dates for the United States will transition to comply with the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  DST dates in the United States will start three weeks earlier, at 2:00 A.M. on the second Sunday in March.  DST will end one week later, at 2:00 A.M. on the first Sunday in November.

Most Microsoft Windows computers in use today are designed to automatically support Daylight Savings Time via built-in mechanisms based on the Current United States guidelines.  Unfortunately, these same computers are configured to follow the current Daylight Savings guidelines and will not automatically adjust to this new rule on March 1st 2007.

To resolve this issue, Microsoft has released an update designed to address these changes in the DST.  But this update is only available for computers running the Windows XP operating system with Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed.  The installation of this patch from Microsoft is straight forward and may already have been installed on your computer if you have been diligent with your Microsoft Critical Update installations.

Most OWLSnet Libraries are using 3 recommended computer configurations:

  1. Staff
  2. Public Web (Standard DeepFreeze protected PCs and Gates PCs)
  3. Dedicated “Restricted Catalog Workstations” (or RCW)

For Windows XP Staff Computers

It is recommended that all Staff computers be brought up to date with all recommended Windows Updates by going to:  Start > All Programs (or Programs) > Windows Update.

This will open a web page.  Click on the “Express” button and install all recommended updates.  Then continue to check for additional updates until it shows that there are no additional updates to install.

Also, verify that the "Automatically adjust clock for daylight savings" checkmark box is selected:

  1. Double left click on the time of day located in the lower right corner of the desktop.
  2. Select the "Time Zone" tab along the top of the Date and Time Properties window.
  3. Verify that the "Automatically adjust clock for daylight savings" is selected with a checkmark.

For Windows XP Public Computers

It is also recommended that all Public Web computers (Standard DeepFreeze protected PCs and Gates PCs) be brought up to date with all recommended Windows Updates.

For Windows XP Dedicated “Restricted Catalog Workstations” (or RCW)

Due to the complexity of the security on these computers, and because an accurate time setting is not critical to the use of these computers, OWLS is not recommending that Windows Updates be run on these computers at this time.

Other Microsoft Operating Systems

Microsoft is no longer supporting or providing patches for computers running Windows 95, 98, or 2000 operating systems.  The bi-annual DST change for these older computers will need to be done manually.  To do so,

  1. Double left click on the time displayed in the lower right corner of the screen.
  2. Remove the checkmark from “Automatically adjust clock for daylight savings changes”.  (Located under the “Time Zone” tab in Windows 2000)
  3. Adjust the time of day

Who to Call for Help

Any questions you may have on the DST change or Windows Updates should be directed towards your Technical Support Person.  (OWLS = Dave Bacon, NFLS = Terrie Howe)

Contributed by Dave Bacon

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