DST updates - FYI

[Lee4847]

Most computer related systems that adjust time zones need updated to the new DST time changes. Windows has a patch out there for XP if you do not have yours set for "auto updates" you might want to check for a manual update.

We have been going nuts at work updating systems. Some things I would never have thought about keeping time zone info do and need updated.

[Kristofor]

Grumble <stays non-political>

It's been a LOAD of fun changing a whole slew of systems that were not designed to need to be updated

Why we couldn't have decided to dump the whole deal and just stay sprung forward or fallen back?

Failing that, couldn't we have just matched the Euro dates instead of picking our own again?

[Whaler]

Mac had the update out about 2 weeks prior tp the event. It took about 30 seconds to load it.

[MilDoc]

Anyone know if I can check if Windows XP has loaded the update? I have it set to auto-update, so .... But I never have trusted MS.

[TB Roye]

When is the change suppose to happen I know it is soon but to lazy to do any research. LOML is going to be P*****off longer now she hates DST.

Tom

[MilDoc]

When is the change suppose to happen I know it is soon but to lazy to do any research. LOML is going to be P*****off longer now she hates DST.

Tom

This weekend.

[gerti]

At least it isn't like in Paraguay. They are changing their rules pretty much every year. One year they changed it on short notice because they did not want the time change while the pope was there on visit. I had to maintain a server there (remotely, never have actually been there), and those updates were driving me crazy!

[Kristofor]

Mac had the update out about 2 weeks prior tp the event. It took about 30 seconds to load it.

The network attached devices are the easy ones, it's the 20 year old headless boxes running OS9, QNX, etc. that pose a problem. The nice ones were set to GMT with no DST and just require the user to understand that the time changes twice per year...

Grouped/shared calendaring is the other problem. Sure I updated MY calendar/system, but if the invitees to my meetings haven't, or the people inviting me haven't shenanigans will ensue. The problem goes away in 3 weeks at least.

Besides, what's an hour among friends

[Lee4847]

Test

Mildoc,
You could try to load it again. If it did load automatically and it is updated you will get an error. The error states something to the effect that it is already current.

[DaveW]

Anyone know if I can check if Windows XP has loaded the update? I have it set to auto-update, so .... But I never have trusted MS.

You can set your clock to 1:59:58 on March 11, and watch it tick over - it should jump to 3am. Likewise, you can set it to November 4 (?) at 1:59:58 and watch it tick over - it should jump to 1am.

[LCHIEN]

OK, here's my rant.
It's bad enough having to patch current windows OS for DST changes.
Did you know:
In the US we had been satrting DST on 1st Sunday in April, now changing to the 2nd Sunday in March?
In Europe they start DST on the 4th Sunday in March...

But, in the US we used to be in Synch with the Europeans we go off DST on the 4th Sunday in Oct. Of course, now we're going off DST the 1st Sunday in Nov (I guess to be different).

And to be different, the US changes at staggered times, e.g. 2AM in the local zones, where as Europe changes all at the exact same time (e.g. 1AM in London, 2AM in Paris, 3AM in Eastern Europe.)

So I've got a Windows box offshore Norway running a US version of Windows, unpatched. It's logging data with timestamps continually. I think I learned a lesson and in the future I'm going to set them all to use UTC. I guess I'm going to have to call it the evening of the 24th and set it manually. I can't patch it and the patch won't set the time correctly anyway. I suppose the European versions of Windows set DST according to European rules.

I remember my college astronomy textbook had one line of comment about DST: It said that DST has been likened to the little old lady who cut one foot of the end of her blanket and sewed it to the top to make it longer.

I predict there will be more fallout (monetary damage and society costs) from messed up clocks on this DST change than from the millenium bug. At least they knew for years about the millenium bug.

[MilDoc]

Never did really like DST anyway but we're stuck with it.

[jaybee]

First, I consider myself fortunate to live where DST is only a set of 3 letters that I can safely ignore. However, I invite anyone who may be thinking about a longish mortgage or long term investment to look up the year 2038 problem.