Changes in Daylight Saving Time

[General Info] [Windows OS] [Mac OS] [Outlook/Entourage]

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 was signed into law by President George W. Bush on August 8, 2005. The full text is available at http://www.doi.gov/iepa/EnergyPolicyActof2005.pdf.

By order of this law, Daylight Saving Time (DST) will now begin on the second Sunday in March and will end the first Sunday in November. That is, DST will start on March 11, 2007, which is 3 weeks earlier than in 2006, and will end 1 week later than it did in 2006.

Microsoft has posted an article describing in Daylight Saving Time and how to configure daylight saving time for the United State in 1007.

General Information Regarding 2007 DST

Microsoft Daylight Saving Time Help and Support Site
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/timezone/dst2007.mspx

Apple's About Daylight Saving Time Changes in 2007
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305056

Windows Operating System Updates

Windows Vista--No update is needed. The newest version of Windows already understands the new DST dates.

Windows XP Service Pack 2--Microsoft has published a patch, which is available for download at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931836.

Windows XP Service Pack 1--First install Windows XP to Service Pack 2. Contact the Help Desk if you need help with ths. Then download the DST patch, which is available for download at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931836.

Windows 2000--Microsoft has not published a patch for Windows 2000. However, it has published a workaround which involves creating a new time zone on your computer. More information can be obtained at the Knowledge Base Article at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914387.

Wayne Shaw has posted step-by-step instructions with screenshots on how to update Windows 2000 for the 2007 DST changes. Click here for the instructions in PDF format.

Windows NT/ME/95/98--There is no official patch from Microsoft. The recommended procedure is to change to Daylight Saving Time manually. This can be done by going to the Date and Time Control Panel, disabling the automatic change to Daylight Saving, and setting the clock manually. Remember that you spring forward 1 hour in the spring and fall back 1 hour in the fall.

Mac Operating System Updates

Mac OS X 10.3 and 10.4--DST updates are available through Apple's Software Update. Alternatively, the updates may be downloaded from the Apple site using the following links:
- OS X 10.4.8 (Tiger)--Requires 10.4.8!!!
- OS X 10.3.9 (Panther)--Requires 10.3.9!!!

Mac OS X 10.1, OS X 10.2 and Classic OS --A DST update is not available from Apple. The recommended procedure is to disable your computer's automatic adjustment to Daylight Savings Time and then to switch to DST manually through System Preferences.

Microsoft Calendar Applications

Microsoft Outlook for Windows--Microsoft has published a fix for calendar items affected by the DST change. If you use Microsoft Outlook's Calendar, you need to download and run the update tool mentioned in Knowledge Base Article 931667 at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931667/en-us. NOTE: First install the Windows DST updates.

Microsoft Entourage 2004 for Mac--Microsoft has released an update which address the DST change. If you use Microsoft Entourage's Calendar, you need to download and run the Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.3 Update.