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Daylight savings time will be starting on
March 11th, 3 weeks sooner than it typically would. It is also ending
one week later than it normally would. This change requires that all
computers receive a patch to update their DST tables. Microsoft released
the last of the patches dealing with this time change last week. We have
tested them on our own systems and determined the best options for
applying them. We have already applied these updates for Exchange 2003
and Windows 2003 at a few customers sites as well. If your servers are
not patched yet, we will be applying them next week. Microsoft did not
release a patch for Windows 2000, but we have acquired and tested a 3rd
party patch. (The bell is tolling for Windows 2000, so plan to replace
any instances in your organization soon.) The cost of the patch is $50
and can be used to update as many 2000 computers as you own.
The patch for XP desktops (named KB931836) can be applied by running
Windows Update. It may already be on your computer waiting to be
installed. If so, you can double click on the yellow shield in the
“System Tray” (the area in the lower right hand corner of your screen by
the clock) and follow the prompts to install the updates that are
queued.
We are doing everything we can to make this a "behind the scenes"
transition, but there is going to be the need for end-user involvement
to ensure all meetings are scheduled correctly if the computer uses
Outlook and utilizes the calendaring feature. It is important that the
Outlook Time Zone Update Tool be run to fix any calendar items that were
created using the old 2006 DST time change rules.
It would also be a good idea going forward to include the time in the
subject of any meeting or appointment that would fall in the date ranges
affected by DST. (Example: "Tech Services Meeting - 10am PST"),
especially if you calendar with other people outside your company (who
might not have the patch!). |
