[mdlug-discuss] MS April Fools

[Robert Meier]

[In the following,
 "computer users" means "Windows users"
 "your computer" means "Windows box"
 "applications" means "Microsoft or Windows applications"


Microsoft Issues Warning On Daylight-Saving Time Software Flaw 


Microsoft says the Y2K-like implications of the change in the start of  
daylight-saving time means computer users need to parry like it's 1999. 


By _Paul McDougall_ (mailto:paulmcd at cmp.com)  
_InformationWeek _ 
(http://www.informationweek.com/;jsessionid=ONQW3AILX4IQGQSNDLRCKH0CJUNN2JVN) 

Feb 14, 2007 10:
Microsoft is warning customers that the switch to early daylight-saving time  
this year isn't accounted for in a number of its products, including _Windows_
(http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=Windows&x=&y=)   
XP, and that users will need to update their _software_ 
(http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=software&x=&y=)
to avoid potential problems.  

U.S. daylight-saving time will start on March 11 this year -- three weeks  
earlier than usual. The change was authorized by the U.S. Energy Policy Act
of 2005, but Microsoft says its Y2K-like implications mean _computer_ 
(http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=computer&x=&y=)
users need to parry like it's 1999.  

"Unless certain updates are applied to your computer, it is possible that the 
 time zone settings for your computer's system _clock_ 
(http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=clock&x=&y=)
may be incorrect during this four-week period," the software maker said
_in a statement_ 
(http://support.microsoft.com/gp/dst_homeuser#affected) issued Tuesday.
That could lead to all kinds of problems, from calendaring applications not  
working properly to key, automated processes not taking place on time.  

Microsoft said the fix is already built into _Windows Vista_ 
(http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=Windows Vista&x=&y=)
and Office 2007, but that earlier _operating systems_ 
(http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=operating systems&x=&y=)
and applications could be hit by the problem.

As of Tuesday, the company had released an update for Windows _XP SP2_
(http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=XP SP2&x=&y=)
users via its Automatic Updates service. Users need to ensure they 
have Auto Update enabled.

Most of Microsoft's other major products, including Outlook 2007 and
its predecessors, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Visual Studio, Windows CE,
and a number of others, need to be updated, meaning some long nights
may be in store for IT staffers leading up to the time switch.
Microsoft also warned that the problem isn't limited to its software.

Consumer appliances such as VCRs and digital radios may not
automatically adjust to the early start of daylight-saving time.
Many systems on the business technology side also could be affected.
IBM, for instance, has issued _updates_
(http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=598&uid=ssg1S1003043)
for some of its _disk_ 
(http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=disk&x=&y=)
storage products and other systems.  In a research report, IT advisory
firm Gartner is advising businesses to establish company-wide
communications programs informing employees about possible effects of
the early time changeover and to ensure that their tech  
departments are fully staffed on March 11 and 12. 

Warning,
-- 
Dr. Robert J. Meier