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Microsoft Gives Customers Something to Fall Back On… (bad DST pun)

New on MScom… Microsoft Gives Customers Something to Fall Back On… a Q&A with Rich Kaplan as he “discusses the second part of the Daylight Saving Time extension to come in North America, lessons learned from March’s “spring forward,” and the effects these changes have on customers around the world.”



PressPass: What’s the “call to action” for customers this fall? What should they do to make sure they’re ready?


Kaplan: Go to the Daylight Saving Time 2007 Web site and make sure you’re up to date on all the latest information. If you’re a consumer or small business, you may not need to worry about that as much, but if you’re an enterprise company that has worldwide operations, it’s certainly important to go there and make sure you understand the impact of these changes worldwide.


For the majority of our customers — consumers, small- and mid-sized businesses — we always tell them to have automatic updates turned on. With Windows XP and Windows Vista, you really get increased product quality, not just the latest updates to align the operating system with a Congressional mandate like Daylight Saving Time, but the latest security fixes and other general updates too. So that’s always a good thing to do.


In this environment, if you got the updates in the spring for Exchange, Windows and Outlook, and you have your automatic updates turned on, there’s a good chance you may have nothing to do in anticipation of the changes this fall. However, if you do business in other parts of the world, you need to make sure to get the corrections for those other time zone changes. Not just the United States and Canadian time zone changes, but rest of the world time zone changes as well.


For larger, enterprise customers, in general the “fall back” should be much easier. We had them running a tool at the beginning of the year, The Outlook Time Zone Data Update Tool, to update people’s calendars. The majority of companies have run those tools and won’t have to do that a second time. If you’re not worried about the countries specified on the Web site listing the products affected by Daylight Saving Time, and you already took the updates for springing forward, then you’re in good shape.


The last thing I would say here is that, for customers who need to know exactly what they need to do to prepare for Daylight Saving Time — if they haven’t already — we are hosting a Web seminar on this topic at the end of this week on Friday, Sept. 14. So make sure and sign up for that. 


Of interest…
















•

Daylight Saving Time 2007 Help and Support Center

•

Microsoft Products Affected by Daylight Saving Time

•

Microsoft Outlook Time Zone Data Update Tool

•

September 14 Web Seminar


Tags: Microsoft, Daylight Saving Time, Daylight Savings Time, DST. 632,522; 951,689; 1,750,000+

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Update on DST changes in Venezuela… this September?

Remember the post at the end of August on the new DST rules in Venezuela?

News from my new friend Jose Antonio in our offices in SA says that it may be earlier than reported.

Originally we found in the ABN news release on the DST change that Venezuela would change its time zone on Jan. 1, 2008.

We now hear from government sources that the new DST change will begin at the start of the school year in Venezuela, which is next Monday (September 17). This will be a ½ hour change, from the -4:00 GMT to -4:30 GMT.

More as it develops, but be aware of the pending earlier change.

http://www.minci.gob.ve/noticias/1/15606/inicio_de_clases.html

http://www.minci.gob.ve/noticias_-_prensa/28/15416/cambio_de_huso.html

http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/08/23/pol_ava_cambio-de-huso-horar_23A944997.shtml

http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/09/02/pol_art_huso-horario-no-trae_448906.shtml

Tags: Microsoft, Daylight Saving Time, Daylight Savings Time, DST. 632,522; 951,689; 1,750,000+

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Your questions: “if we applied Microsoft daylight saving time updates this past Spring, are we covered for the Fall?”

A question came in from a customer today on the latest Daylight Saving Time and Time Zone updates…

“Just to clarify, if we updated for this [US and Canadian daylight saving time] change this spring, we should be covered for the fall time change, correct?”

Generally, the answer is yes.  As I noted earlier here, it depends.

See this blog post for a top-level look at the latest DST and TZ updates for Windows.  We also tell our customers (thanks, Joel) that for some companies that don’t have a presence in an affected time zone, no DST updates may be required. However, Microsoft strongly recommends that customers apply the time zone updates for all affected products. There are a couple of reasons for this:

  • First, customers may have users who travel to an affected time zone, and as such, their applications could be affected by not having the current time zone updates installed on their client machines.

  • Second, applying the current DST updates to all machines and applications keeps their environment up-to-date and consistent with worldwide changes. This could be important when communicating with another end user or company in an affected time zone, or where different IT environments come together and coexist.

Overall, Microsoft strongly recommends DST patch installation on all affected systems, devices and applications to ensure consistency with the world’s current time zone information.  Customers should review the updates available and posted at http://support.microsoft.com/gp/dst_prodlist for the latest and updated information of Microsoft products affected by daylight saving time, as well as the main DST and TZ page at http://www.microsoft.com/dst2007.

Customers who need the latest updates for the recently-added and revised countries (new time zone rules for Jordan and New Zealand, for example), should get the latest update.  Consumers may update their PCs by visiting Microsoft Update at http://www.update.microsoft.com/. Network managers and sysadmins can get the latest Windows OS update (KB 933360) as an “Update Rollup” via WSUS as noted in this post. 

Technically, there are scenarios where updates and patches are not required, but Microsoft strongly recommends DST patch installation on all affected systems, devices and applications to ensure consistency with the world’s current time zone information.

Tags: Microsoft, Daylight Saving Time, Daylight Savings Time, DST. 641,827; 919,456; 1,472,886

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Your questions: Is DST changing in Venezuela this September?

I received a couple of questions today about the just-announced changes to DST in Venezuela…


“I just read that Venezuela which is apparently changing from GMT-4 to GMT-4:30 on September 1. If this is true, how might this affect DST for customers who use Caracas/La Paz as setting for timezone?”


I believe that they are referring to this Reuters news article (above) that states “Venezuela in September will turn clocks back by 30 minutes as it switches time zones to boost the amount of natural light to residents.”


clip_image001 “Reuters Oddly Enough: And Finally…” Play Video


I found on the ABN site (which I believe is the country’s official news agency) the actual news release on the DST change (and here in Spanish)…


“From next January 1st, 2008, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will have a new time zone that will allow to improve the Venezuelans’ performance on their daily activities.”


First off, this latest DST change for Venezuela isn’t integrated into the latest version of the OS update (available in KB 933360). (BTW, KB 933360 will be released on Windows Update on the 4th Tuesday of August. It is categorized as an Update Roll-up, same as last time with KB 931836, which means that it goes to Automatic Updates, more info available here.)

Second, Microsoft is currently working with representatives in the region to confirm the reports that Venezuela is changing its time zone on Jan. 1, 2008. Later this year we expect to release a cumulative DST and Time Zone Update for Windows that will set the correct dates as understood today for 2008. Customers with Automatic Updates enabled will receive those updates. Changes will include countries that have so far officially announced and approved their observance of DST entry/exit dates in 2008. We’re working with our engineering team on the schedule to include Venezuela in this upcoming update.

We currently maintain customer-ready guidance and information on DST and time zone changes at http://www.microsoft.com/dst2007 – this site is regularly updated with the latest information. Additional information on the most recent DST and time zone updates to the Windows OS can be found on my blog here.


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Your questions: Is there a list of the time zones and daylight saving time changes in Windows?

A question came in via email, IM and phone today, so thought that it would be beneficial to post it here…



“Is there a list of the time zones [and daylight saving time/ summer time] changes in Windows?”


Why, yes, there is a list of all changes included in KB article 933360, “August 2007 cumulative time zone update for Microsoft Windows operating systems,” that notes that the following changes have been made since the previous Windows cumulative time zone update in February (KB article 931836) :



  • Caucasus Standard Time:  Changes display name to Caucasus Standard Time as cities in the previous display name have separate time zones, and removes DST settings. 

  • Armenian Standard Time:  Creates a new time zone for Armenia to better align with different DST changes in the Caucasus region. 

  • New Zealand Standard Time:  Adjusts DST start dates and end dates according to changes signed in to law after the prior cumulative time zone update was created (February 2007).

  • GTB Standard Time:  Corrects the display name for GTB Standard Time on Windows Server 2003 SP2 to include Bucharest. 

  • Jordan Standard Time:  Adjusts DST start times, end times, and dates according to changes signed in to law after the prior cumulative time zone update was created (February 2007). 

A list of the display names and GMT offsets are noted here for your review…











































































































































































































































































































































































Registry subkey name Display name Daylight name Standard name DST start DST end
Alaska Standard Time (GMT-09:00) Alaska Alaskan Daylight Time Alaskan Standard Time Second Sunday in March at 02:00:00 First Sunday in November at 02:00:00
Armenian Standard Time (GMT +04:00) Yerevan Armenian Daylight Time Armenian Standard Time Last Sunday in March at 2:00:00 AM Last Sunday in October 3:00:00 AM
Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-04:00) Atlantic Time (Canada) Atlantic Daylight Time Atlantic Standard Time Second Sunday in March at 02:00:00 First Sunday in November at 02:00:00
AUS Eastern Standard Time (GMT+10:00) Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney AUS Eastern Daylight Time AUS Eastern Standard Time Unchanged Last Sunday in March at 03:00:00
Azerbaijan Standard Time (GMT+04:00) Baku Azerbaijan Daylight Time Azerbaijan Standard Time Last Sunday in March at 04:00:00 Last Sunday in October at 05:00:00
Caucasus Standard Time (GMT +04:00) Caucasus Standard Time Caucasus Daylight Time Caucasus Standard Time removed removed
Cen. Australia Standard Time (GMT+09:30) Adelaide Cen. Australia Daylight Time Cen. Australia Standard Time Unchanged Last Sunday in March at 03:00:00
Central Brazilian Standard Time (GMT-04:00) Manaus Central Brazilian Daylight Time Central Brazilian Standard Time First Sunday in November at 00:00:00 Last Sunday in February at 00:00:00
Central Standard Time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) Central Daylight Time Central Standard Time Second Sunday in March at 02:00:00 First Sunday in November at 02:00:00
Central Standard Time (Mexico) (GMT-06:00) Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey Central Daylight Time (Mexico) Central Standard Time (Mexico) First Sunday in April at 02:00:00 Last Sunday in October at 02:00:00
E. Europe Standard Time (GMT+02:00) Minsk E. Europe Daylight Time E. Europe Standard Time Last Sunday in March at 02:00:00 Last Sunday in October at 03:00:00
E. South America Standard Time (GMT-03:00) Brasilia E. South America Daylight Time E. South America Standard Time First Sunday in November at 00:00:00 Last Sunday in February at 00:00:00
Eastern Standard Time (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US and Canada) Eastern Daylight Time Eastern Standard Time Second Sunday in March at 02:00:00 First Sunday in November at 02:00:00
Egypt Standard Time (GMT+02:00) Cairo Egypt Daylight Time Egypt Standard Time Last Thursday in April at 23:59:59.999 Last Thursday in September at 23:59:59.999
Georgian Standard Time (GMT+03:00) Tbilisi Georgian Daylight Time Georgian Standard Time Removed Removed
Greenwich Standard Time (GMT) Casablanca, Monrovia, Reykjavik Greenwich Daylight Time Greenwich Standard Time Not applicable Not applicable
GTB Standard Time (GMT+02:00) Athens, Bucharest, Istanbul GTB Daylight Time GTB Standard Time Last Sunday of March at 3:00:00 Last Sunday in October at 04:00:00
Iran Standard Time (GMT+03:30) Tehran Iran Daylight Time Iran Standard Time Removed Removed
Israel Standard Time (GMT+02:00) Jerusalem Jerusalem Daylight Time Jerusalem Standard Time March 30, 2007 at 02:00:00 September 16, 2007 at 02:00:00
Jordan Standard Time (GMT+2:00) Amman Jordan Daylight Time Jordan Standard Time Last Thursday in March at 11:59:59 Last Friday in October at 01:00:00
Middle East Standard Time (GMT+02:00) Beirut Middle East Daylight Time Middle East Standard Time Last Sunday in March at 00:00 Last Saturday in October at 23:59:59.999
Montevideo Standard Time (GMT-03:00) Montevideo Montevideo Daylight Time Montevideo Standard Time First Sunday in October at 02:00:00 Second Sunday in March at 02:00:00
Mountain Standard Time (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time (US and Canada) Mountain Daylight Time Mountain Standard Time Second Sunday in March at 02:00:00 First Sunday in November at 02:00:00
Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) (GMT-07:00) Chihuahua, La Paz, Mazatlan Mountain Daylight Time (Mexico) Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) First Sunday in April at 02:00:00 Last Sunday in October at 02:00:00
Myanmar Standard Time (GMT+06:30) Yangon (Rangoon) Myanmar Daylight Time Myanmar Standard Time Not applicable Not applicable
Namibia Standard Time (GMT+02:00) Windhoek Namibia Daylight Time Namibia Standard Time First Sunday in April at 02:00:00 First Sunday in September at 02:00:00
New Zealand Standard Time (GMT+12:00) Auckland, Wellington New Zealand Daylight Time New Zealand Standard Time Last Sunday in September at 02:00:00 First Sunday in April at 03:00:00
Newfoundland Standard Time (GMT-3:30) Newfoundland Newfoundland Daylight Time Newfoundland Standard Time Second Sunday of March at 00:01:00 First Sunday of November at 00:01:00
Pacific SA Standard Time (GMT-04:00) Santiago Pacific SA Daylight Time Pacific SA Standard Time Second Saturday in October at 23:59:59.999 Second Saturday in March at 23:59:59.999
Pacific Standard Time (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) Pacific Daylight Time Pacific Standard Time Second Sunday in March at 02:00:00 First Sunday in November at 02:00:00
Pacific Standard Time (Mexico) (GMT-08:00) Tijuana, Baja California Pacific Daylight Time (Mexico) Pacific Standard Time (Mexico) First Sunday in April at 02:00:00 Last Sunday in October at 02:00:00
SA Pacific Standard Time (GMT-05:00) Bogota, Lima, Quito, Rio Branco SA Pacific Daylight Time SA Pacific Standard Time Not applicable Not applicable
Sri Lanka Standard Time (GMT+05:30) Sri Jayawardenepura Sri Lanka Daylight Time Sri Lanka Standard Time Not applicable Not applicable
Tasmania Standard Time (GMT+10:00) Hobart Tasmania Daylight Time Tasmania Standard Time Unchanged Last Sunday in March at 03:00:00
W. Australia Standard Time (GMT+08:00) Perth W. Australia Daylight Time W. Australia Standard Time Last Sunday in October at 02:00:00 Last Sunday in March at 03:00:00
 


Important notes from this KB…



  • This update supersedes and replaces update KB931836, released in January 2007. This update also includes additional time zone changes that were signed in to law after update KB931836 was created. Customers who have already deployed update KB931836 should evaluate whether any of the five specific time zone changes that are addressed in the update described by this Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article merit deploying this update immediately. If systems are not directly affected, you can schedule deployment at the next available opportunity. We recommend that all customers standardize on the most current Windows cumulative time zone update to guarantee the consistency of the time zone database on all systems. 

  • Before you apply the update that is described by this article, be aware of potential issues that may affect Microsoft Office Outlook. For more information about these issues, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 931667 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931667/) How to address the daylight saving time changes in 2007 by using the Time Zone Data Update Tool for Microsoft Office Outlook

  • If you are running Microsoft Exchange Server in an Information Technology (IT) environment, you must take additional measures to guarantee the correct operation of Exchange Server.  For more informationabout the Exchange daylight saving time (DST) update, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 926666 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926666/) Update for daylight saving time changes in 2007 for Exchange 2003 Service Pack 2

(This will be cross posted to the DST blog on TechNet at http://blogs.technet.com/dst2007)


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