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Your questions: “do we need to update all of our PCs and Servers for Daylight Saving Time?”

I think that I may have to change the name of my blog to the Daylight Saving Time 2007 Blog. 😉


This from a call today “do we need to update all of our PCs and Servers for Daylight Saving Time? We have operations outside the US and Canada, so do we still need to update our systems?”


In short, yes, we recommend that customers update the OS on all systems (client and server machines), especially global customers with operations that touch US and Canadian systems, or other countries with updated time zones (Australia comes to mind). Generally, if you have a business that operates mainly in an unaffected time zone you may not have a pressing need to update your systems as many customers in the US and Canada. Even in areas that are unaffected by the DST change (think Arizona, Hawaii), chances are that businesses in these areas interact with customers in other states where time zones are impacted.


For instance, if an end user outside of these new updated time zones schedules a meeting (using Outlook, for instance) that occurs during the extended DST period (e.g., between Mar 11 and April 1, 2007). The scheduler includes someone who is in or uses a time zone that has changed but has not updated their system with the Windows DST OS update. In this case, the meeting will appear correct on the scheduler’s calendar. But the may be off by an hour for the invited participant if the invitee does not have the OS updates applied. 


Overall, updating your personal computers, handheld devices and servers is a good path to follow, and we provide more info on the newly refreshed Microsoft DST 2007 site. (See here for more details.) And the updates for computers with currently supported operating systems are available now on Automatic Update. 


Another question: “why are you spending so much of your blog on this issue?”


Well, the daylight saving time change over this year is important and timely, and we want our customers and partners to be aware of the changes. Overall, it’s not just Microsoft products that are impacted, but products from many companies that reference or utilize date and time information in the applications and services.


Tags: Microsoft, Windows Vista, Windows, SBS, Daylight Saving Time, DST.

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Will my Windows XP applications run on Windows Vista?

It’s great when I receive a question that is also answered in the press on the same day.


I was asked via mail if “my favourite Windows XP applications will run on Windows Vista?” Patrick Marshall of The Seattle Times answers that questionin his Technology Q&A.



“Most programs written for Windows XP will work just fine with Windows Vista. But I have found a few exceptions. There is no complete and reliable listing of Vista-compatible software, but you may want to look at a couple of Web sites. The list is continually growing at ieXbeta’s wiki: www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.php/Windows_Vista_Software_Compatibility_List.


“Microsoft also maintains some information, though it is kind of buried. Start your search at: http://Technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/aa905066.aspx.”


This links to the Application Compatibility page on the Windows Vista TechCenter website.


Also of interest: if you’re on Windows XP and you want a more Vista-like experience, check out Paul Thurrott’s Winsupersite article:



These* and other Vista-specific applications are really neat, but you can get identical or nearly identical applications on Windows XP too. (* – “Applications that are supposed to make people want Windows Vista. Things like the Windows Sidebar, Windows Calendar, Windows Photo Gallery, and Windows Media Player 11.”)And by doing so, you can eek some more time out of your XP investment, save up for a future Vista PC, or just avoid all the headaches that go along with upgrading to a new Windows version. Sure, you’ve waited 5 years for Windows Vista, but so what? Will another 6 months or a year be a problem? Really?


“If you’d like to stick with Windows XP for a while longer, here’s some good news. You don’t need Windows Vista. And as I’ll describe in the next section, there are plenty of excellent solutions out there that will make you forget all about Redmond’s next operating system. At least for a little while.”

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64-bit Vista in the Ultimate package: Q&A with Jim Allchin (Seattle Times)

The Seattle Times has this interview with our own Jim Allchin taking reader questions on Windows Vista. Of particular interest to me was one area dear to my heart, the support we have in Vista for 64-bit processors:



Q: I just bought a new notebook computer with a 64 bit processor.  I am eligible for the Express Upgrade to Vista.  I have heard that the full retail versions of Vista will contain both 64 and 32 bit versions in the same package.  Will this be the same for those of us who bought our computers before the full release?  If not, please explain why.  Thank you.
— Cheryl King, Edmonds


J.A.: If you bought a PC with a 32 bit OS installed (Windows XP home, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP media center edition) that is eligible for the Express Upgrade to Windows Vista, then your computer manufacturer should send the corresponding 32-bit version for Windows Vista.  If you bought a PC with a 64 bit OS installed (Windows XP professions 64 bit edition) than you qualify for an upgrade to 64-bit version of Windows Vista Business.  If you purchased a 32 bit OS on your new notebook and you would like to move to a 64 bit OS for Windows Vista please contact your computer manufacturer for fulfillment options.


If you buy the retail version of Windows Vista, then you are licensed to use either the 32-bit version or the 64-bit version. That said, we only include the 32-bit software in the package— unless you buy the Windows Vista Ultimate (which includes both versions). If you purchase the retail product and you want the 64-bit versions, then you can contact Microsoft and we will send you a disk.


Details on getting the 64-bit version for all packages under Ultimate should be included in the package.


Jim also referenced the new Windows Vista Family Discount offer, which makes it easier for households with multiple PCs to upgrade to Windows Vista. This limited-time offer is for customers who purchase retail copies of Windows Vista Ultimate between January 30 and June 30, 2007, where customers in the U.S. and Canada can obtain two additional copies of Windows Vista Home Premium in their home for US$49.99 each. See http://www.windowsvista.com/FamilyOffer for more details.

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Office Online: Prepare your calendar items for daylight saving time changes in 2007

Office Online now has a new article (derived from an upcoming KB) “Prepare calendar items for daylight saving time changes in 2007” – please see http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102086071033.aspx?pid=CH100776851033.


The article provides more details on the soon-to-be-available Outlook Time Zone Data Update tool and the situations where we’re recommending that users download and run the upcoming Outlook Time Zone Data Update Tool, which I have affectionately dubbed “Tzdut.”


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Your questions: are routers, telephones affected by Daylight Saving Time changes?

I heard this question come up a couple of times this week, the latest today: “I have a router on my home network: will it be affected by this Daylight Saving Time change?”

 

And “What about PBX phone systems?”

 

Generally speaking, no.

 

For the most part, I learned (thanks, Bob) that most telecom equipment does not utilize the system clock from the computer and, in businesses and enterprises, is updated manually during every DST change. This will allow the date/time on a desktop phone to be displayed correctly. For international voice traffic synchronization, you’ll often find that telephony equipment matches to a cesium clock that is maintained by the US government in Colorado.  These systems use a standard time — Coordinated Universal Time (aka UTC) — so there shouldn’t be any issue there. 

 

Also, Bob noted that “the vast majority of Network Equipment (>95%) uses GMT so is unaffected by the DST time change.”  


 

I’ll add that many popular routers utilize NTP using Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and is usually not impacted by individual time zone changes. Some routers may be configured to specific time zones, so it is best to check the documentation that comes with your system. For more info, also see Cisco’s NTP info page, with more than you will probably ever care to know about the subject.  ðŸ˜‰