Daylight Saving Time Occurs Earlier This Weekend But Causes Computer Headaches

We do it twice a year and for most of us, it’s just part of our routine.

But the annual switch to Daylight Saving Time this weekend comes with one big difference this year – it happens three weeks earlier than ever before.

The big change means you’ll be setting your clocks ahead an hour at 2am Sunday morning.

The alteration, which usually happens in April, follows the lead of the U.S., which decided to go ahead with the earlier time switch to save energy, although some experts doubt it will wind up doing much more than causing confusion.

Ontario was forced to follow that lead because so many of our schedules – including business, airlines and yes, TV – are all synchronized with the U.S. eastern time zone.

Despite the fact the computer industry has known about the earlier switch since 2005, it still seems to have taken many by surprise.

Microsoft has been scrambling to distribute a patch for its Widows-based PCs that will automatically adjust the time this weekend. (To get it, click here).

You can still change the clock yourself, but it will alter itself again in April.

There are also concerns about the popular BlackBerry and users are being urged to ensure their mobile devices are updated for the big change before Sunday. To get their patch, click here.

Still, this isn’t Y2K and nothing serious is likely to happen. “The average person, John and Jane computer user, is unlikely to see much of a problem, if anything,” agrees David Keller, founder of Compu-Doctor, a computer-help provider.

Those who rely on computers or hand held devices to keep their schedules may have the hardest time with the change, especially if their programs are old.

Microsoft has put out a patch for its popular email and scheduling Outlook program, but at least one company claims it’s filled with flaws.

“Microsoft Exchange servers supporting Outlook 2003 and earlier versions – which include the majority of Outlook calendar users – are affected by this faulty solution from Microsoft, and IT managers need to intervene now to avoid appointment havoc,” warns Darin Stahl of Info-Tech Research Group.

His company has put out a patch of its own which is supposed to fix the problem it asserts Microsoft missed. CityNews hasn’t tested the program, but if you’d like to see what the company has to say about it, click here.

The time switch is still a matter of controversy. Standard Time was originally created by Canada’s own Sir Sandford Fleming to allow for uniform train schedules.

But it seems every year there’s always some timepiece in the house you forget about.

Your kitchen and bedroom clocks and your watch are obvious. But there are a few other machines to consider as you do the time warp again. Among them:

• Microwave ovens,
• VCR or DVD,
• Answering machines,
• The clock in your car,
• Any automatic timer lights.

And it’s becoming something of a cliche, but it’s a good rule of thumb – when you change the time, change the batteries in your smoke alarms. Even though they’re rarely used, they don’t last forever.

An Ontario law mandates that you have to have a working detector on every level of your home or face a fine.

Finally, for the record, something we tell you about every year – we’re officially heading into Daylight Saving Time – there’s no “s” at the end of the second word.