Windows "Time" Problem

[Paul]

Set up a new computer a couple weeks ago. I live in Texas. During set up,
I chose my time zone, Central Time (US & Canada). In the clock properties,
I have "automatically adjust clock for daylight savings changes" checked.
Problem: Every week when the computer synchronizes the time, it sets it
back
an hour. I've looked at the time setting in the BIOS setup. It
corresponded with
the (corrected) change I just made in the Time and Date properties in the
Taskbar.
Anyone know where the problem could be? It's not like it's slowing down due
to a
weak battery. It's going back exactly one hour when it connects to the
internet and synchronizes.
Monica

You should be able to use tzedit, to verify that the correct DST
rule is in place.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914387

"Download the Tzedit.exe utility package now."
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/8/a/58a208b7-7dc7-4bc7-8357-28e29cdac52f/tzedit.exe

One minor problem with that package, is "tzedit.exe" is a self-expanding
zip file, which contains txedit.exe and tzedit.hlp. I think that means
it will try to overwrite the downloaded file. I renamed my download to
tzedit.zip, so the file name would not conflict with the contents. (I
use the 7ZIP utility, to check for stuff like this.)

If you execute the tzedit.exe inside the tzedit.zip package, it will say
something like

Daylight Saving Time
Start Date/Time Second Sunday of March at 2:00:00 AM
End Date/Time First Sunday of November at 2:00:00 AM

It might also show the old rule, which might have been the first
week of April. If it is the April rule, then right now, we're
between the two dates in question, and that could be why the time
is not appropriate for your usage.

On my Win2K machine, I used TZEdit to load the new rule for DST.
I did that, because Microsoft doesn't patch DST changes any more
for Win2K. But they are still doing it via Windows Update for
WinXP. So perhaps if you ran Windows Update, you'd have the
proper rule loaded.

There is one additional step, after a new rule is loaded for DST.
The current time zone info, "pulls" a copy from the registry, whenever
the time zone is changed. If you now change to a "bogus" time
zone (not your own), and then change back to Central Time again,
that will cause Date/Time to fetch a fresh copy of the new rule.
After that, your date/time with DST rule should be correct.

I've seen one other web page, that recommended not using TZEdit to
fix DST on WinXP. And yet, the above 914387 article, mentions it
in the

"Method 2: Change the time zone settings on a single computer"

section of the page.

Paul

 

[Monica]

Set up a new computer a couple weeks ago. I live in Texas. During set up,
I chose my time zone, Central Time (US & Canada). In the clock properties,
I have "automatically adjust clock for daylight savings changes" checked.
Problem: Every week when the computer synchronizes the time, it sets it
back
an hour. I've looked at the time setting in the BIOS setup. It
corresponded with
the (corrected) change I just made in the Time and Date properties in the
Taskbar.
Anyone know where the problem could be? It's not like it's slowing down due
to a
weak battery. It's going back exactly one hour when it connects to the
internet and synchronizes.
Monica

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Start here: http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cp_dst

Then check-in here, too: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

 

[Daave]

Although you are synched to Universal Time, that doesn't mean your PC
knows we are now in DST. That is why you need the DST patch. Yes,
everyone else who does not have the correct patch will be off one our
until April 5.

But more importantly, you need the *security* patches to protect
yourself from worms like Conficker.

I don't have Automatic Updates enabled either. However, I do regularly
go to:

http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

I choose Custom, and I only download and install the "High Priority"
updates.

 

[Daave]

Although you are synched to Universal Time, that doesn't mean your PC
knows we are now in DST. That is why you need the DST patch. Yes,
everyone else who does not have the correct patch will be off one our

one *hour*

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Select WinXP SP2 at http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cp_dst. (Yes, it needs
to be revised. Then again, MS assumes you have Automatic Updates enabled,
too.)

If you had Automatic Updates (AU) enabled and/or checked-in at
Windows/Microsoft Update at least once a month, the DST-related updates your
machine needs would have been installed already.

Are you aware that AU has options other than "Automatically download and
install updates"? See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525.

 

[Monica]

I don't understand why I need to do this if my system is calling out to
time-a.nist.gov once a week to get the correct time. I'm assuming EVERYone
that hasn't installed one of these updates for DST is having the same
problem? I started with the http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cp_dst link
since it looks
less confusing but when it came to choosing my OS, XP w/ SP3 isn't listed in
the options from which to choose.
Note: I do NOT have Automatic Updates enabled. Didn't know if that's
critical to this issue or not.
Monica

 

[HeyBub]

Start here: http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cp_dst

Then check-in here, too: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

Blame the government. Since the original XP was released, the Congress
changed the dates for DST.

If you haven't applied the updates to XP, your computer thinks Daylight
Savings Time begins April 5th (1st Sunday in April).

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[What government? Do you think no other nation in the world has DST? Do
you think everyone lives in the USA?]

HeyBub wrote:

 

[Paul]

Set up a new computer a couple weeks ago. I live in Texas. During set up,
I chose my time zone, Central Time (US & Canada). In the clock properties,
I have "automatically adjust clock for daylight savings changes" checked.
Problem: Every week when the computer synchronizes the time, it sets it
back
an hour. I've looked at the time setting in the BIOS setup. It
corresponded with
the (corrected) change I just made in the Time and Date properties in the
Taskbar.
Anyone know where the problem could be? It's not like it's slowing down due
to a
weak battery. It's going back exactly one hour when it connects to the
internet and synchronizes.
Monica

If you use TZEdit, you'll at least be able to review the data being
used for the time change. When your time change rule doesn't match
the official rule, then for short parts of the year, your time will
be off by an hour.

Paul

 

[HeyBub]

What government?

The government of the United States of America*

Do you think no other nation in the world has DST?

No I don't think that. Some nations, however, do not observe DST.

Do you think everyone lives in the USA?

No, of course not. Inasmuch as the OP is in Germantown, Maryland (or
environs), I thought she might be interested in the US take on things. But
thank you for asking.

------------------

* United States Law - 15 U.S.C. §6(IX)(260-7)
Time zones and daylight saving time
United States Code
Title 15 - Commerce and Trade
Chapter 6 - Weights and Measures and Standard Time
Subchapter IX - Standard Time
Sections 260-267

Sec. 260. Congressional declaration of policy; adoption and observance of
uniform standard of time; authority of Secretary of Transportation

It is the policy of the United States to promote the adoption and observance
of uniform time within the standard time zones prescribed by sections 261 to
264 of this title, as modified by section 265 of this title. To this end the
Secretary of Transportation is authorized and directed to foster and promote
widespread and uniform adoption and observance of the same standard of time
within and throughout each such standard time zone.

Sec. 260a. Advancement of time or changeover dates

Duration of period; State exemption

During the period commencing at 2 o'clock antemeridian on the first Sunday
of April of each year and ending at 2 o'clock antemeridian on the last
Sunday of October of each year, the standard time of each zone established
by sections 261 to 264 of this title, as modified by section 265 of this
title, shall be advanced one hour and such time as so advanced shall for the
purposes of ssuch sections 261 to 264, as so modified, be the standard time
of such zone during such period...

http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/usc.html

 

[HeyBub]

Arizona does not use DST. They're on the same time as Calif. half the
year. So it an't no law. It's just a POLICY

Are you having trouble with "United States LAW - 15 U.S.C. 6(IX)(260-7)
[emphasis added]

Specifically:

"Within the respective zones created under the authority of sections 261 to
264 of this title the standard time of the zone shall insofar as practicable
(as determined by the Secretary of Transportation) govern the movement of
all common carriers engaged in interstate or foreign commerce. In all
statutes, orders, rules, and regulations relating to the time of performance
of any act by any officer or department of the United States, whether in the
legislative, executive, or judicial branches of the Government, or relating
to the time within which any rights shall accrue or determine, or within
which any act shall or shall not be performed by any person subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States, it shall be understood and intended that
the time shall insofar as practicable (as determined by the Secretary of
Transportation) be the United States standard time of the zone within which
the act is to be performed."

Of course there's nothing to prevent you or anyone else from marching to a
different timer - we often see posts here from people who have a strange
clock.

If you read the LAW at the link:
http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/usc.html

You'll discover why Arizona is conflicted.

Hint: It has something to do with overweight beavers and mayonnaise.

 

[Monica]

No! I'm not in Germantown <lol> My satellite provider is tho. I'm in
Texas. Just got back to this thread and will make the appropriate updates
tomorrow.
Thanks for the help.
Monica