XP changes time zone on startup

[JMF]

Here's a strange one. This morning my machine downloaded the current
automatic update, the one that has 11 security updates, I believe. I just
thought I'd mention that, because that's the only thing that comes to mind
as a possible cause of the strange thing.

The strange thing is that I suddenly noticed that the computer's clock was
ahead by exactly 5 hours. I found that it had changed its time zone ahead
five hours, all by itself. So I dutifully set it back, scratching my head.

Then after working a while, I shut it down (it's a laptop).

Now, a bit later, I started up the computer again, and it was five time
zones ahead again! So it looks like something that's not going away.

Never seen anything like it.

The computer is otherwise acting entirely normally. I'm running a full virus
check, etc., just to be sure, but there are no indications whatsoever of any
funny business of that nature.

Anybody seen this happen before?

Thanks,

John

 

[smlunatick]

Here's a strange one. This morning my machine downloaded the current
automatic update, the one that has 11 security updates, I believe. I just
thought I'd mention that, because that's the only thing that comes to mind
as a possible cause of the strange thing.

The strange thing is that I suddenly noticed that the computer's clock was
ahead by exactly 5 hours. I found that it had changed its time zone ahead
five hours, all by itself. So I dutifully set it back, scratching my head.

Then after working a while, I shut it down (it's a laptop).

Now, a bit later, I started up the computer again, and it was five time
zones ahead again! So it looks like something that's not going away.

Never seen anything like it.

The computer is otherwise acting entirely normally. I'm running a full virus
check, etc., just to be sure, but there are no indications whatsoever of any
funny business of that nature.

Anybody seen this happen before?

Thanks,

John

Check also for some type of spyware/malware. Not every anti-virus
system may also check for spywares/malwares.

 

[Rock]

Here's a strange one. This morning my machine downloaded the current
automatic update, the one that has 11 security updates, I believe. I just
thought I'd mention that, because that's the only thing that comes to mind
as a possible cause of the strange thing.

The strange thing is that I suddenly noticed that the computer's clock was
ahead by exactly 5 hours. I found that it had changed its time zone ahead
five hours, all by itself. So I dutifully set it back, scratching my head.

Then after working a while, I shut it down (it's a laptop).

Now, a bit later, I started up the computer again, and it was five time
zones ahead again! So it looks like something that's not going away.

Never seen anything like it.

The computer is otherwise acting entirely normally. I'm running a full
virus check, etc., just to be sure, but there are no indications
whatsoever of any funny business of that nature.

You might want to check the posts in the windows update newsgroup to see if
anyone has reporting this problem, and for a resolution.

news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsupdate

 

[JMF]

You might want to check the posts in the windows update newsgroup to see
if anyone has reporting this problem, and for a resolution.

news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsupdate

Rock,

Thanks. In fact I noticed that they have just included new software for
managing the time change in the spring. However, it looks like the problem
is going away. The last couple of boots haven't shown that effect again, so
I'm crossing my fingers.

Thanks again,

John

 

[Rock]

Rock,

Thanks. In fact I noticed that they have just included new software for
managing the time change in the spring. However, it looks like the problem
is going away. The last couple of boots haven't shown that effect again,
so I'm crossing my fingers.

Hehe, one of those mysterious appearing and then self healing problems eh?
Well let's hope it stays fixed.

 

[JMF]

Hehe, one of those mysterious appearing and then self healing problems eh?
Well let's hope it stays fixed.

:-DD Amen to that!

John

 

[JMF]

:-DD Amen to that!

John

I think I've found the problem: I use the program NetSwitcher to switch
between Office and Home. Various settings, like IP addresses, default
printer, and ... Time Zone. Somehow, some way, the time zone got changed in
NetSwitcher, so it was doing the changing.

Of course, this doesn't explain how it got changed (I certainly didn't do it
intentionally, and I don't think I did it at all), but at least it explains
what was doing the switching on Windows.

Just thought I'd do my duty of reporting in any new info ...

John

 

[Rock]

I think I've found the problem: I use the program NetSwitcher to switch
between Office and Home. Various settings, like IP addresses, default
printer, and ... Time Zone. Somehow, some way, the time zone got changed
in NetSwitcher, so it was doing the changing.

Of course, this doesn't explain how it got changed (I certainly didn't do
it intentionally, and I don't think I did it at all), but at least it
explains what was doing the switching on Windows.

Just thought I'd do my duty of reporting in any new info ...

You've solved a mystery, great!. Thanks for posting back to update the
thread.

 

[JMF]

:-DD Amen to that!

John

OK, it's official: the problem was with the program called Netswitcher that
I use to switch between IP environments (office and home). The new Microsoft
update for time zones messed it up. They're working on it now.

John