Update time zones for 2007 on your Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP machines

by Scott Lowe MCSE | Jan 16, 2007 8:00:00 AM

Tags: Servers, Scott Lowe MCSE, Daylight Saving Time, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server, Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 Tips Newsletter

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Takeaway: If you're in one of the majority of states affected by the Daylight Saving Time change dates as outlined in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, you'll want to update your clients and servers to recognize the new rules. Scott Lowe discusses the changes and where you can go to get an update.

In August of 2005, Congress passed the Energy Policy Act which, among other things, in 2007, changes the start and end dates for Daylight Saving Time in the United States. Under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, as amended in 1986, Daylight Saving Time used to begin on the first Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday of October. Under the 2005 Energy Policy Act, Daylight Saving Time now begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday of November. These changes have a number of significant impacts on your operations.

Please note that the new dates don't affect some areas under U.S. jurisdiction. These areas are Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. Further, while Canada will also be following the new rules, Mexico will not. Therefore, there are new time zones that pertain only to Mexico that will follow the old Daylight Savings Time rules.

This change affects Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP, and Microsoft has provided a time zone update so your clients and servers can recognize the new information. As of this writing, however, updates for Outlook and Exchange are not yet complete, so watch Microsoft's Daylight Saving Time page for updates and then, once Microsoft has finalized the Exchange and Outlook updates, install your updates all at the same time. The Windows XP version of the fix requires that the client be running Windows XP Service Pack 2.

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