Spring Forward = Mini Y2K

from the Rockford Register Star (Ill)

It’s been compared to a “mini Y2K” — some electronic devices will be confused by the new date for daylight-saving time. Although it’s more of a nuisance than a catastrophe in the making, older computers, PDAs and DVRs may not automatically update their times when daylight-saving comes three weeks early this year — on March 11. The date change was established by the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005, which was passed to get Americans to cut energy consumption. The thinking is that less energy will be used toward the end of the day if the sun’s out later.

Few computer experts think the new date will make a big difference. Consumers can prepare for the change by using a rule of thumb: If a computer or device is a bit older, it may not correct the time automatically. Any Microsoft operating system older than Windows XP may not recognize the new time change come March 11.

Daylight-saving time will end Nov. 4 instead of the usual last Sunday of October.