My system changed to British Summer Time on wrong date

[Jim Macleod]

In the past my system has always changed automatically to BST on the
right date. However this year it didn't change until 1 April, although
the clocks went forward at 02:00 on 27 March.

In itself this was only a minor annoyance. However what was potentially
more serious was that every time I connected to the Internet during the
few days in between, the server insisted on changing me back onto GMT. I
then had to manually change forward to BST again, and could only do this
after I disconnected. All this was bad enough on my dial-up line, but
would have been much worse had I been on broadband (as I hope to be
before the next time change). I would then have been permanently stuck
with my computer clock an hour wrong.

Was this just me or have others been experiencing the same thing? I'd be
grateful if anyone can give me a clue what is going on, so that
hopefully I can avoid the same thing happening in the autumn.

Sorry if this is the wrong newsgroup. I've already posted this on
demon.ip.support.turnpike where it was suggested I try here. I've also
looked right through Google Groups without finding anything relevant.

[Marcus Houlden]

Post by Jim Macleod
In the past my system has always changed automatically to BST on the
right date. However this year it didn't change until 1 April, although
the clocks went forward at 02:00 on 27 March.

What version of Windows are you using? There were a few changes to the date
summer time comes into force a few years ago which older versions may not
have picked up on. There is a tool available (tzedit.exe) that will let you
edit timezones. You can get it as part of the Win95 kernel toys at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/downloads/contents/WUToys/W95KernelToy/Default.asp

I take it you'll have already made sure your computer clock is set to the
right time.

mh.

[Dave Mills]

This sounds like the system is sync'ing time and the time zone info is
incorrect. tzedit will let you see exactly when daylight saving
happens. But check you are in the correct TZ as there are 6 or 7 that
are GMT+1:00 but have different Daylight Saving Time settings.

Post by Marcus Houlden

Post by Jim Macleod
In the past my system has always changed automatically to BST on the
right date. However this year it didn't change until 1 April, although
the clocks went forward at 02:00 on 27 March.

What version of Windows are you using? There were a few changes to the date
summer time comes into force a few years ago which older versions may not
have picked up on. There is a tool available (tzedit.exe) that will let you
edit timezones. You can get it as part of the Win95 kernel toys at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/downloads/contents/WUToys/W95KernelToy/Default.asp
I take it you'll have already made sure your computer clock is set to the
right time.
mh.

[Dr John Stockton]

JRS: In article <***@neutron.nukesoft.co.uk>, dated
Sun, 3 Apr 2005 20:06:26, seen in news:uk.comp.os.ms-windows, Marcus

Post by Marcus Houlden

Post by Jim Macleod
In the past my system has always changed automatically to BST on the
right date. However this year it didn't change until 1 April, although
the clocks went forward at 02:00 on 27 March.

What version of Windows are you using? There were a few changes to the date
summer time comes into force a few years ago which older versions may not
have picked up on.

I don't think the March date rule has changed since 1980/1; and I don't
recall it ever being other than a Sunday in the UK.

[Oldish sod]

Post by Dr John Stockton
Sun, 3 Apr 2005 20:06:26, seen in news:uk.comp.os.ms-windows, Marcus

On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 20:31:40 +0100, Jim Macleod

Post by Jim Macleod
In the past my system has always changed automatically to BST on the
right date. However this year it didn't change until 1 April, although
the clocks went forward at 02:00 on 27 March.

What version of Windows are you using? There were a few changes to the date
summer time comes into force a few years ago which older versions may not
have picked up on.

I don't think the March date rule has changed since 1980/1; and I don't
recall it ever being other than a Sunday in the UK.

Certainly better than Netware 3.x, which changed two weeks before
and then two weeks after the official date BST changed.
Even that was always on a Sunday, though.

[Simon Zerafa]

Hi,

The current UK rules for Summber time are set out here:

http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2002/20020262.htm

I seem to remember that at one time, summer time started and ended on the
4th Sunday of the relevent months. Now it's the Last Sunday of the months.

There was an update for Windows 98 which corrected an issue where Summer
Time didn't start and end on the correct days because of this difference.

In addition the US has different rules (I believe) for Summer Time which
does lead to confusion.

Regards

Zed
--

Post by Oldish sod

Post by Dr John Stockton
Sun, 3 Apr 2005 20:06:26, seen in news:uk.comp.os.ms-windows, Marcus

On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 20:31:40 +0100, Jim Macleod

Post by Jim Macleod
In the past my system has always changed automatically to BST on the
right date. However this year it didn't change until 1 April, although
the clocks went forward at 02:00 on 27 March.

What version of Windows are you using? There were a few changes to the date
summer time comes into force a few years ago which older versions may not
have picked up on.

I don't think the March date rule has changed since 1980/1; and I don't
recall it ever being other than a Sunday in the UK.

Certainly better than Netware 3.x, which changed two weeks before
and then two weeks after the official date BST changed.
Even that was always on a Sunday, though.
--
Rob

[Dr John Stockton]

JRS: In article <4262b7ae$0$558$***@ptn-nntp-reader03.plus.net>,
dated Sun, 17 Apr 2005 20:22:36, seen in news:uk.comp.os.ms-windows,
Simon Zerafa <***@127.0.0.1> posted :

(responses should go after trimmed quotes)

Post by Simon Zerafa
I seem to remember that at one time, summer time started and ended on the
4th Sunday of the relevent months.

I think not, except maybe (but improbably) for 1995. That rule did NOT
apply at any time 1969-1994, AIUI.

Post by Simon Zerafa
Now it's the Last Sunday of the months.
There was an update for Windows 98 which corrected an issue where Summer
Time didn't start and end on the correct days because of this difference.

??? My First Edition Win98 had the days correct on delivery. It did
have the times wrong.

But there is a possibility that MS Outlook Calendar has or had its own
rules. And MS have been known to start US DST on the 8th when it should
have been the 1st.

Post by Simon Zerafa
In addition the US has different rules (I believe) for Summer Time which
does lead to confusion.

They start on a date one week later, and finish on the same date. All
EU changes, both ways, at 01:00, either GMT or UTC, whereas US changes
when the clocks local reach 02:00. Parts of US do not change. Canada
changes on the same dates as US, but parts have, AIUI, different time
rules (the US is less liberal in that).

<URL:http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/uksumtim.htm>

[Dave Mills]

Post by Dr John Stockton
dated Sun, 17 Apr 2005 20:22:36, seen in news:uk.comp.os.ms-windows,
(responses should go after trimmed quotes)

Post by Simon Zerafa
I seem to remember that at one time, summer time started and ended on the
4th Sunday of the relevent months.

I think not, except maybe (but improbably) for 1995. That rule did NOT
apply at any time 1969-1994, AIUI.

JRS seems correct here. see
http://www.npl.co.uk/time/summer_time_archive.html for a definitive
list. It certainly was the 4th Sunday in 75, 76 and 77 but not it
seems 78 (got bored with looking up other dates)

snip...

[Dr John Stockton]

JRS: In article <***@4ax.com>, dated
Wed, 20 Apr 2005 22:12:59, seen in news:uk.comp.os.ms-windows, Dave

Post by Dave Mills

Post by Dr John Stockton
dated Sun, 17 Apr 2005 20:22:36, seen in news:uk.comp.os.ms-windows,
(responses should go after trimmed quotes)

Post by Simon Zerafa
I seem to remember that at one time, summer time started and ended on the
4th Sunday of the relevent months.

I think not, except maybe (but improbably) for 1995. That rule did NOT
apply at any time 1969-1994, AIUI.

JRS seems correct here. see
http://www.npl.co.uk/time/summer_time_archive.html for a definitive
list. It certainly was the 4th Sunday in 75, 76 and 77 but not it
seems 78 (got bored with looking up other dates)

Summer Time finished on the 4th Sunday of October in 1976 & 1977; but in
1975 it finished on the 4th *and last* Sunday of October.

The 4th Sunday of Mar & Oct is the 22nd..28th;
the last Sunday of Mar & Oct is the 25th..31st.

But in the decade before 1981, the March change dates are in the range
16th..21st, which could be the 3rd Sunday but actually is the day after
the 3rd Saturday (and a week earlier if that is Easter, which is
possible but did not occur while that rule was applicable).

Remember that SZ wrote "started and ended".

I'd look for the full history of the Rules in
http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~jsm28/british-time/
Joseph Myers - History of legal time in Britain.