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Daylight-saving time is usually one of the first rites of passage for spring, but this year, things are different.
It's still winter, but clocks across the country will be turning an hour ahead on Sunday in an attempt to save energy by extending the evening daylight.
For the past 20 years, daylight-saving time has started on the first Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday of October. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 changed those dates for this year to the second Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November.
According to its Web site, the U.S. Department of Energy will study the change's effects on energy use. Congress will then decide whether to keep this system or switch back to the old one.
The trouble is, most computers are set to observe the former daylight-saving time. There's a simple solution for most computers, according to Howard Fletcher, a computer technician at Elliott's Computer Corner in Roanoke Rapids.
Microsoft has released an update for Windows which is now included in its critical updates. The company provides more information at support.microsoft.com/gp/cp_dst
“They have the coding set for a certain date, which was the old date, and basically they just have to adjust it for the new date,” Fletcher explained.
Apple has information on its own updates at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305056
Though Elliott's has been updating the computers it services and Microsoft has been e-mailing reminders, Fletcher said some people might not be aware of the glitch. So while you mourn a lost hour of sleep and celebrate an extra hour of daylight, don't forget to update your computer.
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