Re: Removing "CMOS clock set to UTC" question

On 2024-06-12 10:07, Mark Delany wrote:
> On 12Jun24, Ed Maste apparently wrote:
>> Our installer asks (via tzsetup):
>> 
>> > Is this machine's CMOS clock set to UTC?  If it is set to local time,
>> > or you don't know, please choose NO here!
>> 
>> I've heard many reports of new users being confused by this question
> 
> And experienced users too!
> 
> I've been installing FBSD and various other OSes for decades and whenever I 
> see that
> question invariable:
> 
>   a) I have no clue as to what the machine's CMOS clock is set to in the 
> first instance
> 
>   b) I do not want the hassle of stopping the install to gain access to some 
> obscure BIOS
>      screen that might or might not give me the answer.
> 
>   c) I have no clue as to the implications of answering this question one 
> way or the
>      other.
> 
>   d) I don't know whether it's a good idea or not to change the CMOS clock 
> to UTC if it's
>      not the case. Is it?
> 
>   e) I don't think I've ever seen a similar question asked by any other OS 
> install.
> 
> At the very least the message should indicate what happens if you get the 
> answer
> wrong. Does the system fail to install, does the clock run backwards, will 
> my dog stop
> barking? What?

"If you are unsure, or don't know the answer here. Select NO"
Seems intuitive enough.
IOW no harm done here, if you choose NO (selects localtime). :)
Personally, I don't have a strong BIAS here, except that it's always been 
this
way, and I don't have to remember to set it post installation. So it seems 
"convenient".

> 
> 
> Mark.
--Chris