The “short DST not available” error is a hardware issue that can prevent a computer from booting properly. DST stands for “Drive Self Test,” which is a diagnostics check that computers perform on their hard drives and storage devices during the boot process. “Short” DST refers to a quick initial test, while “long” DST is a more thorough secondary scan.
When this error appears, it typically means the computer’s storage drive failed the initial quick self-test and was unable to run the long DST. This points to a hardware problem with the storage device that is preventing the computer from fully booting into the operating system.
The “DST not available” error will display a code after it, which provides more detail on the exact failure encountered. But in general, it signals an issue with the hard drive or solid state drive that needs further troubleshooting.
What is DST?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of adjusting clocks forward during warmer months so that darkness falls later each day according to the clock. The idea behind DST is to make better use of daylight hours by shifting them into the evening. In the US, clocks shift forward by 1 hour in the spring, usually beginning on the second Sunday of March, and shift back 1 hour in the fall, usually on the first Sunday in November [1].
DST has been practiced for about 100 years in many countries, starting in Germany during World War I to conserve fuel. The US adopted DST nationwide in 1966 to reduce electricity usage and promote recreation and commerce. However, DST has its share of critics who argue it causes sleep disruption and doesn’t actually save energy [2].
Overall, DST aims to align waking hours better with daylight hours during summer months. The spring shift forwards causes the loss of 1 hour, while the fall shift back adds an hour. This causes the familiar phrase, “Spring forward, fall back” as a reminder.
Causes
There are several common reasons why the “DST not available” error may appear:
Router Issues – Outdated router firmware can cause compatibility issues and prevent devices from completing the DST self-test, resulting in the error message. Updating the router firmware may resolve this.
ISP Outages – Temporary Internet outages or service disruptions could interrupt the DST, leading to the “not available” result. Checking for ISP outages and trying again later often fixes this.
Buggy Devices – Faulty hard drives, SSDs, or other hardware can fail the DST due to physical defects or software bugs. This typically indicates a hardware problem needing replacement.
The “DST not available” error ultimately points to some type of communication issue between devices during the self-test. Tracking down the specific cause requires systematic troubleshooting of connections and components.
Router Issues
One common cause of the “short DST not available” error is an issue with the router’s firmware or configuration [1]. Routers rely on an internal clock to keep track of time and properly adjust for Daylight Saving Time. If the router’s firmware is out of date or the time zone settings are incorrect, it may fail to adjust the clock for DST changes. This can cause connectivity issues and the “DST not available” error message.
Updating to the latest router firmware often resolves DST-related problems. Router manufacturers periodically release firmware updates with bug fixes and improvements. Enabling automatic firmware updates can help avoid issues in the future. Manually checking for updates and upgrading regularly is advisable. The router configuration should also be checked to ensure the correct time zone and DST settings are enabled.
Resetting the router to factory default settings may be necessary if a firmware update does not resolve the problem. After resetting, carefully reconfigure the router settings while making sure DST adjustments are properly enabled. Contacting the router manufacturer for support is also recommended if firmware and settings changes do not fix the DST issue.
ISP Outages
One potential cause of the “short DST not available” error message is an outage or disruption from your internet service provider (ISP). The drive self-test (DST) relies on connecting to your ISP to download the latest firmware and run diagnostics on the hard drive. If there is an issue with the connection, it may result in the “DST not available” message.
According to this source, outages at your ISP can prevent the DST from running properly. The DST data comes directly from your ISP’s servers. So if those servers are unreachable due to an outage, the DST will fail to initialize and return the “short DST not available” error.
If you suspect an ISP outage is the culprit, try waiting and running the DST again later when connectivity is restored. You can also contact your ISP directly to inquire about any known outages in your area.
Buggy Devices
One common cause of the “short DST not available” error is bugs in devices that prevent them from properly syncing daylight saving time. According to some user reports, certain devices like computers and game consoles can fail to sync DST due to software issues. The device’s internal clock gets out of sync with the adjusted time.
This seems most common with Windows 10 systems, where updates and patches can sometimes break the automatic DST adjustment. Users on Reddit mention Windows 10 machines becoming an hour off after DST starts. The OS fails to make the time change properly.
Resetting network devices and ensuring software is up-to-date can help mitigate DST syncing bugs. For affected Windows 10 devices, synching to an internet time server manually may also fix the “short DST not available” error.
Solutions
If you are seeing the “short DST not available” error, there are a few solutions you can try to resolve the issue:
One solution is to contact your internet service provider and ask them to check for any outages or issues on their end. Resetting the router and modem can sometimes clear transient connection problems. According to one source, “An Unexpected Error has occurred. Warning. Be alert for scammers posting…”[1]
You can also try updating the firmware on your router and other network devices like printers and computers. Outdated firmware can cause compatibility issues leading to connectivity problems. Resetting network devices to factory settings may also help clear any corrupted settings.
For computers seeing the DST error during boot, try resetting the BIOS to default settings. Malconfigured BIOS parameters can prevent devices from passing hardware checks.
As a last resort, you may need to replace any exceptionally outdated or malfunctioning hardware that is causing the “short DST not available” error.
[1] https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Boot-and-Lockup/DST-Not-Available/td-p/8389229
Contact Your Internet Service Provider
One potential cause of the “short DST not available” error is an issue with your Internet service provider (ISP). According to this forum post, some ISPs do not properly support IPv6 addressing yet, which can prevent connecting to Don’t Starve Together servers. If your ISP does not support IPv6, you may get the DST error until they update their network.
It’s a good idea to contact your ISP’s technical support team and ask if they fully support IPv6 connectivity. You can also inquire about any known network outages in your area that could be temporarily disrupting access to DST servers. The ISP can look into the issue on their end and potentially resolve any configurations or network problems causing the DST error. Checking with your ISP is one of the first troubleshooting steps to take when the “short DST not available” message appears consistently.
Reset Devices
One solution to fix the “short DST not available” error is to force your device to re-sync the Daylight Saving Time (DST) settings. This issue often occurs when a device’s internal clock gets out of sync with the network time. Resetting the device prompts it to reconnect and update to the proper DST settings.
For Android devices, open the Settings app, go to System > Date & Time > Uncheck “Automatic date & time” > Toggle “Automatic time zone” off and back on. This will force a resync with the network time. You can then re-enable “Automatic date & time.”
On iPhones and iPads, go to Settings > General > Date & Time and toggle “Set Automatically” off and then back on. This will prompt your iOS device to resync the date, time, and time zone.[1]
You can also reboot your router to force connected devices to reconnect and resync DST. Unplug your router for 30 seconds, then plug back in. Wait for it to fully reboot before reconnecting devices.
After resetting devices and/or router, check if the date/time updated correctly. The “short DST not available” error should be resolved once everything resyncs.
Conclusion
In summary, the “short DST not available” error message typically indicates an issue with your internet connection preventing proper syncing of your device’s calendar and clock for daylight saving time. The most common causes are router problems, ISP outages, or buggy devices. To resolve the issue, try resetting your router and devices or contacting your ISP if outages are widespread. With some troubleshooting, you should be able to get your device syncing properly again.
As a final recommendation, be proactive around DST by checking for any firmware updates to routers and other devices. Set calendar alerts leading up to time changes as a reminder to check syncing. And know where to find technical support or customer service if problems do occur. With the right preparation, you can minimize disruption and quickly get “short DST not available” errors corrected.