How do I get Excel date to change from 1/1/1900?

[Macdad]

I am entering the date (8/25/2005) in a cell that is date-formatted.
However, once entered the cell always displays 1/1/1900 (Excel's embedded
calendar start date), i.e. it doesn't display the date I entered. How do I
get it to display teh date I entered?

 

[Debra Dalgleish]

What do you see in the formula bar when you select that cell?

What shows in the cell if you hold the Ctrl key, and type a semi-colon,
to enter the current date?

 

[Macdad]

Thank you very much for responding Debra.

What I see in the formula bar when I select that cell: =8/25/5

When I hold the Ctrl key and type semi-colon, I see 8/25/2005 displayed in
the cell, and 8/25/2005 dsiplayed in the formula bar. When I hit <enter>
the number 0.0001596 is displayed in the cell and if I pick the cell again, I
see
=8/25/2005 in the formula bar.

 

[Macdad]

This is a correction to my last post (the responses I gave are when the cell
was incorrectly formatted as "General). When the cell is properly formatted
as a "Date":

What I see in the formula bar when I select the cell: =8/25/5

What I see in the cell if I hold the Ctrl key, and type a semi-colon:
8/25/05 in the cell and in the formula bar. If I then hit enter, the cell
displays 1/0/00. If I pick the cell again, I see 1/0/00 in the cell and
=8/25/2005 in the formula bar.

 

[Debra Dalgleish]

From the Tools menu, choose Options

Thank you very much for responding Debra.

What I see in the formula bar when I select that cell: =8/25/5

When I hold the Ctrl key and type semi-colon, I see 8/25/2005 displayed in
the cell, and 8/25/2005 dsiplayed in the formula bar. When I hit <enter>
the number 0.0001596 is displayed in the cell and if I pick the cell again, I
see
=8/25/2005 in the formula bar.

:

 

[Macdad]

That worked. Thanks Debra.

From the Tools menu, choose Options

 

[Debra Dalgleish]

You're welcome! Thanks for letting me know that it worked.