Excel assumes wrong year when year omitted

[CircleSky]

Normally when you specify a month and a day in Excel but omit the year,
the current year is assumed. I have a peculiar problem with one of our
computers defaulting to the year 2001, five years ago. For example, I
type "June 1" and Excel stores "01/06/2001" instead of the expected
"01/06/2006".

Note that both computers have the correct system date and are set to
interpret 2-digit years as being between 1930 and 2029. Both computers
are running Windows XP Home Edition 2002 Service Pack 2 and Microsoft
Office 2000.

I know the simple answer would be to type out the year in full but I am
curious as to why this would be happening. A quick search on the
internet shows that Excel's expected behaviour when a month and a
number are typed, is to store the month, day and current year (if the
number is 31 or lower). Has anyone else experienced this?

This file was created and is saved on a desktop computer (which
interprets the year correctly) and is being accessed by a laptop (which
interprets the wrong year) over a network.

Thanks,
Shannon

 

[Bernard Liengme]

The last paragraph was interesting. Once the data is stored how could Excel
tell that is was entered with a default year on another computer?

My guess is that one computer is using the 1904 convention (MAC standard)
while the other is using the 1900 convention (PC standard). Use Tools|
Options | Calculate to see what each computer uses.

Let us know what is resolved.
best wishes

 

[CircleSky]

On the Calculation tab in Options, both computers show "1904 date
system" as deselected.

I suppose my last paragraph was misleading. I just meant that on the
desktop computer, when a new date is entered and the year omitted, it
assumes the current year. But, on the laptop, when a new date is
entered and the year omitted, it assumes the year 2001. Of course once
the date "June 1, 2001" is stored in the cell, if I then open the file
on the desktop computer, "June 1, 2001" is still stored.

Thanks for your help!
Shannon

 

[Mark Lincoln]

There's a possibility that the computer that has the incorrect date
needs a new clock battery, or, since it's a laptop, that the main
battery is shot. It may default to a date in 2001 when booted if the
time isn't properly maintained.