When you enter dates in Sage Accounts or Sage Payroll you may experience one of the following issues:

• Error message 'Incompatible date settings'
• Error message 'Invalid date or incorrect date format, use DD/MM/YY, DDMMYY, DD/MM/YYYY or DDMMYYYY format.'
• The year keeps reverting to 2000

This is caused by incorrect date format settings on your computer. Let's look at how to fix this.

Windows 10

Step 1 - Change the regional options in Control Panel

If the Incompatible date settings message appears, click Change settings and start from step 2.

1. Press the Windows key and X on your keyboard.
2. Click Settings, then click Time & Language.
3. Click Region on the left.
4. From the Regional format drop-down list, choose a different country, for example, English (Zimbabwe).
5. Restart the computer.
6. Repeat steps 1-3.
7. From the Regional format drop-down list, choose English (United Kingdom).
8. Ensure the Short date format is DD/MM/YYYY.
9. Close Settings and restart the computer.

Step 2 - Create a new international key in the registry

This involves making changes to the Microsoft Windows registry. Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require a reinstall of the Microsoft Windows operating system to correct them. Sage cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. If in any doubt, please refer the customer to their IT Administrator.

1. Windows key + R > type regedit > OK.
2. In the left-hand pane, browse to and expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel - there should be a folder called International
   
   
3. Right-click International > Rename > Rename to InternationalOLD.
   

   If there isn't an International folder present, proceed to the next step.

4. Right-click Control Panel > New > Key.
5. The New Key #1 appears, ready to be renamed - rename this to International.
6. Close the Registry Editor, restart the PC, then repeat all of the steps in the section Step 1 - Change the regional options in Control Panel.