Setting default date format

I'm running Excel 2000. Is there a way to set a default format for dates? It currently shows 03-Oct instead of 10/03/06 which is my preference.

Any help would be appreciated...
Phillycheese

The cells are formatted when a date is entered. ie

In cell 1, if you enter 3-oct into a empty cell, it will be formatted that way.
In cell 2, if you enter 3/10/06 into an empty cell, it will be entered that way. If you now go back and enter 4-Oct into cell 2, it will be formatted as 4/10/06 and if you enter 4/10/06 in cell 1, it will be formatted 4-Oct.

To change the format after a format has previously been applied, you need to use FORMAT\CELLS

Matt