"C:\Windows\System\Timedate.cpl" Error Message When Starting Date/Time Tool in Control Panel (250912)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
This article was previously published under Q250912
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to start the Date/Time tool in Control Panel, you may receive the following error message:
An error occurred while Windows was working with the Control Panel file C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\TIMEDATE.CPL

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if the Time Zones registry key is missing or damaged.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, reinstall Windows.

WORKAROUND

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To work around this issue, create a registry script file to add an Eastern Standard Time value to the Time Zones key in the registry using the following steps:
  1. Open Notepad.
  2. Copy the following text and paste it into Notepad.
    REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Time Zones]
@="Pacific Standard Time"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Time Zones\Eastern]
"Display"="(GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)"
"Dlt"="Eastern Daylight Time"
"Std"="Eastern Standard Time"
"MapID"="38,39"
"TZI"=hex:2c,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,c4,ff,ff,ff,00,00,0a,00,00,00,05,00,02,00,00,\ 
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,04,00,00,00,01,00,02,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
  3. Save the file with a .reg extension.

    NOTE: When you save the file, use the Save As option on the File menu. In the Save as type box, click All Files.
  4. After you create the file, double-click the file to add the information into the registry.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/20/2004
Keywords:kbenv kberrmsg kbpending kbprb KB250912
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