How can I modify the date format on a Windows machine for new users?

Start a registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).

Navigate to the HKEY_USERS registry key.

From the File menu, select Load Hive.

Navigate to the %systemdrive%documents and settingsdefault user folder, select ntuser.dat, then click Open.

Enter a name for the registry entry (e.g., Default User), then click OK.

Navigate to the HKEY_USERSDefault UserControl PanelInternational registry subkey.

Double-click the sShortDate registry entry.

Set the value to the date format required (e.g., dd/MM/yyyy), then click OK.

You can also change the sLongDate registry entry for the longer date format (e.g., dd MMMM yyyy), then click OK.

Select the HKEY_USERSDefault User registry subkey (or whatever you named it) again, then from the File menu select Unload Hive.

Click Yes to the confirmation.

Close the registry editor.