cannot create crontab in 7.3

Hmm. New 7.3 system. I set the permissions to secure, if that has any bearing. cron-3.0.1-406 Logged in as root I try to create a new crontab: # crontab -e and get the following expected message before vi starts: no crontab for root - using an empty one I create the following entry: 30 8 * * * (tab) date When I exit vi I get the following message crontab: no changes made to crontab and a crontab -l shows nothing. I've tried with the default deny, allow files and no deny, allow files. Setting root crontab works fine on my other 7.3 system. I'm stumped. Ideas? Brett