The door dial solution is 18 / January / 1996. Set the top wheel to 18, the middle wheel to January, and the bottom wheel to 1996. The door opens into a bathroom holding the Room 204 Key.
Where it is
This is the first puzzle in the game (Part 1, Chapter 2: Escape), in the hotel room in "A Different Place". Right after you get the CRTV, you're stuck in a room with two doors: one needs a key, the other has three rotating wheels.
How to solve it
Pick up the Room Service Card
It's on the table right after you get the CRTV. It's a Haldane Hotel room service menu and gives the date.
Tune the CRTV to channel 60
Once the tutorial shows you how to tune, channel 60 shows two images. They back up the day and month.
Set the wheels
Top to 18, middle to January, bottom to 1996.
Take the Room 204 Key
It's on the bathroom counter behind the door. Use it on the other door to leave the room.
You keep the Room 204 Key for most of the game. That's normal. It opens a door much later, in the Medical Center.
Quick answers
18 January 1996.
No. It's the same on every playthrough and every difficulty.
Related puzzles
- Next: Zoe's power card panel
- Blood type wheel: you use the Room 204 Key there, in Part 3