multiplication tables on excel

hello, 

i am trying to make a simple multiplication table on excel. 

I am doing this by first computing 1 *1, my code is

=B$1 * $A2.

 then when i copy the first cell, and past the formula all the way through it gives me a bunch of 1's

but if i click on a particular cell, then click on the formula bar, the formula highlights the corresponding cells  in blue and red, and when i click enter, it then gives me the appropriate value.  

what am i doing wrong???!!!!