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how to know when windows was installed on my PC

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Ahmed

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Dec 3, 2005, 4:28:01 AM12/3/05
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how to know when windows was installed on my PC? is there a registry entry or
some file creation date?


David Candy

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Dec 3, 2005, 4:35:40 AM12/3/05
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Type systeminfo in a command prompt.

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Read David defending the concept of violence.
http://margokingston.typepad.com/harry_version_2/2005/10/entering_the_ga.html#more
=================================================
"Ahmed" <Ah...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:F52B182A-A8AA-4C37...@microsoft.com...

Plato

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Dec 3, 2005, 4:39:05 AM12/3/05
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=?Utf-8?B?QWhtZWQ=?= wrote:
>
> how to know when windows was installed on my PC? is there a registry entry or
> some file creation date?

How
Is

Uncle John

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Dec 3, 2005, 6:58:50 AM12/3/05
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Ahmed,

Though David Candy's CMD will give you an installation date, it will not
necessarily tell you when your installation was first installed because a
full upgrade or full repair install will reset the date. For example my
installation was first installed when Windows XP was released but early in
2005, in order to simplify access to the OS files I ran a repair install
with a new Gold release of Windows XP Pro + SP2 that was given me as an Xmas
present. The install date now shows as 01/01/2005

So I do not think it is possible to find out from your PC when the OS was
originally installed.

--
Uncle John
"Plato" <|@|.|> wrote in message
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Detlev Dreyer

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Dec 3, 2005, 8:10:49 AM12/3/05
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"Ahmed" <Ah...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> how to know when windows was installed on my PC?

Start > Run: CMD > netsh diag show os /v

--
d-d

Detlev Dreyer

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Dec 3, 2005, 8:13:59 AM12/3/05
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David Candy wrote:

> Type systeminfo in a command prompt.

"Systeminfo.exe" is available under WinXP Pro only. Although
running under WinXP Home as well, it's not present by default.

--
d-d

Detlev Dreyer

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Dec 3, 2005, 8:23:22 AM12/3/05
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"Uncle John" <uncl...@uselesnospam.com> wrote:

> So I do not think it is possible to find out from your PC when the OS
> was originally installed.

You can since that date is part of an (encrypted) registry entry. See
news:25285c168028b5ea...@d-d.mvps.org

--
d-d

R. McCarty

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Dec 3, 2005, 8:33:30 AM12/3/05
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Actually, there are some date stamped files on the PC that will tell you
when XP was original installed. If you check the Registry storage folder
C:\Windows\System32\Config

You'll find a number of .Sav files. These are created during the setup
process switch from Text to Graphics mode. If you check the Date
modified stamp it should reflect the date/time XP was originally setup.
Unless manually removed, the files should exist on every XP instance.

"Detlev Dreyer" <detd...@flashmail.com> wrote in message
news:6f887e63fea80524...@d-d.mvps.org...

Alias

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Dec 3, 2005, 8:33:10 AM12/3/05
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David Candy wrote:

> Type systeminfo in a command prompt.
>

I tried that and the cmd window opened, a lot of text appeared and then
the cmd window disapeared. WTF?

Alias

mikesg

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Dec 3, 2005, 8:35:29 AM12/3/05
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was that supposed to be a link?


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Posted via http://ms-os.com Forum to Usenet gateway

Detlev Dreyer

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Dec 3, 2005, 8:53:00 AM12/3/05
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R. McCarty <PcEngWor...@mindspring.com> wrote:

> Actually, there are some date stamped files on the PC that will tell you
> when XP was original installed. If you check the Registry storage folder
> C:\Windows\System32\Config

You're correct. However, IIRC both "Netsh.exe" and "Systeminfo.exe"
retrieve that date from the registry.

> You'll find a number of .Sav files. These are created during the setup
> process

Correct. Anyway, file dates are not reliable. If you follow the scenario
as described in this article, these file dates may change.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prmc_str_bjid.asp

--
d-d

Detlev Dreyer

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Dec 3, 2005, 9:02:53 AM12/3/05
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"mikesg" <mikesg...@no-mx.gateway.localhost> wrote:

> was that supposed to be a link?

What are you talking about. When using a news client like "Uncle John",
clicking the referred article works in order to show that message. Since
you're dropping in via web interface (vBulletin USENET gateway), you're
running out of luck.

--
d-d

Uncle John

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Dec 3, 2005, 9:17:21 AM12/3/05
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"Detlev Dreyer"

I am sorry but it just shows the date of the last repair as posted above. I
guess any time you enter the CD Key it resets the date?

--
Uncle John


"Detlev Dreyer" <detd...@flashmail.com> wrote in message
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R. McCarty

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Dec 3, 2005, 9:21:36 AM12/3/05
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While DD has pointed out the issues, one other thing that might help
and I know creation/modified dates are totally reliable is check the
modified date of "Default User" under Documents & Settings. Any
kind of repair/re-install should not reset that creation date.

"Uncle John" <uncl...@uselesnospam.com> wrote in message
news:%23BdpEQB%23FH...@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...

R. McCarty

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Dec 3, 2005, 9:26:24 AM12/3/05
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Correction - Should read "NOT totally" reliable. Sorry.

"R. McCarty" <PcEngWor...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:uIh9fTB%23FHA...@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...

Carey Frisch [MVP]

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Dec 3, 2005, 9:55:02 AM12/3/05
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1. Open XP's "Help and Support" and click on "Use Tools to view your
computer info....."
2. Click on "Get information about your computer".
3. Then click on "View the status of my system hardware and software"
and look under "System Software - Date Created".

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Detlev Dreyer

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Dec 3, 2005, 9:58:32 AM12/3/05
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"Uncle John" <uncl...@uselesnospam.com> wrote:

> I am sorry but it just shows the date of the last repair as posted
> above. I guess any time you enter the CD Key it resets the date?

You're correct in terms of a repair install (in-place upgrade) since
this is similar to a new installation of the OS. The same is true when
upgrading from XP Home to XP Pro. I agree - actually, this is just the
question how to define the 'original' installation date.

BTW, to answer the OP's question regarding the registry entry:
The install date is encrypted in the DWORD "InstallDate", path
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

--
d-d

mikesg

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Dec 3, 2005, 9:54:16 AM12/3/05
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My bad.

I don't use newsgroups.

The web interface looks much nicer too.

Uncle John

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Dec 3, 2005, 10:53:54 AM12/3/05
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"R. McCarty"

I think you get the cigar! The modified date for my Default User shows the
date Windows XP was installed on this PC: O1/03/2004.

The System Information (however extracted) shows the installation date:
01/01/2005.
This was when I ran a repair install to apply Windows XP Pro + SP2 ID, SP2
having previously installed as patch on the original XP Pro CD.

Congratulations!
--
Uncle John


"R. McCarty" <PcEngWor...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
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Ken Blake, MVP

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Dec 3, 2005, 11:09:10 AM12/3/05
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Alias wrote:


If you type sysinfo at the Start | Run line, the windows will disappear as
soon as it's finished displaying. Instead, open the command prompt window by
typing CMD at the Start | Run line, then enter sysinfo in the window.

Torgeir Bakken (MVP)

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Dec 3, 2005, 12:58:47 PM12/3/05
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mikesg wrote:

> was that supposed to be a link?
>

Hi,

Yes.

Fill in 25285c168028b5ea...@d-d.mvps.org in the
Message ID field here:

http://groups.google.com/advanced_search?q=&hl=en&

and press the "Lookup Message" button, and you end up here:

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/633ddc63f00b7137?hl=en


--
torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/default.mspx

Alias

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Dec 3, 2005, 1:09:16 PM12/3/05
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Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

Whew, that's a relief, thanks. I was thinking something might be wrong
with my machine.

Alias

Ken Blake, MVP

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Dec 3, 2005, 1:25:24 PM12/3/05
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Alias wrote:

You're welcome. Glad to help.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


Wesley Vogel

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Dec 3, 2005, 2:34:34 PM12/3/05
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Than go back to http://ms-os.com/

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:mikesg...@no-mx.gateway.localhost,
mikesg <mikesg...@no-mx.gateway.localhost> hunted and pecked:

fr...@theshire.org

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Dec 4, 2005, 5:48:49 PM12/4/05
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just check the file \WINDOWS\repair\setup.log, it should have the date
of original install.

ANONYMOUS

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Dec 4, 2005, 6:10:27 PM12/4/05
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"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
> If you type sysinfo at the Start | Run line, the windows will disappear as
> soon as it's finished displaying. Instead, open the command prompt window by
> typing CMD at the Start | Run line, then enter sysinfo in the window.


Or to type: systeminfo > c:\temp\sys.txt

this redirects everything to a file in C:\temp unde name sys.txt

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