Hi Guys,

I want to know if there is a way to determine when a system was last
formatted?

I know there is the systeminfo command, but what about if the PC cant
boot.

If you attach the hard disk from the PC to a working PC, is there a
specific system file with associated date you can look at that will
tell you?

Cheers

-Al

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:e9041107-a147-4bd7-8b19-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Guys,
>
> I want to know if there is a way to determine when a system was last
> formatted?
>
> I know there is the systeminfo command, but what about if the PC cant
> boot.
>
> If you attach the hard disk from the PC to a working PC, is there a
> specific system file with associated date you can look at that will
> tell you?
>
> Cheers
>
> -Al

If you installed Windows shortly after the most recent format then this
command will tell you:
dir /tc X:\win*
Replace X: with the correct drive letter for your disk.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:e9041107-a147-4bd7-8b19-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Guys,
>
> I want to know if there is a way to determine when a system was last
> formatted?
>
> I know there is the systeminfo command, but what about if the PC cant
> boot.
>
> If you attach the hard disk from the PC to a working PC, is there a
> specific system file with associated date you can look at that will
> tell you?
>

This information is encoded into the volume serial number when the disc is
formatted. Unfortunately extracting it not a trivial matter. If you suffer
from insomnia then you can read all about it at:

http://www.digital-detective.co.uk/d...%20Numbers.pdf

However, that document does link to a utility that does all the work for
you.

"M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
news:492fb516$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:e9041107-a147-4bd7-8b19-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi Guys,
>>
>> I want to know if there is a way to determine when a system was last
>> formatted?
>>
>> I know there is the systeminfo command, but what about if the PC cant
>> boot.
>>
>> If you attach the hard disk from the PC to a working PC, is there a
>> specific system file with associated date you can look at that will
>> tell you?
>>
>
> This information is encoded into the volume serial number when the disc is
> formatted. Unfortunately extracting it not a trivial matter. If you
> suffer from insomnia then you can read all about it at:
>
> http://www.digital-detective.co.uk/d...%20Numbers.pdf
>
> However, that document does link to a utility that does all the work for
> you.
>

I'm impressed!

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:e9041107-a147-4bd7-8b19-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Guys,
>
> I want to know if there is a way to determine when a system was last
> formatted?
>
> I know there is the systeminfo command, but what about if the PC cant
> boot.
>
> If you attach the hard disk from the PC to a working PC, is there a
> specific system file with associated date you can look at that will
> tell you?
>
> Cheers
>
> -Al

If the system has not had a repair install for instance, just select
ntdetect.com file in windows explorer. It will show you the date of that
specific file creation under properities. Assuming that XP installation
immediately followed the format, there you go. In msdos/95/98/ME, do same
for io.sys file. Both are at the root of the C: partition/drive in both
situations.

In neither case can you reasonably expect to conclude that the C: partition
was immediately formatted prior to installation of such file. You can
conclude that was when the operating system was installed....

--
Dave

"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:492fb516$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:e9041107-a147-4bd7-8b19-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Hi Guys,
>>>
>>> I want to know if there is a way to determine when a system was last
>>> formatted?
>>>
>>> I know there is the systeminfo command, but what about if the PC cant
>>> boot.
>>>
>>> If you attach the hard disk from the PC to a working PC, is there a
>>> specific system file with associated date you can look at that will
>>> tell you?
>>>
>>
>> This information is encoded into the volume serial number when the disc
>> is formatted. Unfortunately extracting it not a trivial matter. If you
>> suffer from insomnia then you can read all about it at:
>>
>> http://www.digital-detective.co.uk/d...%20Numbers.pdf
>>
>> However, that document does link to a utility that does all the work for
>> you.
>>
>
> I'm impressed!

What with? My apparent and expansive knowledge?

|
V

Or the fact that I found it in under 30 seconds with google? :-/

"M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4934eb33$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> "M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:492fb516$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>
>>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:e9041107-a147-4bd7-8b19-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> Hi Guys,
>>>>
>>>> I want to know if there is a way to determine when a system was last
>>>> formatted?
>>>>
>>>> I know there is the systeminfo command, but what about if the PC cant
>>>> boot.
>>>>
>>>> If you attach the hard disk from the PC to a working PC, is there a
>>>> specific system file with associated date you can look at that will
>>>> tell you?
>>>>
>>>
>>> This information is encoded into the volume serial number when the disc
>>> is formatted. Unfortunately extracting it not a trivial matter. If you
>>> suffer from insomnia then you can read all about it at:
>>>
>>> http://www.digital-detective.co.uk/d...%20Numbers.pdf
>>>
>>> However, that document does link to a utility that does all the work for
>>> you.
>>>
>>
>> I'm impressed!
>
> What with? My apparent and expansive knowledge?
>
> |
> V
>
> Or the fact that I found it in under 30 seconds with google? :-/
>
>

All of the above . . . plus the diligence of the person who worked it all
out.

Pegasus (MVP) wrote:

> "M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:4934eb33$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>>"M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
>>>news:492fb516$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>
>>>><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>>news:e9041107-a147-4bd7-8b19-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>
>>>>>Hi Guys,
>>>>>
>>>>>I want to know if there is a way to determine when a system was last
>>>>>formatted?
>>>>>
>>>>>I know there is the systeminfo command, but what about if the PC cant
>>>>>boot.
>>>>>
>>>>>If you attach the hard disk from the PC to a working PC, is there a
>>>>>specific system file with associated date you can look at that will
>>>>>tell you?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>This information is encoded into the volume serial number when the disc
>>>>is formatted. Unfortunately extracting it not a trivial matter. If you
>>>>suffer from insomnia then you can read all about it at:
>>>>
>>>>http://www.digital-detective.co.uk/d...%20Numbers.pdf
>>>>
>>>>However, that document does link to a utility that does all the work for
>>>>you.
>>>>
>>>
>>>I'm impressed!
>>
>>What with? My apparent and expansive knowledge?
>>
>>|
>>V
>>
>>Or the fact that I found it in under 30 seconds with google? :-/
>>
>>
>
>
> All of the above . . . plus the diligence of the person who worked it all
> out.
>

But it only reflects the computer date at the time the formatting, so
still nothing authoritative. ;-)

"Bob I" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...


Pegasus (MVP) wrote:

> "M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:4934eb33$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>>"M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
>>>news:492fb516$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>
>>>><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>>news:e9041107-a147-4bd7-8b19-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>
>>>>>Hi Guys,
>>>>>
>>>>>I want to know if there is a way to determine when a system was last
>>>>>formatted?
>>>>>
>>>>>I know there is the systeminfo command, but what about if the PC cant
>>>>>boot.
>>>>>
>>>>>If you attach the hard disk from the PC to a working PC, is there a
>>>>>specific system file with associated date you can look at that will
>>>>>tell you?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>This information is encoded into the volume serial number when the disc
>>>>is formatted. Unfortunately extracting it not a trivial matter. If you
>>>>suffer from insomnia then you can read all about it at:
>>>>
>>>>http://www.digital-detective.co.uk/d...%20Numbers.pdf
>>>>
>>>>However, that document does link to a utility that does all the work for
>>>>you.
>>>>
>>>
>>>I'm impressed!
>>
>>What with? My apparent and expansive knowledge?
>>
>>|
>>V
>>
>>Or the fact that I found it in under 30 seconds with google? :-/
>>
>>
>
>
> All of the above . . . plus the diligence of the person who worked it all
> out.

But it only reflects the computer date at the time the formatting, so
still nothing authoritative. ;-)

Which I believe is what the OP wanted to know?