how to know when windows was installed on my PC

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Guest

how to know when windows was installed on my PC? is there a registry entry or
some file creation date?
 
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.
 
David said:
Type systeminfo in a command prompt.
Click to expand...

"Systeminfo.exe" is available under WinXP Pro only. Although
running under WinXP Home as well, it's not present by default.
 
Uncle John said:
So I do not think it is possible to find out from your PC when the OS
was originally installed.
Click to expand...

You can since that date is part of an (encrypted) registry entry. See
 
David said:
Type systeminfo in a command prompt.
Click to expand...

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

Alias
 
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.
 
R. McCarty said:
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
Click to expand...

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
Click to expand...

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
 
mikesg said:
was that supposed to be a link?
Click to expand...

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.
 
"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?
 
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.
 
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".
 
Uncle John said:
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?
Click to expand...

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
 
"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!
 
Alias said:
I tried that and the cmd window opened, a lot of text appeared and
then the cmd window disapeared. WTF?
Click to expand...


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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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

Alias
 
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