Where can I find out when I last installed Windows?

[James E Middleton]

For the life of me I can't remember where to find out when Windows was
initially installed.

Seems to me under System Information there was a line somewhere that said
'System Build' or something like that, and it showed the date that the
computer was set up. If it's not in Windows, or accessible from 'System
Information', has anyone seen this feature in another application? I already
poked around Belarc and Everest.

Thanks

 

[WTC]

For the life of me I can't remember where to find out when Windows was
initially installed.

Seems to me under System Information there was a line somewhere that said
'System Build' or something like that, and it showed the date that the
computer was set up. If it's not in Windows, or accessible from 'System
Information', has anyone seen this feature in another application? I
already poked around Belarc and Everest.

If you are using Windows XP Professional, type the following in the command
prompt

systeminfo | @find "Original Install Date:"

 

[S.Sengupta]

Use systeminfo.exe from a command line.

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Use SYSTEMINFO (for XP Pro) as William already stated. If you have XP Home,
then use this WMI script to determine the original install date of Windows.

- - -
'Ramesh Srinivasan, Feb 09, 2006
'Returns the original OS installation date.
strComputer = "."
Set dtmInstallDate = CreateObject( _
"WbemScripting.SWbemDateTime")
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
& "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" _
& strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colOperatingSystems = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
("Select * from Win32_OperatingSystem")
For Each objOperatingSystem in colOperatingSystems
MsgBox "Install Date: " _
& getmydat (objOperatingSystem.InstallDate)
Next

Function getmydat(wmitime)
dtmInstallDate.Value = wmitime
getmydat = dtmInstallDate.GetVarDate
End function
- - -

Copy the above lines to Notepad, and save as GetOSDate.VBS. Then
double-click GetOSDate.VBS to run it. You may use CTRL+C to copy the output
from the Message box.


Sample output:
---------------------------
Install Date: 8/15/2004 8:36:06 PM
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


For the life of me I can't remember where to find out when Windows was
initially installed.

Seems to me under System Information there was a line somewhere that said
'System Build' or something like that, and it showed the date that the
computer was set up. If it's not in Windows, or accessible from 'System
Information', has anyone seen this feature in another application? I already
poked around Belarc and Everest.

Thanks

 

[WTC]

A better solution and more reliable for XP Home. Thanks Ramesh.

 

[Opinicus]

Use SYSTEMINFO (for XP Pro) as William already stated. If you have XP
Home,
then use this WMI script to determine the original install date of
Windows.

8<snip!

Cool. Thanks.

 

[James E Middleton]

I run that from a command line, it opens, starts, looks like it's running,
then closes before it finishes or I can read anything...

Any advice?

 

[Mike Williams]

For the life of me I can't remember where to find out when Windows was
initially installed.

Seems to me under System Information there was a line somewhere that said
'System Build' or something like that, and it showed the date that the
computer was set up. If it's not in Windows, or accessible from 'System
Information', has anyone seen this feature in another application? I already
poked around Belarc and Everest.

Thanks

What's the date-stamp for your Documents & Settings folder?

 

[James E Middleton]

If the 'date created' is the install date, that works!

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Type in Start, Run:

CMD /K SYSTEMINFO

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I run that from a command line, it opens, starts, looks like it's running,
then closes before it finishes or I can read anything...

Any advice?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

YW Bob.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

Use SYSTEMINFO (for XP Pro) as William already stated. If you have XP
Home,
then use this WMI script to determine the original install date of
Windows.

8<snip!

Cool. Thanks.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Glad to add my my two cents, William

Another way for XP Pro. Type in Start, Run:

CMD /K WMIC OS GET InstallDate

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


A better solution and more reliable for XP Home. Thanks Ramesh.