XP install date

[BigRed CC Dually]

Hi all, my question, is there a way for me to look on my machine and see when I installed the operating system? I'm thinking of doing a re-install/repair on mine and am curious as to when it was first installed due to activation routine.

[lil Jimmie]

I've always used Everest (formerly AIDA32) http://www.lavalys.com/products/over...?pid=1&lang=en

I'm sure there are other ways but these have worked for me

[BigRed CC Dually]

Thanks Jimmie, I'll give it a try.

[Statica]

Well, I dont know about installing 3rd party apps for something like this .. all you need to do is open Windows Explorer, right click on the Windows folder and go to properties ... and you will see something that says Created: date .. this date should be consistent with the creation date of Program Files etc.

These are essentially the date and timestamps of the directory creation during XP installation.

HTH

[BigRed CC Dually]

Statica,

Around May 22 2005 is what I have it narrowed to by going thru some of my receipts for software I installed around that time (Nero 6 Ultra). I'll try your method too...thanks.

Rick

[edrod13]

open a command prompt box and then just type "systeminfo" without the quotations and hit enter.

Oh, this only works on XP PRO, but for home you could to your Windows folder and right click and then to properties. Then you can see when the folder was created and that should be the day you installed the OS.

Here is some of the data that I get, look at the bold in particular:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>systeminfo

Host Name: C400
OS Name: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Version: 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration: Standalone Workst
Original Install Date: 1/2/2005, 6:07:08 PM
System Up Time: 0 Days, 0 Hours, 35 Minutes, 36 Seconds
OS Build Type: Uniprocessor Free
Registered Owner: NAME
Registered Organization: ORGANIZATION
Product ID: REMOVED

System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: Latitude C400
System type: X86-based PC
Processor(s): 1 Processor(s) Installed.
[01]: x86 Family 6 Model 11 Stepping 1 GenuineIntel ~

[lil Jimmie]

I thought "systeminfo" showed the install date but I wasn't sure.

One odd thing I found on one of my PCs' is that the creation date of the windows folder didn't match the syteminfo or everest date, but the folder is only one week late. I do recall installing the OS on a Saturday and it was the 1st which matches the systeminfo 5-1-04 but not the windows folder creation date of 5-7-04. No restore was ever done as it was disabled the day the OS was installed.

[BigRed CC Dually]

edrod13,

It worked great!!

Thanks

[edrod13]

Jimmie,

That is an interesting point because both my laptop and desktop show the same date in systeminfo and the creation of the windows folder, but the time differs.


I don't have my lappy on but here is what I mean for my desktop:

Oringinal install date: 6/1/2005, 8:26:25 PM
creation of windows folder June 01, 2005, 12:13:33 PM

Like I said the lappy is the same way where the times differ from about 6 hours or so. I am just going to stick with what systeminfo states. Since the days are the same I guess the time wouldn't really matter.

Edrod13