Upgrade vs Clean Install

[ITGURU]

How do i determine if a server was clean installed or upgraded from a previous version. On a server i know i upgraded from 2012 r2 to 2016 it doesn't have a windows.old folder anymore.

I have found articles online which say how to check the registry but this doesnt seem to apply to servers.

Just trying to figure out if any other servers have been upgraded rather than clean installed.

thanks.

[MatthewL]

Don't go by the windows.old folder, if you run disk cleanup you can remove this and tidy it up.

 

If you run a command prompt and run systeminfo you will find an install date which might help you out. This was when Windows was originally installed.

[ITGURU]

Don't go by the windows.old folder, if you run disk cleanup you can remove this and tidy it up.

 

If you run a command prompt and run systeminfo you will find an install date which might help you out. This was when Windows was originally installed.

tried that but still won't help as will have the date windows was installed whether upgrade or clean install.

[computer_expert]

Stab in the dark here, but maybe if you look at the computer object's OS version in AD and see if it changed during the upgrade. If not have a look at the created/modified date on the object tab in AD users & computers (you may need advanced features turned on in the AD U&C snap in).

 

If a VMware VM, see what OS is listed in the VM properties?

 

edit - or have a look to see if you can find any of these log files https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/windows-setup-log-files-and-event-logs

Edited December 29, 2019 by computer_expert

[ITGURU]

Stab in the dark here, but maybe if you look at the computer object's OS version in AD and see if it changed during the upgrade. If not have a look at the created/modified date on the object tab in AD users & computers (you may need advanced features turned on in the AD U&C snap in).

 

If a VMware VM, see what OS is listed in the VM properties?

 

edit - or have a look to see if you can find any of these log files https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/windows-setup-log-files-and-event-logs

 

Unfortunately neither of them options are suitable. I've checked 2 servers in AD, both say created in 2012, one I clean installed onto Server 2016 about 2 years ago (using the same name), the other one i did an inplace upgrade about 2 months ago, and both servers say modified 2 days ago..