Is it Possible to Tell?

[Paul_L]

Is there a way of being able to tell when a computer was first switched on?

 

I guess there must be a file that is date stamped that never changes, any ideas?

 

Why do i want to know this? To try and work out roughly when a PC was brought, without having to go to the admin people and dig out the original invoice! (no I don't have any other records, yes I know!!!!!)

 

Paul

[plexer]

Depends on if the machine was ever reimaged if it was that's one idea blown out of the water.

 

Ben

[RabbieBurns]

There is the windows install date stamp, but thats not much use if it was a prebuilt system coz it could have been sitting in a warehouse for ages. But it might give you a rough estimate?

[Paul_L]

Depends on if the machine was ever reimaged if it was that's one idea blown out of the water.

 

Ben

 

Yes had thought of that one, but looking at the machines they seem to have been brought in batch's, so should be able tell by taking an average!

[ICT_GUY]

You can usually guess within a year or so by the cpu & mobo combination.

 

Also look for date stamps on devices in the PC, CDROMs nearly always come with a manufacture date.

[EduTech]

shout at me if my comment is stupid.

 

but cant you look at the first system event to happen in event veiwer

 

[Paul_L]

There is the windows install date stamp, but thats not much use if it was a prebuilt system coz it could have been sitting in a warehouse for ages. But it might give you a rough estimate?

 

Do you know where this is, is it in the register?

[Bezwick]

You could always right down the serial number of one of the PC's, then phone the supplier under pretence of wanting to know when the warranty runs out. They will have a record, and that way they do the running about not you.

 

 

Is there a way of being able to tell when a computer was first switched on?

 

I guess there must be a file that is date stamped that never changes, any ideas?

 

Why do i want to know this? To try and work out roughly when a PC was brought, without having to go to the admin people and dig out the original invoice! (no I don't have any other records, yes I know!!!!!)

 

Paul

[Paul_L]

shout at me if my comment is stupid.

 

but cant you look at the first system event to happen in event veiwer

 

 

Not sure on this one as I have just checked a couple of machines and they only show events over the past couple of months, and I known that the machines a more then a couple of months old.

[RabbieBurns]

Do you know where this is, is it in the register?

 

In the command line type systeminfo | find /i "install date"

Edited June 17, 2008 by RabbieBurns

[Paul_L]

You could always right down the serial number of one of the PC's, then phone the supplier under pretence of wanting to know when the warranty runs out. They will have a record, and that way they do the running about not you.

 

This is one of the reasons I would like to know!

[EduTech]

Ok no problem, sorry i just never had an old pc in front of me just to check. just thought i'd try

 

James.

 

 

In the command line type systeminfo | find /i "install date." 

 

That should do the trick though

[Bezwick]

In that case mate i would definately do that because even if you do find out when they were bought, you will still need to ask the supplier how long the warranty was, so save yourself the hassle and just ask them straight.

 

 

This is one of the reasons I would like to know!

[Paul_L]

In the command line type systeminfo | find /i "install date."

 

Yep that works, Thanks

 

Now as these are branded machines, on first boot they create the partion and install the OS, so this would get over the issue of the machine being sat in the warehouse, wouldn't it?

 

Paul

[Paul_L]

In that case mate i would definately do that because even if you do find out when they were bought, you will still need to ask the supplier how long the warranty was, so save yourself the hassle and just ask them straight.

 

Company gone bust!!! Need to deal direct with Manufacturer!

[GrumbleDook]

Speak with Finance ... Purchase orders are your friend.

[SYNACK]

There is a join date time stamp in active directory that can tell you when that machine account was created in AD. Could help if it has not been reinstalled and rejoined to AD.

 

You would want to use ADSI edit and have a look through the properties of the computer object. Could also work even if you have reinstalled but left the original computer object in AD.

Edited June 17, 2008 by SYNACK

[elsiegee40]

If you have WSUS, you can look at the time it last reported it's status to WSUS. It's not infallible and useless the next day, but it'll give you a clue.