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mookaloid - 17/3/10 at 02:04 PM

Is there any way i can tell what date windows was installed on a pc?

I want to know if the viruses on the laptop I have just bought were put there deliberately by the seller or if they just didn't bother to check it.

I would just reinstall windows but I would need to buy a cd drive for it which I would like to avoid if possible.

failing that is there any way to install windows from a usb stick or by creating a partition on the HD and installing from there?

Cheers

Mark

vinny1275 - 17/3/10 at 02:13 PM

system install date checker:

lniky

HTH


Vince

britishtrident - 17/3/10 at 02:19 PM

More likely the seller sold it because of the virus.

XP will reinstall using the original product code from any full CD of the correct version of XP ie for Xp Home it has to be Xp Home, for Xp Pro it has to be Xp Pro ect.

britishtrident - 17/3/10 at 02:21 PM

Also check if the laptop has a hidden recovery partition ---

matt_claydon - 17/3/10 at 02:28 PM

To find the install date, go to Start -> Run, type "cmd" to get the command prompt up. Then type "systeminfo" into the command prompt and you will get a few screens full of information. If you scroll back up, the 10th or so line tells you the install date.

blakep82 - 17/3/10 at 02:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by matt_claydon
To find the install date, go to Start -> Run, type "cmd" to get the command prompt up. Then type "systeminfo" into the command prompt and you will get a few screens full of information. If you scroll back up, the 10th or so line tells you the install date.


mine says [02]: file 1
no mention of install dates on my pc

gingerprince - 17/3/10 at 02:37 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
failing that is there any way to install windows from a usb stick or by creating a partition on the HD and installing from there?


If you have a windows CD/DVD and access to another PC with a drive, then you can make a bootable USB stick to install from: -

http://www.intowindows.c om/how-to-create-bootable-windows-7-vista-or-xp-usb-flashpen-drive-with-a-single-click-must-try/

mookaloid - 17/3/10 at 04:39 PM

ok its been installed for about 5 months so I don't suppose I can really complain.

it'a dell so no hidden recovery partition

I like the usb stick windows installation so will have a go at that

Thanks all

Liam - 17/3/10 at 05:04 PM

Huh? How would that have told you whether or not the seller deliberately riddled it with viruses?

Madinventions - 17/3/10 at 05:29 PM

quote:

It's a Dell so no hidden recovery partition?


I thought most Dells had recovery partitions? My 2 here certainly do - hit Ctrl-F11 like a madman during bootup and one time in ten it'll work.

Ed.

mookaloid - 17/3/10 at 07:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Liam
Huh? How would that have told you whether or not the seller deliberately riddled it with viruses?


only if it was a fresh install that was a few days old I guess.