Here’s how to check the Windows installation dates on all major Windows versions.

Windows Installation Dates Across Major Versions

Windows 8

1. Go to Search charm, usually right side of screen

2. Search for cmd

3. Select Command Prompt

4. Type systeminfo and hit enter

Related: If you need to reinstall Windows 8, here’s a quick Windows 8.1 checklist.

Windows 7/Vista

1. Click Start

2. Click inside the search box

3. Type systeminfo and hit enter

Note: On older builds you may have to use the word “original” or “install date” – systeminfo | find /i “original”.

Related: Here’s a step-by-step guide on installing Windows 7.

Windows XP Pro and Home

1. Click Start

2. Click Run

3. Type systeminfo and hit enter (hcp://system/sysinfo/sysinfomain.htm for XP Home edition, then view the status of my system hardware and software under System Software. The OS is listed with the install date under Date Created)

Other Fun Methods of Finding this Info

I got most of these other solutions listed below from the folks that contributed to this post about finding the Windows install time at Stack Overflow.

Registry Key

  • HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\InstallDate

The value is the number of seconds since January 1, 1970. If you want a super easy way to convert this number into something usable, paste this decimal value in the UNIX TimeStamp field at this Unix Time Conversion tool.

PowerShell

In Windows a PowerShell prompt type the following:

  • PS > $os = get-wmiobject win32_operatingsystem
  • PS > $os.ConvertToDateTime($os.InstallDate) -f "MM/dd/yyyy"

WMI

You can also use WMI, or Windows Management Instrumentation by using this command:

  • wmic os get installdate

If you don’t use this, you can read the registry value and then convert the information. Type this into a PowerShell prompt:

  • PS > $path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion'
  • PS > $id = get-itemproperty -path $path -name InstallDate
  • PS > $d = get-date -year 1970 -month 1 -day 1 -hour 0 -minute 0 -second 0
  • ## add to hours (GMT offset)
  • ## to get the timezone offset programatically:
  • ## get-date -f zz
  • PS > ($d.AddSeconds($id.InstallDate)).ToLocalTime().AddHours((get-date -f zz)) -f "MM/dd/yyyy"

There you have it. Multiple ways to check Windows installation dates. Which one is your favorite?

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