How to determine age of system...
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  1. #1
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    Question How to determine age of system...

    Came across an interesting Q today at work. A company bought a small amout of PC's two-three years ago (some were used). Now the question is, how can I find out how old each machine is.

    Is there an easy way to look up some system info? Or date of original WIN installation?

    Just trying to narrow down the age.

    Thanks
    KGG
    ASUS K55N with W8.1 (64bit) and plenty of other legacy systems :-)

  2. #2
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    Well,,to find out when the last OS was installed: Go to the C: window and right click on say, Program Files>properties and there will be a date under 'created'.
    Stupid question? No such thing!
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  3. #3
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    Just remembered The sticker on most HDD's should have the Mfg. date on them. That won't give you the date the 'PC' was put together,but will tell you the oldest it 'could' be...
    Stupid question? No such thing!
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  4. #4
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    Unless the hdd has been replaced.
    The bios and cpu in my book are the better possibilities.

  5. #5
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    Great tip on the OS install - didn't even think of it - Thanks Ridge.

    I was hoping NOT to have top open all them cases, any other idea on HW dates?

    Train - the BIOS was my first though - only some of these Dell's show only a copyright range on boot, and do not have a date in the CMOS setup anywhere

    What do you mean by checking the CPU for a date?

  6. #6
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    Something like Aida 32 or Belarc Advisor might give you a bios date and OS installation date.

  7. #7
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    Aida32 gives the BIOS date in the Computer>Summary>Motherboard section. It also gives the same date along with an ID string in Motherboard>Motherboard>Properties. Also a CPU revision number in Motherboard>CPUID.
    Nick.

  8. #8
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    AIDA32 - okay I can see that on my machine.

    A bit hesitant to do all that installing and removing "just" for a date. Was hoping for an easy 'fix' ya know

  9. #9
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    Well Aida32 doesn't need to be installed, just copy it onto the HD, run it and then delete the folder afterwards and there'll be no trace left. That's one of the things that I really like about Aida.
    Nick.

  10. #10
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    There's a bit of info available in the Windows Reporting Tool also:

    http://support.microsoft.com/default...08&Product=w98

    Start - Run - WINREP - Options - Collected Information. Scroll down in the System Settings To Copy window.

    Here's what it showed for mine (it's correct)

    BIOS=AwardAward Medallion BIOS v6.011/07/01

  11. #11
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    I currently use PSTOOLS across our network and the PSINFO should pull the information "remotely" from those machines (if networked).
    You will see the installation date for the OS, Processor Speed/Type, Physical Memory, etc...

    Hope this helps out.
    Always looking for better ways to simplify my work.

  12. #12
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    Nice Cliffh,

    That's more like it...already there and easy to get to...can even tell people remotely to read that to me...
    Must depend on the BIOS though...my home PC shows this:
    BIOS=Phoenix-Award BIOS v6.00PG Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
    ...no date, but this version displays it on bootup. So I guess with watching the boot process and some of the Windows tools we can narrow age down pretty well.

    Me =

    KGG


    Thanks Country73 - we must have posted at the same time, didn't read your post till after I was finished.
    Last edited by K G G; January 30th, 2004 at 07:27 PM.

  13. #13
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    You should be able to find out on Dell's website when these pcs were available.
    Theoretically you should be able to check each units serial number there for full information.

  14. #14
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    Thanks Zedy - they are not ALL Dell's though.

  15. #15
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    Only went by what you said.
    In any case other brands would have same sort of facility on their sites.

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