problem with new user...possibly

[Sunshine]

Good afternoon.

The scenario is:
User starts working for our company, on a system that has been known to be very flaky for the previous user. I can't reformat the drive, yet, because she hasn't gone through all the files yet. The previous user had been duely warned about installing 3rd party, non-standard, software, so she didn't do it. (she didn't want her system to crash)

The problem is:
All of a sudden, today while working on her system, I notice 3 new pieces of software (3rd party of course). My problem is, because I have no "proof" that she installed the software, I can't go to her supervisor and say that she did indeed do it.

The question is:
Is there any way, in Windows 95, to determine the date the software was installed, and without any doubt? This way I'll have the proof I need to make the verbal "hand slap".

I've tried Technet, using various key phrases, but can't find any information that helps. Google also comes back with nothing of use.

Thanks, in advance, for any help you can give!!

[NooNoo]

One assumes you do network backups of the hard drives? Just look at the backups?

Failing that the installing exe file will have been downloaded into a temp file somewhere - that should have the date downloaded on it.

[Ya_know]

The installation directories will have a created date, which seems like it could be enough.

Don't be afraid to use the straight in your face approach. Tell the person that we don't want these apps on our PC's, and uninstall the apps right in front of them. Say nothing of going to the manager, cause then you will open a can of worms. Just uninstall, warn, and see how that goes...

[Ya_know]

Originally posted by NooNoo
One assumes you do network backups of the hard drives? Just look at the backups?

Have you been sniffing paint? I don't know of any place that regularly backs up PC's over the network to tape. There may be a few exception PC's that are scheduled, but the rest are left to fate. That is an expensive and tedious venture to provide a solution like that!

[Cleetus]

I couldn't even imagine backing up all the harddrives!!!!

I agree though, temp dir and installation dir, should be able to find one and they will have dates.

[shamus]

In NooNoos defense...I run a Novell network where all the users have their own 'F' drive on the server that gets backed up daily....

[NooNoo]

At the place I do dBase IV coding they backup the c:\ drives of all 500 users... however the local drives are small all under 20 gig

[Ya_know]

Originally posted by shamus
In NooNoos defense...I run a Novell network where all the users have their own 'F' drive on the server that gets backed up daily....

That is normal. But backing up workstations??? Very rare indeed!

[Ya_know]

Originally posted by NooNoo
At the place I do dBase IV coding they backup the c:\ drives of all 500 users... however the local drives are small all under 20 gig

It must be nice to have a capacity to pull that off. The hardware solutions alone, not to mention all of the backup software licensing involved...Like I said, must be nice...

[CeeBee]

Originally posted by Sunshine

The question is:
Is there any way, in Windows 95, to determine the date the software was installed, and without any doubt? This way I'll have the proof I need to make the verbal "hand slap".

I assume each of the programs have created their own folders.. look at the corresponding folder date attribute... it is the day it was created.... unless the user was smart enough to change the system time before installing.

[Sunshine]

Thanks for all the help folks. I was hoping there was some other way, other than looking at the folder creation date, but that's probably the best way to go.

We don't normally backup user's HD's becuase of the sheer amount of network traffic that would cause. Most of our users, at least the ones who've had a PC crash on them before, use the network space we supply them.

I really appreciate all the responses!!! You "guys" are the best.

toodles~