Help me please - is there any way that I set my laptop up so that it will tell me the date and time last used?

Question

I would really like to be able to see if my laptop (and pc for that matter) are being used when I am out all day? I have not got a clue whether or not I can do this and would appreciate a little help please.

I have just seperated with my hubby, due to him being naughty, and I have a sneaky suspicion he is coming into the house whilst I am out and using the laptop and pc to see where things are at with my solicitor etc. I just want to be able to know one way or another if this is the case.

Thank you for reading my question and I hope somebody can help me.

Answer 1

Forget all the dodgy advice about keyloggers and installing software or changing passwords...

If you are running windows it has a thing called an 'event viewer'

this is hidden in the administraion tools in control panel.
open 'event viewer' and select 'system', and entry in there called 'event log' is the system either booting up or shutting down...
look for entries at times YOU were not using the pc...

Answer 2

I’m not sure how extensive of a program you want but based on your question there are several programs out there to help you. As for the rest of you who answered her questions: If you can’t or don’t want to answer the question then you shouldn’t answer it at all. She was answered with questions rather than answers. She doesn’t want to change her password or use the, almost useless, event viewer. She wants to catch someone who shouldn’t be using her computer to begin with! And putting powder on her keyboard is an answer? Yeah right! But instead of using powder use super glue, that way the culprit will be there when you get home from work. Sheesh! One of the few people to give you good advice (when I posted my comment) and actually read what you had posted was accuratellytrue who suggested that you use a keyboard logger. This is exactly what you need. Many keyboard loggers are expensive but there are many good free ones also.

These programs will tell you when a computer is started and when it is shut off. In addition (some of them) will tell you what applications are being used, what things are being typed and some of them will even take a snapshot of the computer screen seen as the person who is using your computer views it. I will show you some free software and their web sites.

Simple Activity Logger is small easy to use but limited in its features. It is freeware, which means it’s free. Here is the web address: http://www.exefind.com/simpleactivitylogger-P22096.html

User Logger is another more powerful program that even takes snapshots during the day at intervals that you decide. Here is the web address: http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/User_Logger/usrlogger.html

Tiny Key Logger is a very small invisible program that logs everything. Here is the web address: http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/Tiny_Key_Logger/tinylogger.html

I have not tried these programs but from the sound of it I like Tiny Key Logger. The only caveat being that this is not for the average person because you have to tell the computer what programs to look for when someone is using the computer in the more advanced settings.

I like User logger the best although I haven’t tried it. From what I’ve read I think that the program best suites your needs and will give you all the information you need.

If you want to look for other programs you can use a search engine and search for

Keyboard logger
And
Freeware keyboard logger

Answer 3

Find the relevant files using "my computer", look at the properties (right click - properties) and if any have the last access or modified time/date shown as when you were away you have your answer. If it's legal stuff why not use the laptop only and take it with you, or hand it over to a trustworthy person. Other possibility is to write a start-up file that writes the time and date to a text file. Something like"

TIME>>check.dat
DATE>>check.dat

create this in notepad and save it as logfile.bat, then add it to the startup group. The file created should have the time and date of each start-up listed.
What about a new key for the front door?

Answer 4

Why don't you put a password on your computer. If it already has got one just change the password.

If you don't know how to put a password follow the steps

Click on start
Click on Settings then Control Panel(if you cannot find settings look for Control Panel)
In Control Panel double click on user accounts
in User Accounts Click Reset Passwords
If you already have a password enter in old password, If you don't have just enter a password in New Password and the same password in confirm new password Click ok
Make sure you must remember that password and it is not ur date of birth or any thing common like home phone no
once you've done all that just restart your PC nd check if it works

Also if there are more than one accounts in the same computer just delete the ones which you don't need

If there is a guest account you can disable it from user accounts

Answer 5

There is a very advanced way to see what your computer has been doing and when.

In Windows XP, click Start, then Run and type "eventvwr"

It will open a window that has a LONG log of events on the computer. Click on the "System" group and sort everything by date.

Don't worry about what the entries mean, if there's an entry at a date and time when you were gone then someone turned on the computer.

Answer 6

There seem to e a lot of complicated answers to this. The simple solution is to look at the PC's Event Viewer. This records many major events that happen to the computer - including when it was turned on/shutdown/restarted.

START > Run > type "eventvwr"

From that window that appears, select SYSTEM. Scroll down the list of events and look for an "Information" event with "Source" EVENTLOG. These usually come in 3's. That indicates when PC was turned on/off/restarted.

Answer 7

it is in many circumstances the sign of a failing BIOS battery. regrettably, you ought to take the keyboard off on maximum laptops to get on the battery on the motherboard. in case you think of this job is only too daunting, then take it to a expert.

Answer 8

i dont think u can, but u can do stuff like put powder on the power button- if ur ex is using the computer, hell leave a mark n ull no it. if he is doing this, and continues 2 do it, talk to the police and c about a possible restraining order. those work when all else fails.

Answer 9

there is a thing called "Wake-Up Time" it gets cleared everytime u start the computer but some where it stores log of the times.

Answer 10

for starters, change ur password AND LOCKS !!
jus look in the system restore as every time it boots it creats a restore point