Updates

[JenniferCaudill]

Is there a way to get a list of all actions taken with my computer? What I really want to know is what software has been added to or taken away from the original build. And all work done during updates and resets? I'm trying to build a timeline project for my memory and system settings. What has happened and when and why it's happened. My computer is running fine at the moment. 

[Dragon-Fur]

@JenniferCaudill 

Welcome to the HP Community Forum.

Update > Update the Device Home link

Everything, Everywhere, All at Once, Now, and Before

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@JenniferCaudill wrote:

Is there a way to get a list of all actions taken with my computer? What I really want to know is what software has been added to or taken away from the original build. And all work done during updates and resets? I'm trying to build a timeline project for my memory and system settings. What has happened and when and why it's happened. My computer is running fine at the moment. 

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Not Everything - A Small Bit of the Whole

Observations and a couple of ideas...

One problem, if it is an actual issue, is that system files and system activity history at boot level 3 (your Operating System lives) are wiped out when the system is Reset and Windows is reloaded. 

What you can save is limited to what you have.

To keep up with what the system is doing, including installed system drivers, Windows build version, hardware, and installed software / programs, you need to collect the data that is stored at any given time and save the data in a format that you deem useful.

This means, the information you collect and store today might be good for a while -- or, what you collect today might all need to be updated (recollected and saved) tomorrow.

The other challenge is "what is taken away" -- there is no automatic backup of "It looks like this today" and "It looked like that last week".   You (or a smart coder) could certainly write something to compare the different data files you collect, extrapolate the differences, and create yet another report of the results.

The system data needs to be collected and saved - When to do that?

This means you have to either guess or know when changes are being made and create new copies of your data OR you can -- with the upfront understanding that you might miss something -- schedule when to create new backups of the data.

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Data Collection Software

I've used the free, "Personal Use" version of the Belarc software for years -- it does a fair job of collecting useful information.  The program stores that collected information in html (open in a web browser).

Yes, you do have to create a new backup / data file every so often or when you know for a fact that something has changed.

Belarc Advisor

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System Information

Not as difficult to read as is the data collection and logs in the Event Viewer,

System Information does provide a bunch of information -- some of it useful -- and all of it in one spot.

You can "Export" the information to save.

Yes, you do have to create a new backup / data file every so often or when you know for a fact that something has changed.

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System History

Backup software is very good for saving what you have at the time the backup is created -- it's a bit more (or maybe a lot more) work to compare a snapshot this week's backup and last week's backup.

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Event Viewer - Brilliant

Seemingly part magic when looking at it for the first time, the Event Viewer stores a LOT of information.

To collect some of what it can do, you have to enable the logs for that particular event type.

Use the Task Scheduler to run a task when you want it done.

Event Viewer in Windows

How-To Geek > Lesson 3: Using Event Viewer to Troubleshoot Problems

How to Create Your Own Windows Event Log Notification System

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[JenniferCaudill]

Thank you so much Dragon-fur that is the most useful information I have ever gotten on one of these types of forums. I may have more questions down the road maybe this weekend I have some plans. Do you have a a direct link of some sort some. Most of what I have going on is kind of personal and I may need some help with it. 

[JenniferCaudill]

I have lost personal files and app with system resets, but as full as my C: and D drives are I don't think much info is actually lost I just have to dig it out. I am familiar with event logs but a lot of that information has some how been altered or changed. That seems kind of impossible or even wrong somehow but I assure you it is a fact. I have whipped this PC several times in the last 3 months without using a backup. with your knowledge  of computers what should that have done to the memory? 

[Dragon-Fur]

@JenniferCaudill 

Experts do not generally offer private consultation -- it is in our interest, and yours, that we do not do so. 

The posting editor is public but it also provides protections that are necessary for both of us to remain safe.

Most everything in the Windows systems is subject to change -- there is little, if anything, that remains completely static.

In general, you have very little control over what Windows is doing in the protected part of the File System.  That just means that you cannot control or influence areas of the Operating System that are locked even against normal Administrative privilege.

You have a modicum of control over most of the data in your personal user account.

Personal Data - Files and Folders

The data you need are the personal files and folders in your account.

You need your license keys for installed software you have purchased.

You need your passwords or some method of retrieving the data for your personal cloud, bank, and medical records.

Do create and save backup copies of that data -- either using backup software (for example, File History) or simply copying the files and folders to a USB stick. 

Never believe that the computer will keep your data safe -- it is your responsibility make backups of your data.

People learn this lesson the hard way every single day.

AppData Folder

Note that unless you have an obsessive interest in the folder, you need NOT back up anything in the AppData folder.  There is a lot of data in the folder -- much of it is simply stuff you don't need outside of the context of actually using your computer.  Stuff in AppData is important but it does not contain your personal files, pictures, documents, or other folders.

Windows 10

Software and drivers for HP Pavilion All-in-One - 27-a260 

The system supports Windows 10.

Most of the drivers are much older; the most recent are dated 2021.

There is one BIOS update dated early 2023.

This means that you need not be concerned about the system updating its HP drivers.

If you wish to do so, investigate an image software option to back up the whole of what you have on the system.

True - if your system is "full" then the amount of data is substantial. 

Image software can perhaps compress the saved image data into a manageable size.

The information is provided FYI:

Macrium Reflect: https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

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People who own, use, and support HP devices.

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[JenniferCaudill]

Yes the system contains almost 13,000 files + app files. I'm not real sure why there is a file folder called C:/Program Date/Microsoft/Crypto/RSA/S-1-5-18 (there are a lite of numbers and letters before and after this snippet. I think maybe I do have a bit of an obsessive interest in these files. they have been building in my backup system for about 10 years now that's full to critical and it's growing into me C: drive. In the beginning when I would try to access these files I would get locked out of my system forces to do a reboot. I have since learned how to get around the black screen and thanks to McAfee fire wall and Avast I can keep the bots out of my system while Im looking. I lost all of my personal files about 3 months ago when I did a factory reset but all those files remained. Thank you again for all your great help. I love the way you write! If I need help in the future I will for sure seek you out

[Dragon-Fur]

@JenniferCaudill 

You are welcome.

We are all obsessive to some degree -- it's just a matter of what we do with it.

Good Luck.

Thank you for participating in the HP Community --

People who own, use, and support HP devices.

Click Yes to say Thank You

Question / Concern Answered, Click my Post "Accept as Solution"

[JenniferCaudill]

I really do hate Microsoft. On Monday  the 8th I had complete control of my pc. I found some things that actually scared me. I had to unplug and move it for a few days until I had the money for a flash drive. When I plugged it back in on Saturday it was like a whole new computer.  Microsoft had taken over all my security again. McAfee somehow uninstalled itself 10 to 15 minutes after starting it up. When I re-installed (McAfee) it didn't look or act like the same program.

     Before I unplugged I found list after list of strange Bitcoin transactions 400+MB of information. Well it's all gone now along with any real timeline of events.  For the last few months, could be way longer I really don't know, I have been being recorded and watched. I know how crazy that sounds but I did find proof but I didn't have a flash drive or a disk to burn it onto. That was the cause of my obsession with the files on my computer. When I tried to get back into them after the McAfee install I was denied all access. "Imagine that" So  I made the decision to change my operating system to Linux. No more obsessing over files that could have proven  Microsoft corruption. It was a difficult decision to make. But Amazing within 2 hours of installing Rufus my memory is almost empty and the system is running fine, with the exception of Microsoft Os still being there for the moment. The good part is that I am now in control of my system! Sorry to write you a book I just felt like you would want to know how things were going. Thanks again for all your help!