Whenever you modify a registry value manually or programmatically, Windows keeps track of the last written time for that particular key/branch. This article will tell you how to determine the Last Write Time of a registry key.

Using the Registry Editor

1. Click Start, Run and type Regedit.exe
2. Navigate to the key for which you want to determine the last write time
3. From the File menu, click Export.
4. In the Save As type drop-down box, select Text Files (*.txt)
5. Type a file name and press Enter
6. Open the text file using Notepad, and look at the Last Write Time value.

Sample text

Note:

1. Windows 95/98/ME systems do no maintain the Last Write time.
2. Third-party programs use the RegQueryInfoKey API call to retrieve the Last Write Time.

Third-party registry tools (screenshots)

Nirsoft RegScanner

Registrar Registry Manager