Tracking down uptime in Windows XP

by Greg Shultz | Aug 10, 2005 7:00:00 AM

Tags: Operating systems, Microsoft Windows 98, Greg Shultz, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows, System Up Time, Windows XP Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: Have you ever wondered how long your Windows XP system has been running since the last reboot? If so, this handy Windows XP tip will show you how to find out your system's uptime.

With all the great features that Windows XP offers, do you ever find yourself missing features from the utilities in an older operating system, such as Windows 98? It may sound off-the-wall, but you might start feeling a tad nostalgic when you want to figure out how long your Windows XP system has been running since the last reboot.

Windows 98's System Information utility provided an Uptime value right in its main display. Unfortunately, that's not the case in Windows XP's version of System Information—at least not in the GUI version. However, it's still pretty simple to track down uptime in Windows XP.

If you open a Command Prompt and run the command-line version of Windows XP's System Information, you'll discover a detailed list of configuration information about Windows XP systems. This listing includes an item titled System Up Time, which lists how long your system has been running in days, hours, minutes, and seconds.

While it is nice to be able to obtain the uptime information in Windows XP, it can be a pain to sort through all the other details in a Command Prompt window just to find the System Up Time value. But with a bit of creative command-line programming that uses the piping technique and the Find filter tool, you can easily isolate the System Up Time value. Here's how:

1. Open a Command Prompt window.
2. Type the following command:
   Systeminfo | Find "Up Time"

Note: In this command, Up Time must be enclosed in quotes and must be initial uppercase.

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Print/View all Posts Comments on this article

Doesn't work for me jfs-tr@... | 08/10/05

Me neither stefan@... | 08/11/05

Works for me RichWheeler@... | 08/11/05

Try this ciacob@... | 08/11/05

Or try this... Randyz@... | 08/11/05

Worked perfect D.H. Cesare | 08/11/05

U and P kbaker | 08/11/05

Total time XP has been running since install woofer13 | 08/11/05

c:\windows, properties of Garret` | 08/11/05

Redmond time kreed@... | 08/12/05

You can use Excel to calc answer ewingdweller | 08/12/05

'up time' Brian Bevan | 08/11/05

Case sensitive moheeba@... | 08/25/05

System Up Time: N/A roger.pauling@... | 09/06/05

after I hit "enter"..... D.H. Cesare | 12/18/05

I tried it too! Nothing but an error message MSLindsay1@... | 08/11/05

for this to work on Windows XP Pro ctoc1usa@... | 08/12/05

What about WIN XP Home? MSLindsay1@... | 08/13/05

Win XP Uptime fparacha@... | 08/12/05

up time shoe1@... | 08/11/05

For those who claim it doesnt work madcow9597 | 08/11/05

I also claim it doesn't work. MSLindsay1@... | 08/11/05

Get rid of C: EastExpert | 08/12/05

For Those who claim it DOES work LegalFormsandDocuments@... | 08/25/05

See my post below "A script solution" markdmac@... | 08/25/05

XP Version? Greg Shultz | 08/26/05

works for me somebozo | 08/29/05

its not that you cant type like this guysays**WIN XP HOME** users LOOK HERE rollbot@... | 06/09/07

Invalid Argument alvinyeo@... | 08/11/05

to alvinyeo tleslie@... | 08/11/05

how benji212@... | 08/11/05

Take your boss to lunch kdwagoner | 08/11/05

where's the pipe techr@... | 08/11/05

Not all pipes are created equal treadmill@... | 01/05/07

You're an idiot kgouldsk | 08/11/05

What's a pipe? Read this! Roger | 08/11/05

Parlez y Habla treadmill@... | 01/05/07

You can't be to upset at us GUI's 123speedy@... | 08/11/05

Use ascii character 124 for pipe bryanh@... | 08/11/05

Cool gitmo | 08/25/05

WHO CARES don-supportguy | 08/15/05

Shame, Some Things kbaker | 08/11/05

One can CUT & PASTE command & arguement roadbiker | 08/25/05

Do it this way skipper747 | 08/11/05

lost benji212@... | 08/11/05

null rickk@... | 08/11/05

Easier Way - For the "typing challenged" edglock21 | 08/11/05

XP2 Home version Devynn25 | 08/11/05

Two more quirks Devynn25 | 08/11/05

Using Run & Command Prompt Dr. Bunsen Honeydew | 08/11/05

cmd /k worked twoclones@... | 08/11/05

Neat Trick kbaker | 08/11/05

For you XP Home Edition users... dgramm@... | 08/31/05

Expanding on edglock21's Tip! johnnyshu@... | 02/01/06

RE: Expanding on edglock21's Tip! D.H. Cesare | 02/02/06

The command prompt works... jakaiju@... | 08/11/05

DOS is vital mcsinc | 08/25/05

XP Version Greg Shultz | 08/26/05

Use this (sorry for being 4 years too late) yohanes2k2@... | 02/16/09

Works Perfectly tek-dude | 08/11/05

Soesn"t work for me either georgemoore@... | 08/11/05

try it this way... bobj@... | 08/11/05

null D.H. Cesare | 08/11/05

From a comand prompt bobj@... | 08/11/05

Left Handed? jclambert | 08/11/05

Doesn't work for me mjd@... | 08/11/05

Works on Remote Systems & Win 2K Too! AstroCreep | 08/11/05

Doesn't work for me tom@... | 08/11/05

Had the same problem - try this Randyz@... | 08/11/05

systeminfo bcjinsantafe | 08/11/05

Systeminfo tm368@... | 08/11/05

Does Version Matter - in the UK, it don't work Sretko | 08/11/05

Great tool, Rhonda_Nole@... | 08/12/05

give this a shot! I slightly used a script I use to set uptime djameson@... | 08/12/05

cmd prompt doesn;t wrk, but this does.. ktj15061@... | 08/16/05

works for me!!!!! shaun.russell1@... | 08/16/05

For me it does not work either theFlyingD | 08/19/05

Exactly what it means.. dgramm@... | 08/31/05

If it's not working for you... brandon.aiken@... | 08/23/05

Something better! dfacer@... | 08/25/05

system up time dvdqueen | 08/25/05

didn't worked at all gamanchopra@... | 08/25/05

System Up Time akish1960@... | 08/30/05

This Does NOT Work C5-FE | 08/30/05

Why bother jkingsto@... | 09/13/05

Works great workit@... | 02/02/06

Really easy way Ivan's Guru | 05/15/07

This "command" does not work at all. LYosko1903@... | 08/11/05

Command Doesnt Work On XP Home SP2 twaern@... | 08/11/05

Check Your Path CarlG327 | 08/12/05

Your version says it all... dgramm@... | 08/31/05

Obviously... kenneth@... | 08/11/05

I disagree Roger | 08/11/05

Obviously david2464 | 08/11/05

It Works Soslo1@... | 08/11/05

Works for me barkleyc@... | 08/11/05

Try these steps! jetpilot_pwc@... | 08/11/05

This Command worked mubashar85@... | 08/11/05

systeminfo command line utility not available in XP home bentorrey@... | 08/24/05

Works as advertised! tomkettle@... | 08/11/05

Perfect . . . kenneth@... | 08/11/05

No kidding BradTD | 08/11/05

Commnad window auto closes twoclones@... | 08/11/05

Had the same prob, but found the solution Randyz@... | 08/11/05

Not for me david2464 | 08/11/05

null Joed_M | 08/16/05

Copy & Paste danm@... | 08/12/05

Auto Close Solution blah@... | 01/27/07

frustrated! workit@... | 08/11/05

Get it all bigaldepr@... | 08/25/05

Doesn't work! clyde_perry2001@... | 08/11/05

How do you pint the Systeminfo findings ricsindy@... | 08/11/05

How to print ! mahansench@... | 08/11/05

Saving & Printing Daniel.Honzik@... | 08/11/05

The argument is case-sensitive mycombo@... | 08/11/05

That's Funny... kenneth@... | 08/11/05

"clearly state" ffong1761@... | 08/11/05

Up Time randarac@... | 08/22/05

You can also do it this way gitmo | 08/25/05

This does NOT work. C5-FE | 08/30/05

Works a treat david.mahon@... | 08/11/05

system info command davo_1100@... | 08/11/05

easy peasy HavaCigar | 08/12/05

Works perfectly - great tool graham131 | 08/11/05

Systeminfo not a valid command chazz@... | 08/11/05

Works only for XP Pro iith096@... | 08/11/05

"Up Time" command worked flawlessly for me! smeadows00@... | 08/11/05

Works on Pro, does not come with Home kap622@... | 08/11/05

worked for me dstambaugh@... | 08/11/05

Tracking down uptime in Windows XP roblee007@... | 08/11/05

Worked for Me, But There Is Another Option AstroCreep | 08/11/05

Hidden Info BRosenthal | 08/11/05

null AstroCreep | 08/11/05

uptime.exe is in the res kit systemsgod | 08/11/05

Works for me! don.schettler@... | 08/11/05

One *FIX*, one alternative jruby | 08/11/05

I had no problem mudgie | 08/11/05

Here's another option for those without the sysinfo command Roger | 08/11/05

THANKS! david2464 | 08/11/05

IT Pros Tony Michener | 08/11/05

Exactly . . . roadbiker | 08/25/05

This is Great! jack.brooks@... | 08/11/05

More on Systeminfo frank_s | 08/11/05

Doesn't work! bob.berninger@... | 08/11/05

You can get it from XP Pro frank_s | 08/11/05

Does Not work tompkins_h@... | 08/11/05

cmd didn't work. But I have quicker way kgebert@... | 08/11/05

cmd does work gepadres@... | 08/11/05

Works great jamesyost@... | 08/11/05

Works off and on ITaxMan | 08/11/05

up time sonny2730@... | 08/11/05

Did not work... L1Pooh@... | 08/11/05

Did not work krishenacharia@... | 08/11/05

I'm scared sarge! Tony Michener | 08/11/05

I'm Scared Stooge! david2464 | 08/11/05

The Good, the Innocent and the Nasties gthoenen@... | 08/11/05

Bravo dgramm@... | 08/31/05

Better yet HavaCigar | 08/12/05

I was the first poster jfs-tr@... | 08/11/05

Interesting frank_s | 08/11/05

uptime.exe works jfs-tr@... | 08/15/05

Systeminfo Joanne Lowery | 08/11/05

Check your audit settings kdwagoner | 08/12/05

Thanks but jfs-tr@... | 08/15/05

Dr. Watson disabled? kdwagoner | 08/19/05

Pretty useful ryork | 08/11/05

null D.H. Cesare | 08/11/05

2 ways Steve-Oh | 08/11/05

When I type in the command in the RUN box, a sm... Tony Michener | 08/11/05

Copy / Paste ludedude25@... | 08/11/05

Very Very Good dhirenshah50@... | 08/11/05

very nice optimist@... | 08/11/05

NIC duration trevora@... | 08/11/05

Worked fine--go back to Fisher Price computer vicdelta | 08/11/05

Tip backfired, didn't it? seaweed@... | 08/11/05

Keep It Simple technonaut | 08/11/05

Another way dnrobertson@... | 08/11/05

This is an old post, I didn't see the following method mentioned though Stephy | 12/11/08

null c.eltringham@... | 08/11/05

WALANG WENTA!!! Eliad_08@... | 08/11/05

wala talagang kwenta: c.eltringham@... | 08/11/05

System "Up Time" Command dubois95@... | 08/11/05

last reboot was when i got to work xp? | 08/12/05

SrCst msatterwhitejr@... | 08/12/05

RE: Tracking down uptime in Windows XP daniel.burns@... | 08/12/05

One click chrisn@... | 08/17/05

Caps? We don't need no stinking caps! Pergster | 08/15/05

works for me KevLev | 08/16/05

this works every time for anyone... caebte | 08/16/05

0 Days, 0 Hours, 26 Minutes, 17 Seconds treadmill@... | 01/05/07

Works great for me skip.moyer@... | 08/17/05

It works check your syntax jnicholls@... | 08/18/05

Sysinternals' PsInfo jfs-tr@... | 08/21/05

It all depends on what you REALLY want to know [Hibernate ;-}] MWRMWR | 08/23/05

Great tip JAC1966 | 08/25/05

Good to Know steviep | 08/25/05

More research needed by Author Roger | 08/25/05

Here's another way to do it oldcinco@... | 08/25/05

Uptime from Microsoft maddmike | 08/25/05

A script solution markdmac@... | 08/25/05

Or... You could just download Uptime.exe twometertwo@... | 08/25/05

for any windows xp, any windows 2000 ionmaria@... | 08/25/05

Why? Ron@... | 08/26/05

well, don't get angry at me ionmaria@... | 09/11/05

What a pathetic collection of morons ron_r_a | 08/25/05

Solution in 10 secs... subs@... | 08/30/05

Yet another creative post by this guy.... Rascal1981 | 09/19/05

works great fred.stickley@... | 08/25/05

null t3chi3@... | 08/26/05

This Works!! casej@... | 08/29/05

uptime in Windows XP molotovmusic@... | 08/31/05

XP Home vs XP Pro; they're different. deepsand | 09/18/05

Syntax somarr99@... | 10/02/05

Spanish Systems don't work rcabrera44@... | 01/10/06

RE: Tracking down uptime in Windows XP sam.mereki@... | 06/24/07

RE: Tracking down uptime in Windows XP dhurka@... | 07/27/07