How can I tell what device was installed on my laptop?

[Nolda]

I logged onto our laptop yesterday and a message box came up with something in it like, 'to complete device installation press finish'. It had the USB symbol in the box. Does this mean that DH (the only other person who has access to the laptop) has plugged in a new piece of hardware? In which case is it possible to find out what it is? DH says this box may have come up as the laptop was plugged into the Internet and he turned it off at the wall rather than shut it down properly. Is this possible, or can you think of any other possible scenarios?

A generic solution would be to search for files that have been modified over the last day or so.

Anything more than that will probably require you to tell us which Operating System your computer has. Windows? If so which version?

BadgersPaws - not sure how to do that but will give it a go. Yes, I have Windows xp.

OK try this....

Start/Search/For Files or Folders.

Under the "What" question select "All files and folders".

Expand "When was it modified" and specify the dates.

When the results come back pick the option to refine the search and "Change whether hidden and system files are included". Select "Expanded" and click Search again.

Even with just a single day selected a lot will come back, but there might be something interesting in there.

Off the top of my head I don't think there's a way to search for devices installed on a certain date on XP.

The Event Viewer (under admin tools in the control panel) will likely have log entries associated with the software installation for any new devices but it won't be easy to wade through all the unimportant log entries.

Many laptops use USB for entirely internal connections so it may not be anything plugged into an external USB socket. For example, my laptop's built-in webcam apparently uses a USB-type connection. And if Windows has done a software update then it can cause a USB device to restart and cause the sort of message you saw.

In summary, I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks BadgersPaws, have done the search but haven't found anything obvious (to me). If you were me would you think something had been plugged in or would DH's story stand up?

Good point about the Event Viewer and well worth a look. Each log, there are a number, sorts by date time so it's easy to go looking for recent events.

USB on Windows is rather flaky and it does sometimes do odd things.

Why are you suspicious? Has your DH got a history of breaking your laptop :)

Thanks Snorbs and BadgersPaws, I'll stop being so suspicious now.