How To Retrieve Elapsed Time Since Windows Started (113325)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition for Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 3.0
This article was previously published under Q113325

SUMMARY

The Windows API provides two functions (GetCurrentTime and GetTickCount) that return the number of milliseconds that have elapsed since Windows started. The GetTickCount function is identical in function to the GetCurrentTime function. However, GetTickCount should be used instead of GetCurrentTime because the name more closely matches its function.

MORE INFORMATION

GetTickCount returns the number of milliseconds since Windows started, and it resets to zero (0) if Windows is run continuously for approximately 49 days.

After the value has been retrieved, you can convert it to minutes and seconds and display it in the hh:mm:ss format.

Step-by-Step Example

  1. Start a new project in Visual Basic. Form1 is created by default.
  2. Add a command button (Command1) to the form.
  3. Add the following to the General Declarations Section of Form1: 
       Private Declare Function GetTickCount Lib "Kernel32" () As Long
  4. Add the following code to the Command1_Click event: 
       Sub Command1_Click ()
      Dim Count As Long
      Dim Days As Integer, Hours As Double
      Dim Minutes As Double, Seconds As Double
      Dim Message As String

      ' Get milliseconds since windows started
      Count = GetTickCount()

      ' Convert to Seconds
      Count = Count \ 1000

      ' Pull out Days
      Days = Count \ (24& * 3600&)
      If Days > 0 Then Count = Count - (24& * 3600& * Days)

      ' Pull out HH:MM:SS
      Hours = Count \ 3600&
      If Hours > 0 Then Count = Count - (3600& * Hours)
      Minutes = Count \ 60
      Seconds = Count Mod 60

      ' Create a Message with info in it
      Message = Days & " Day(s), " & Hours & " Hour(s), " & Minutes
      Message = Message & " Minute(s), " & Seconds
      Message = Message & " Second(s) Since Windows Started!"

      ' Display Message in a Message Box
      MsgBox Message
   End Sub
  5. Start the program (or press the F5 key).
  6. Click the Command1 button. The message box should display the amount of time that has elapsed since Windows was started.

REFERENCES

For more information, see the Microsoft Windows SDK, Programmer's Reference (Book 2), Functions.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/29/2003
Keywords:KB113325
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.