So, you've found those Windows logs and you're curious about what else you can track? Let's talk about the Volume Serial Number, a nifty identifier that can help you match USB devices to logs.
What's a Volume Serial Number?
The Volume Serial Number is like a fingerprint for your USB or any drive. It's created when the drive is formatted and is unique to each filesystem (FAT, exFAT, NTFS).
Where Can I Find It?
You won't see this number everywhere, but when you do, it's gold! One place to look is the EMDMgmt key in your Windows Registry. This key stores info about USB devices, especially if you've used ReadyBoost.
Steps to Find Volume Serial Number:
Check the Volume Info:
Use a tool like vol.exe to find the Volume Label and Serial Number of your USB.
Look in the Registry:
Open Regedit and navigate to SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\EMDMgmt.
Search for your USB's Unique Serial Number or Volume Name.
The last number you see there is your Volume Serial Number in decimal form.
Convert to Hex:
Take that decimal number and plug it into a calculator.
Switch your calculator to Hex mode to see the Volume Serial Number in hex.
Why Bother?
You might think, "Why do I need this number?" Well, it's super useful for tracking! You can use it to:
Check the USB's usage history.
Analyze recent documents or shortcuts linked to the USB.
A Quick Example:
Let's say you have a USB with the Unique Serial Number A270010C4E86E.
Registry Check:
Go to SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\EMDMgmt.
Find A270010C4E86E and see the last integer.
Decimal to Hex:
Convert that last integer to hex using your calculator.
Now, you've got your Volume Serial Number! Store it somewhere safe because this number stays the same even if you reformat the USB.
In Conclusion:
The Volume Serial Number might seem like a small detail, but it's a big help when you're digging through logs or tracking USB activity. So next time you're snooping around Windows logs, keep an eye out for this handy identifier!
Akash Patel
Comentários