Is there any way to check the “history” of burned CDs on Win 7?

Question

I was wondering if there is any way to check what files where burned to what CD/DVD from a Windows 7 computer?

In other words, is there a log function which records what files where burned to disk?

If this is the case, does it record what actually has been burned or does it only state that a new "CD project" has been created with a list of files?

Other info:

• Burning method -> Live File System
• Hardware -> External DVD-RW drive (sorry all I know)
• OS -> Windows 7 (probably Professional)
• Both the user burning and the user looking for the history are administrators.

Answer 1

I don't believe that Windows (any version) saves a history of the files burned to disk. I goggled around for a few minutes and didn't come up with any proof that it does. I have a background in computer forensics, and have never heard this mentioned as a technique. The only way it may record anything is if in the process of burning the files to CD windows considered those files as being accessed and maybe put those in the recent items list [C:\Users(User Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent Items], and/or if the accessed/modified date is changed on the file itself.

Most likely though there's no history, but give it a try and see if the files show up in that directory or the access date changes.

Answer 2

Only if the application that created the CD saves a log of its own or writes information to the Windows system logs. Windows itself does not natively store this information, no.