is it possible to check length of time for current operating software?

There's gotta be a set date on the registry. You can also look up your updates. I will get back to ya.

 

why don't you just take a look at your system files (pick one, any one) and see what the created date is?

(I don't have vista, I don't know - I'm just guessing)

 

That would be a sure thing, but then again, some machines have files created WAY BEFORE, and when they're installed, they don't change date. Hey, nice guess. I would have done that, too.

I did it this way:
I looked up my Control Panel -> System and Maintenance, then clicked "Windows Update" on the left bottom of the left pane. When Windows Update displayed, I clicked "Update History" and it brought up that I had updated Windows for the first time on 3/4/2007, which is a day AFTER I bought my laptop.