I'm working on replicating the Windows 7/8 add remove programs applet with VBScript. I've gotten the script to include all the correct entries, but I have not been able to get it to include all the correct additional information Windows displays.
As an example: Windows displays the "Installed On" column with a date. In some cases it gets these from the relevant registry keys like:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\InstallDate
HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\InstallDate
HKUS\USER - SID\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\InstallDate
Very few keys actually have the InstallDate value and Windows always get this column filled. I've managed to grab the majority of the missing dates from WMI:
("SELECT * FROM Win32_Product Where Description = " & "'" & strName & "'" & "")
for each objSoftware in colSoftware
Date = objSoftware.InstallDate
This only gives the dates from MSI installed applications.
I was thinking maybe Windows "guessed" the dates based on Program Files/ProgramData file dates, but I've tried manually changing them and it isn't reflected in Add/Remove. I'm trying to figure out how Windows pulls this date. I've noticed CCleaner can reproduce add/remove without error, so this information is available somewhere. I've just exhausted myself looking for it.