How can I get a history of running processes
Sure. You can use Windows' built-in event logging (assuming you're not on some cheap edition that doesn't have it).
- Press Win+R and type gpedit.msc to open the group policy manager
In the left pane, navigate to
Local Computer Policy \ Computer Configuration \ Windows Settings \ Security Settings \ Local Policies \ Audit Policy
In the right pane, double-click "Audit process tracking" and check both boxes
From now on, all process creations and deletions (and failed attempts at same) will appear in the Security log.
To view them, run Event Viewer. (Hit the Windows key and start typing "Event Viewer".) In the left pane expand the "Windows Logs" sub-tree and click "Security". All the security events will be displayed.
In the right pane you can set up a Filter to look for event IDs like 4688 or 4689, or any other supported criteria.
You might consider not enabling logging of failures since you're looking for "what has run and when", and if a process creation failed, then nothing has run... but that's up to you.
You aren't limited to just reading the event log on your screen, either. Windows "Scheduled tasks" can be triggered by event log entries that match criteria you specify. You can also read the event log with a PowerShell script (or, of course, with an ordinary program) and do stuff based on what you find.
N.B.: David Postill's answer gives more detail on some of the event codes, etc. Don't ignore it!
How can I get a history of running processes
By default there is no such history and it is not logged anywhere.
However you can enable Process Tracking Events in the Windows Security Event Log.
This will give you the information you require.
Notes:
The solution requires making changes to the Group Policy using
gpedit.Unfortunately the Group Policy Editor (gpedit) is not included with the Starter Edition, Home and Home Premium editions of Windows.
See my Q&A Windows Starter Edition, Home and Home Premium do not include gpedit, how do I install it? for instructions on how to install it.
How to Use Process Tracking Events in the Windows Security Log
In Windows 2003/XP you get these events by simply enabling the Process Tracking audit policy.
In Windows 7/2008+ you need to enable the Audit Process Creation and, optionally, the Audit Process Termination subcategories which you’ll find under Advanced Audit Policy Configuration in group policy objects.
These events are incredibly valuable because they give a comprehensive audit trail of every time any executable on the system is started as a process. You can even determine how long the process ran by linking the process creation event to the process termination event using the Process ID found in both events. Examples of both events are shown below.
Source How to Use Process Tracking Events in the Windows Security Log
How to enable Audit Process Creation
Run gpedit.msc
Select "Windows Settings" > "Security Settings" > "Local Policies" > "Audit Policy"
Right click "Audit process tracking" and select "Properties"
Check "Success" and click "OK"
What is Audit Process Tracking
This security setting determines whether the OS audits process-related events such as process creation, process termination, handle duplication, and indirect object access.
If this policy setting is defined, the administrator can specify whether to audit only successes, only failures, both successes and failures, or to not audit these events at all (i.e. neither successes nor failures).
If Success auditing is enabled, an audit entry is generated each time the OS performs one of these process-related activities.
If Failure auditing is enabled, an audit entry is generated each time the OS fails to perform one of these activities.
Default: No auditing
Important: For more control over auditing policies, use the settings in the Advanced Audit Policy Configuration node. For more information about Advanced Audit Policy Configuration, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=140969.
Further Reading
- Windows Security Log Encyclopedia