What is the Windows Registry key that shows the first time a USB device connects?

The Windows Registry key that indicates the first time a USB device is connected is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USBSTOR. This specific key stores information about USB storage devices that have been connected to the computer, including details such as device identifiers and connection timestamps.

When a USB device is connected to a Windows system, the operating system records this event in the USBSTOR registry path. This key provides not only the vendor and product IDs of the USB device but also connection times that can show when the device was first recognized by the system. This information can be useful during forensic investigations to determine when a device was connected, which can help to establish timelines or support other findings in an investigation involving digital evidence.

Other keys mentioned would not provide the same level of detail regarding USB connections. For instance, keys related to the current user's preferences or general Windows versioning do not track specific USB connection events or metadata that is vital for forensic analysis.