The GetSystemTimePreciseAsFileTime function , as it was first introduced in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. Microsoft has not backported this specific API to older versions of Windows.
Backporting this functionality required changes to kernel32.dll, ntdll.dll, and the kernel itself. KB2813345 provided a limited, but functional, backport.
function, specifically regarding its availability and the updates related to Windows 7. GetSystemTimePreciseAsFileTime Introduced with Windows Server 2012
GetSystemTimePreciseAsFileTime is a powerful API for high-precision timekeeping, but it comes with a critical caveat: it is on Windows 7 and will never be backported via a Windows Update. Developers must be aware of this limitation to avoid "Entry point not found" errors that render their applications unusable on older systems. getsystemtimepreciseasfiletime windows 7 upd
The magic of this API lies in its approach. It doesn't just query the system clock. Instead, it returns the current system time plus the difference between the current value of the system's high-resolution performance counter and its value when the system time was last updated. This technique allows it to provide a UTC-synchronized timestamp that is both highly precise and reliable for measuring brief moments.
– Record exact arrival time of market data ticks.
If you are trying to run modern software—such as updated development tools, game emulators, or browsers—on a Windows 7 machine, you may encounter a frustrating error message: KB2813345 provided a limited, but functional, backport
wmic qfe list hotfixid | find "KB2813345"
Here's an example of how to use GetSystemTime on Windows 7:
If you have ever tried to run a modern application on Windows 7 only to see this error message, you have encountered the problem firsthand. For example, a user on the FreeFileSync forum reported: "Entry point not found, GetSystemTimePreciseAsFileTime could not be located in the dynamic link library KERNEL32.dll" . This error appears because the application's binary code contains a direct link, or "import," to the function. When the Windows 7 loader tries to resolve this reference at program startup and finds it missing in its KERNEL32.dll , it fails, and the program crashes instantly. Developers must be aware of this limitation to
Windows 7 does not include this function in its native KERNEL32.dll . Therefore, when an application calls this function, the operating system cannot locate it, leading to a DLL load-time failure.
If you are writing software that must run on both Windows 10/11 and Windows 7, you cannot call this function directly, or your program will fail to start on Windows 7 with an "Entry Point Not Found" error in Kernel32.dll 1. Dynamic Linking (The Safe Way) Instead of linking to the function at compile-time, use GetProcAddress to see if the function exists at runtime. VOID (WINAPI *PGETSYSTEMTIMEPRECISE)(LPFILETIME); GetBestTimestamp(LPFILETIME ft)
If you are a developer, this is the most robust approach. Modern, well-written software doesn't just assume an API exists; it checks for it at runtime.
Newer C++ MSVC Platform Toolsets (such as v145) automatically call this function, even if the application developer did not explicitly write it into their code. 2. Why it Fails on Windows 7