Windows 7 forum: How can I preserve my files' create dates, after copying and pasting to another drive?

I have used Total Commander since it was first released (when Norton Commander quit working on the then new version of Windows). I am also on Windows 7 64-bit. I have recently discovered this problem about loosing the creation dates when copying files. This lose happens when using Total Commander as well as Explorer. There is probably a Windows problem here, which I am researching, so it appears to be fundamental and Total Commander does not resolve this at all. I have tried using Explorer and Total Commander with copying the same file with both tools, and the resultant copy in each case looses its creation dates. This problem exists on Vista as well, so it is not a Windows 7 only issue. Also, this problem occurs whenever copying files, whether that be to a backup external device or to another HDD or just to another folder on the same HDD.

Vincent (12-05-12)

Bob, thanks for the response on keeping file creation dates when moving them. But I am actually looking for a file manager run as a Windows program that anyone can easily use. I am a computer consultant and have many customers, and the solution to this dilemma needs to be fairly simple. Using DOS commands or zipping files is not easy to do. As for your questions, I do not see any 'Sync' function in Explorer, and the sync function in TC simply uses its standard copying function to sync up two directories. So what are you referring to when you mentioned 'Sync'?

I have even written to Christian (the owner of TC) and he agrees that TC cannot retain creation dates, just as Explorer cannot, so he doesn't feel it is his problem. I suggested that he update his product so it can! And to give this all the more credence, I have come across a rather crude but effect file manager copying tool that DOES retain file creation dates, and gave this info to Christian as well. This, of course, means that this is doable! This product is called SafeCopy V2 and can be acquired (free) online at http://www.elwinsoft.com/safecopy-free.html. I tried it with a simple test copying just one file, and the creation date did not change! In the next couple of days, one of my customers will install this product and try it on a large directory copy (with many subfolders) and this will be a really good test. Creation date is VERY important for legal reasons to some of my customers, including to me! I have written and Copyrighted a very in depth Windows tutorial and I need the creation date to remain intact.

Also, I have started another thread with this topic on this system since this thread (although it is the same topic) seems to be dead due to its age.

Vincent (12-06-12)

using robocopy by Microsoft. Came originally in the NT resource kit and the /MIR switch (mirror) will retain the file date stamps. Robocopy comes right with Windows 7 and here is a link that might assist you with it:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ee851678.aspx

NOTE: The only incorrect information on the page is their statement that it was "introduced with the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit" I have a copy of it dated 21 dec 99 that replaced the older robucopy which is dated 29 feb 96. They might have meant that the GUI interface was introduced then but even that is wrong as the initial GUI interface was introduced while NT 4.0 was still the OS to have.

robocopy "E:\test" F:\test /MIR /DCOPY:T

I THINK that's what I did. So it copied my test folder on E: to F:\test. Since I did not have a test directory on F: it created it.
In that folder, all my subfolders had the original creation date. NOT todays date. And all my files had the correct dates too.

Hi Regi,

A very simple and fast method I use is WinZip. Just select the folders option to keep file structures intact. It will preserve all dates associated with a file on restore. I am using a licensed WinZip (you can also d/l free versions) which lets me set up a batch file to run all my backups. The BAT is on my desktop making it easy to use.
You can also set it to 0 compression. That makes it run very fast if you have plenty of backup space.

I hope this helps.
John H.

Since you are running W7, you have a feature to 'bookend' two windows side-by-side which makes drag-n-drop a breeze!

However, in some doc or spreadsheet formats that action removes the item to the new location...my suggestion would be to then right-click and 'copy to' it back.

One other consideration would be to use one of the -- MANY -- automatic back-up programs (either onboard or online), and do your due diligence regarding this particular issue and it's ability to be modified.

But if you press control, the logic is reversed!

Kees

I don't know about Vista or Win7, but on XP copy / paste and your suggested Select / Drag / Drop will both change the creation date. Regardless of whether copying to a different drive or a different folder on same drive. You've been doing this since Windows 3.11 huh? Make sure you have both Modified Date and Creation Date showing in the header on Windows Explorer.

Doesn't drag & drop MOVE the files and if so that would not accomplish the objective.

Welcome to the evils of Vista...........XP is still the best O/S

1. It's also available for 64-bit versions of Windows, so if you're running Windows 7 Pro 64 with 12 GB of RAM, as am I, there's at least A CHANCE your copies will go faster, as it actually MIGHT use more than 4 GB of RAM (I haven't actually checked on that, but I think it should -- there are still very FEW programs that run in 64-bit mode, but SyncToy is one of them).

2.You can set it up to "Echo" one drive to another or to sync both ways (and I think there are other options, as well). But I simply use the "Echo" function, and every week or two I run it to back up files from my primary storage drive to a second drive.

3. If you're doing it "drive-to-drive," the drives might need to be identical, but you can also do it "folder-to-folder," which is what I'm doing now, since I no longer have two identical drives for this purpose, as I once did. Now I have a slightly faster internal for main storage and an external I'm not sure about (not sure about most ANY externals any more), that's supposedly the same SIZE as the internal. My main storage for just about all documents, at any rate, is in a big folder called, "My Documents," which has MANY subfolders within it, some of which have many subfolders nested within them... I simply "Echo" "My Documents" from one drive to the other. And as SyncToy copies ONLY files that are NEW or have changed since the last time, it DOESN'T copy the OTHER million or so files in "My Documents" that haven't changed every time I do a backup.

Sure works for me -- and it's F R E E !!!
Jeff Hayes

Highlight the files and flders to save.
with the external drive pluged in right lick on a selected file or folder then select send to next select the externaldrive and all the files will be copied with thair corect names and date information.
Have a Merry Christmas Happy New Year.

I agree with starstreak that the folder or file creation date becomes the date of the copy and the modify date is the original creation date. Also: Why copy & paste? by Alain Martel1 - 12/23/11 1:19 PM - also states that the drag and drop feature works, but when I check the properties of the dragged and dropped files it shows that the CREATION Date is today's date and the MODIFIED date is the original creation date of the file. So in my Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit system, it doesn't work.
Also XV1100b suggests to select the file or folder and select the "send to" option but it only allows you to send the file to: 1) Compressed (zipped) Folder 2) Desktop (create shortcut) 3) Documents 4) Fax recipient 5) Mail recipient 6) Skype 7) DVD RW drive D: - and won't let you select the target location that may be a new folder you created. So that method doesn't work either.
All this being said, I'm going to try some backup software like Free - Microsoft's Sync Toy 2.1 or Total Commander (if there is a free version). Good Luck!