Data backup, I want to preserve all 3 (attribute) Dates

FreeFileSync does not reveal (in my observation) to preserve dates in backed up files/folders.

RoboCopy ... I cannot discern if RoboCopy is stable or not, for this old dog RB-GUI would be the only way to backup.
Most of Robocopy threads on this forum are 3 to 5 years old, discolored with RoboCopy failures.

I have not downloaded either yet.

LadyFitzgerald's words of wisdom make a lot of sense. But preserved dates are very important for me.
If FreeFileSync does preserve dates, I will use it

Informed comments are appreciated, thank you :)

@ samuria :)

Using CMD.exe to run RoboCopy is too daunting for me, so I have been searching for RoboCopy GUI.
There are many versions of RoboCopy GUI front ends but they are all different in their GUI, use and helpfulness

For the past 2 days I have tested 11 backup programs incl 'FreeFileSync"
- FFS deleted both my Source files and the destination folder was empty. Thankfully both test folders.
- some backup programs are outright dangerous in that they alter dates depending on a TXT file is Read or Read-Write. I have 4,800 txt files to move off a faulty internal (Data) HDD.

My most recent download was HoffmanUtilitySpotlight2009_04
But Microsoft Richcopy - TechNet.Microsoft.com has a lot of complaints (lost data) by some heavy weight users of RichCopy.

What were your settings in FFS when it lost those test files? I've never had FFS lose a file unless it was corrupted; even then all that happened was the transfer didn't happen and the source file was still on the source drive.

You could use Replicator, it has been around a while and works very well.

ptreplicator-setup.zip

bawldiggle said:

FreeFileSync does not reveal (in my observation) to preserve dates in backed up files/folders.

RoboCopy ... I cannot discern if RoboCopy is stable or not, for this old dog RB-GUI would be the only way to backup.
Most of Robocopy threads on this forum are 3 to 5 years old, discolored with RoboCopy failures.

I have not downloaded either yet.

LadyFitzgerald's words of wisdom make a lot of sense. But preserved dates are very important for me.
If FreeFileSync does preserve dates, I will use it

Informed comments are appreciated, thank you :)

@ Lady Fitzgerald :)
@ SIW2 :)

Thank you for your generous support

I gave Karens Replicator a trial. No lost data. Copied one source folder to a destination folder
- Replicator is much better designed than "KillCopy"
- Accessed dates changed to "today" , source dates are unchanged

-------------
FreeFileSync
In my fit of disappointment I uninstalled FFS. A hissy fit.

I will give FFS try again, using two thumb drives and no valuable data, this time
-------------

Am I expecting too much to preserve "Accessed date" ?
- or is it impossible using backup programs. ?

bawldiggle said:

@ Lady Fitzgerald :)
@ SIW2 :)

Thank you for your generous support

I gave Karens Replicator a trial. No lost data. Copied one source folder to a destination folder
- Replicator is much better designed than "KillCopy"
- Accessed dates changed to "today" , source dates are unchanged

-------------
FreeFileSync
In my fit of disappointment I uninstalled FFS. A hissy fit.

I will give FFS try again, using two thumb drives and no valuable data, this time
-------------

Am I expecting too much to preserve "Accessed date" ?
- or is it impossible using backup programs. ?

Sadly, FFS doesn't always preserve all dates. I don't depend on those, anyway, since those can get changed, anyway. If a date is critical to me (which isn't often), I include it in the file name. For example, a Macrium Reflect image will be named something like, "Before MS Updates, 05-14-2017" or, if I'm keeping several versions of a file in progress, I'll name the files something like " project.1.docx", "project.2.docx", etc. or " project-1", etc. or I'll append the save date on the end of the file name.

As many times as I have cloned drives and partitions with Macrium Reflect, I never checked to see if any of the file dates changed or not. Starting with V6, the paid versions have a feature called Rapid Delta Cloning. From what I gather, it works similar to folder/file syncing programs, such as FFS, and will only clone new and changed files from a drive or partitions to a previous clone of the drive or partitions. If you have a paid version of V6 or V7, you could try a series of tests Rapid Delta Clone to see if it will preserve file dates. If you use the free version of V6 or V7, you could make a test full clone of a drive or partition to see if the file dates are preserved and to determine if shelling out the shekels for the paid version would be worth it or not (you can also get a free 30 day trial). I haven't bothered to check since, unlike FFS, I can run only one instance of MR at a time. I currently run up to three instances of FFS at a time; it saves me a lot of time and work that way.

@ Lady Fitzgerald ... Jeannie :)

Your diplomacy is admirable and you are right.
Sorry I haven't responded earlier, health issues have slowed me down temporarily.

For now I will use Karen's Replicator

SOLVED

bawldiggle said:

@ Lady Fitzgerald ... Jeannie :)

Your diplomacy is admirable and you are right.
Sorry I haven't responded earlier, health issues have slowed me down temporarily.

No worries on this end. I'm just glad you're feeling better now. :)

@ Russell and Jeannie

You two worked well together to get the job done.

Jack