How do I find the original date creation on a file?


  1. Posts : 1
    Windows 8
       #1

    How do I find the original date creation on a file?


    Hi guys, I am new here and I would like to clarify a few things.

    As the title suggested, is there a way to find the original creation date on a file which has been copied and pasted. Here were the steps I took.

    1. Copied documents from PC to external hard drive
    2. Deleted documents on PC.
    3. Connected ext hd to my laptop and booted up the files
    4. Right clicked properties to view the creation date, which shows the current date instead of the original date.

    So from what I know, the "date created" is the date which I copied and pasted into the external hard drive, right?

    Is there a way to find out the ORIGINAL date created from my laptop? I have since deleted the orignal document from my PC.

    Many thanks in advance.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #2

    Hello, if I understand your question correctly, date created is when the file was moved. Odd, however I just tried it myself on my own two partitions. Date modified is when the file was modified/made(assuming no other modifications to the file were made.)
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,497
    Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
       #3

    Is there a way to find out the ORIGINAL date created from my laptop? I have since deleted the orignal document from my PC.
    Sorry, but no.

    Windows file systems maintain potentially 3 dates stamps.
    1. Creation date.
    2. Modified date.
    3. Access date. Not updated by default.

    All of these can be overwritten or modified in a variety of ways. Once changed the original date is lost.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #4

    When you copied it to the external HD it was "Created" on the external HD then. The only way to save the original creation date would be to do an image backup or may find a 3rd party program to copy with.

    Hmmm, I just found one post that says robocopy can do this.
    How to preserve file attributes when one copies files in Windows?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1
    windows 10 x64-bit
       #5

    I had similar issue


    I have had a similar issue, and if I understood your problem you may try compressing the file.

    The file will keep the modified date.

    I know I'm late, but in case someone encountered the problem.
      My Computer


 

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