"Date Modified" changes on original file when copying

[sevenup]

I spent some time searching the forums but did not find any post that answered my question so I am starting a new thread.

Windows Explorer is changing my original file's date when I do a drag-and-drop copy operation. I would like to know how I can tell Win7 to not change the original file date.

 

[logicearth]

What problem is this causing?

 

[sevenup]

The problem is that I do not want the file date to change on the original. I would like to be able to retain the ability to sort by date on my original files. The file date changing on the copy is not a problem for me.

 

[Bill2]

1) You can use the MS Robocopy utility. Robocopy is an advanced utility which is in-built in Windows 7 and can preserve folder attributes such as timestamps while copying files. However, since it is a command line tool, it may not be easy to work with, so you can download the MS Robocopy GUI.

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...8546-25c359cc0842/UtilitySpotlight2006_11.exe

Also see this.

How to copy or move files and folders whilst maintaining their original time date stamp. | TechHead.co.uk

2) You can also try using XCOPY.

In a command window, run xcopy with the following switches: /s/e/c/a/k/h

See this page.

MS-DOS xcopy command help

 

[sevenup]

Thanks - I actually did see this info in another post. Unfortunately using a command prompt is not a good option for me. I was hoping there was some setting in windows explorer that would fix this for me.

 

[Bill2]

Win Explorer doesnt have that capacity natively. You can try hunting for a shell extension that does that.

SHELL EXTENSION CITY, millions of free Windows power tools, explorer enhancements, windows add-ons, tweaks, system utilities, freeware, IE7

 

[sevenup]

Thanks again. I will see if I can find anything there.

 

[FliGi7]

That is one of the dumbest "features" I've seen. The original file should never be modified by simply copying it. Wow.

Have you tried doing a right click Copy instead of dragging it? I'm not sure if that would make a difference or not, but it's worth a try.

 

[sevenup]

I normally highlight the files I want to copy and then do a right-click-drag and it pops up the window asking me what I want to do with the files. I will give the right-click-copy and right-click-paste a try! Thanks for the advice!!

 

[logicearth]

I cannot replicate the problem in question. Doing right-click drag and copy the modified date remains the same, moving it remains the same, left-click drag and copy to another drive stays the same... Maybe you have something, like an anti-virus or explorer extension that is doing something with the file during these copy operations.

 

[sevenup]

Wow that is interesting. Now that you mention that I did try to install something that I originally used for XP called "NinotechPathCopy". That was before I found out you could hold "SHIFT" and right-click in Win7 to "copy as path". At the time I tried installing the NinotechPathCopy it did not work so I assumed all was good but maybe it did actually install something. I will have to check on that as it could be what is causing my problem.

 

[FliGi7]

I cannot replicate the problem in question. Doing right-click drag and copy the modified date remains the same, moving it remains the same, left-click drag and copy to another drive stays the same... Maybe you have something, like an anti-virus or explorer extension that is doing something with the file during these copy operations.

Very good point. It certainly could be an A/V "on-demand" scanning of the files when they are accessed (in this case being moved/copied) which then modifies the files.

 

[sevenup]

I looked under "Programs and Features" and could not find anything to uninstall. I will have to look at the inf file to see what registry entries were made and maybe I can remove them.

 

[jtimothy]

right-click and drag works!

Thank you Logic Earth! I'm still using XP; I found this forum by Googling the problem. Right-clicking and dragging a file (or a whole folder full of files) and selecting "copy" from the pop-up window, does indeed preserve the file modified dates in the copied files. Simple!

Why Microsoft does not make this info clearly and easily available, is mystifying to me. But no longer surprising.

 

[azuan]

i saw the notice "The last post in this thread was 183 days ago. If your post is not directly related to this discussion please consider making a new thread."

but i have same problem. and read through the topic, and same problem.

i copy (ctrl c) the picture from usb drive which has date 01/01/2011 for example. after paste (ctrl v) to local drive, date modified changed to todays date which is 15/02/2011.

is this kind of new behaviour of windows 7? if it is so-called "by design", i only can say, WOW!

 

[logicearth]

but i have same problem. and read through the topic, and same problem.

i copy (ctrl c) the picture from usb drive which has date 01/01/2011 for example. after paste (ctrl v) to local drive, date modified changed to todays date which is 15/02/2011.

is this kind of new behaviour of windows 7? if it is so-called "by design", i only can say, WOW!

As I said before in this thread: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...es-original-file-when-copying.html#post766784

I just copied from a USB drive. No change is modified date.

 

[drm200]

Sky drive modifies my files

I am using skydrive. I have noticed that upon uploading my files the "date modified" for each file is changed to the time that the file was uploaded.

This seems to violate the presumption that you are archiving an actual exact copy of the original file. I must retain an exact copy of the original.

Does anyone know how to get skydrive to not modify the original file?

I am using W7 64 bit.

 

[Kari]

I cannot replicate the problem in question. Doing right-click drag and copy the modified date remains the same, moving it remains the same, left-click drag and copy to another drive stays the same... Maybe you have something, like an anti-virus or explorer extension that is doing something with the file during these copy operations.

+1

I have never seen or noticed original file properties to change in any version of Windows when it's copied. I've now "played" about 15 minutes with this, trying to replicate this. No luck.

Right mouse button drag and drop, selecting Copy here or Create shortcut here > original file or folder properties including time stamp are not changed.

CTRL + C copy, CTRL + V paste > original file or folder properties including time stamp are not changed.

Context menu Copy - Paste > original file or folder properties including time stamp are not changed.

Am I missing something here?

I am using skydrive. I have noticed that upon uploading my files the "date modified" for each file is changed to the time that the file was uploaded.

This seems to violate the presumption that you are archiving an actual exact copy of the original file. I must retain an exact copy of the original.

Does anyone know how to get skydrive to not modify the original file?

I am using W7 64 bit.

Also this issue seems to be impossible to replicate, at least for me.

Right mouse button drag from desktop or folder and drop to SkyDrive > original file or folder properties including time stamp are not changed.

Left mouse button drag from desktop or folder and drop to SkyDrive > original file or folder properties including time stamp are not changed.

Uploading normally > original file or folder properties including time stamp are not changed.

Kari

 

[drm200]

I recreated the problem and have attached a screen-print showing the problem. To create the problem, I opened up two explorer windows and then created an empty directory in my skydrive called temporary. I then dragged the 8 files using windows explorer to the skydrive temporary folder at 4:37 a.m. (Saigon time)

That was the time the "aboutsyncfolder.pdf" was created on my D drive.

The same file on my skydrive shows it was created at 9:38 a.m .... but this is not true ... it had to be 4:38 am (exactly 5 hours different) ... The other files all show being created in skydrive at either 9:13 or 8:51. I don't know why this is. They were all dragged and dropped at the same time. I've repeated this many times and it gives the same results. I've disconnected and reconnected my Gladinet skydrive.

I'm in Saigon doing this ... could it be some sort of problem in timezones?

 

[crashnbuen]

This is a problem that occurs when files are copied from ONE DRIVE to ANOTHER.

Even I would like a SIMPLER SOLUTION where the COPIED or MOVED Files & Folders RETAIN their DATE/ TIME STAMPS:
- Creation Date
- Last Modified Date
- Last Accessed Date (Not critical but nice to have)

Its simple but the only way for me to do this is a set of complex steps using RichCopy/ RoboCopy.