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

Simply drag and drop, don't Copy and Paste.

Following two hard disk failures which resulted in important data lost, I was looking for a better way to backup and tack my files. I found the free version of syncback (by two bright lights) and I've been using it since 2006. It can copy dates and settings so that files are an exact match all the time, there are several options (FTP support, robust comparison options). I now use the pay version which has several additional support features. From what you describe, I believe that the free version would do the trick.

One method, as mentioned elsewhere, is to preserve the files in a Zip archive, and Windows 7 already has this capability built in, so there is no real need to use WinZIP or another program. When unzipping them back to the original location, the original creation date will show.
Also, drag and drop should work, HOWEVER, depending on the system that might be set up to copy only a LINK to the original file. Beware, you may have to change that. This behavior is probably why you're used to copy and paste, which will not create a link, but actually copy the file. COPY pasting this normally stamps the pasted file with a new creation date!
Another way is to use the software which ships with most external drives anymore, designed for backup use. Many of these, you don't need to select individual files, just which folders those files are in, and you can select an option to backup only new or changed files in those folders to the backup drive. You can also set up the drive with a Linux OS and a tool designed for the same purpose.
You should also do a regular full backup of your system using a drive imaging tool in case of disaster. Windows 7 also has this capability built right in. This is a bit different from some of the older backup tools you may be familiar with as a drive image takes, basically, a "photo" of the entire drive, which can then be restored in its entirety, rather than copying each file, folder, and the registry, etc. separately. Basically this makes it possible to "clone" the original drive to the backup media and then 'clone' it back when needed. This is not designed for individual files, however, and can take some time, although it is not as slow as the traditional backup methods.

Hello!

maybe this will help as it works for me! I use another computer on my home network and I copy
my files from my main computer to the slaved HD in the extra computer and I just checked and all
my original dates are intact. This should even work if you have a slaved drive in a stand alone computer!

Hopefully this helps

Jim

I use a program called XXcopy to copy data -- they have an option to clone data (drive to drive or drive to folder, folder to folder -- what ever you like). It does not have as small of a limitation on file name/path length (256 for windows xcopy). You can easily create a batch script and run it as scheduled task.

** Note -- you will need to have ownership of the source drive due to permission issues **

Install XXcopy (FREE!! for personal use) (http://www.xxcopy.com/xcpydnld.htm)
- Use an elevated command line (Start >> cmd >> right click and select "run as Administrator")
- navigate to desired source folder .. "cd C:" for example
- Type command "xxcopy *.* E:\ /clone" (xxcopy source destination /clone)


Some of my colleges prefer to use linux to copy data, it doesn't care about windows attributes and file permissions.

It has a nifty facility called 'synchronize directories' which will do just what you are looking for

I have been working with this very topic this past week (and for a long time prior).

For me, whether I use Windows Copy-Paste or Cut-Paste or Drag-Drop (with or without Ctrl key), the destination folder *always* gets todays date/time if it is going onto a new volume or disk. (if the move or copy is to the same disk, then sometimes the folder keeps original dates).
Individual files generally seem to be able to keep their original dates -- it is the folders whose dates get changed. (in my experience)

1.) As some people suggest, many backup software programs will preserve the file and folder creation dates, even though the data is being copied to a new drive or location.
If backing up is the main activity you are engaged in when wanting the dates to be preserved, then a backup program would be the way to go. Ranging from several very good free (syncback being mentioned) to many paid softwares.

2) If you are wanting the destination copy files and folders to have the same dates (create/modified) as the source data, then the only reliable way I have found is to use special File manager or File copy software.

2.a.) I have found that TeraCopy using the Copy function will preserve original dates. But using the Move function it acts like Windows and treats the destination folders as new-right-now-this-second.

I have also experimented with MS RichCopy, Robocopy and CopyHandler. For me, none seemed quite as reliable to maintain dates as TeraCopy.

2.b.) The other way is to use an alternate windows file manager. Currently I am trying out "Xplorer2" (that is without a beginning letter e). It has an option to enforce that the destination retains all the original file-folder dates.
I am liking this feature very much.

Some of the other alt file managers probably also have this ability, but I have not tested all for it.
(Such as XYPlorer, TotalCommander, EFCommander, FreeCommander)

As you can see, I am not much into the command line tools, but much prefer a GUI windows tool if I can find one that accomplishes the desired.
Hope this helps.

My env: Windows XP Pro SP3, 2GB RAM.

Set up a RAID 1 array. It is easier than you may think. Instructions can be found in your motherboard handbook.
If you did not build your PC and do not have details of the board, just open the case; the make and model should be printed on the board. You can download the relevant information from the manufacturer's website. You should also be able to download the latest BIOS, and any RAID drivers you may require. You may also wish to "Google", " Setting up a RAID array" .
The best way is to start with two new, identical drives . I would recommend 2x 2TB, as this will give you maximum capacity, bearing in mind that arrays with more than 2TB visible are not settable as boot disks.
To find out more about RAID arrays go to Wikipedia.
Acronis True Image, and Macrium Reflect are useful tools; go to cnet downloads to get them.
Hopefully the price of HDDs will fall by the end of the year.

Gil

I just use TeraCopy. A friend recommended it and it works great!

This command has been available with Microsoft operating system since the days of DOS 3.3 to now.
I haave been using it since it was available with DOS 3.3.
Robocopy is fine, but xcopy suits me fine and I find it more reliable.
I use a batch file with the following command line and parameters.
XCOPY D:\DATA\*.* G:\DATA /f /d /s /k /r /h /y /z
"D:\DATA\*.*" is the <Source> and "G:\DATA" is the <Destination>,
so edit the source and destination according to your situation.
Be sure to use the "/d" to save time during incremental backups.

... works very well and has an option to keep timestamps and other attributes.

There seem to be a number of misconceptions and almost-right ideas here.

First, with regard to preserving file dates while copying, click-and-drag behaves exactly the same as copy-and-paste and send-to. none of them preserve the file creation date. Here's probably where the confusion lies: the "modified" date is preserved by all, not the "created" date. Preserving the "modified" date should be enough to uniquely identify a file and, by default, viewing a folder's "details" will show the "modified" date of the files within it, not the "created" date. For most people this should be sufficient, but not for everyone, and, apparently, not for the OP.

Next, click-and-drag within the same drive will move the file, not copy it. All the dates will be preserved, but you're not making a copy, so this doesn't help the OP.

Click-and-drag between drives will copy, but, again, the "created" date will not be preserved.

Right-click-and-drag will bring up a context menu so that you can choose move, copy, or create shortcut.

Last, one thing I don't quite get, what about the "accessed" date, the last time the file was accessed? In order to see it, you have to view the file's properties, but simply viewing the properties changes the date to the present. What good is knowing that the last time I accessed the file is, um, right now? I'm guessing there's some way to view this date without changing it. Any ideas, anyone?

I don't know about Windows 7, but on XP you open a window and select "view" at the top, then select "choose details", then check "date created" and it will save that date to that file.

I have a harder problem, perhaps.
Our IT guys copied our network files to a new server and all now have the copy date as their date or creation and modification displaying.
But the original dates are still stored somewhere in the file info because they show correctly in the file Properties, Summary, Origin.
Does anyone know of a way to get that info back displaying again so that I can search for files by date and organize by date??
(We're still using XP.))