Solved: Windows 10 Copy Files Preserve TimestampWhen you copy a file from one location to another on your computer, a new file is created with new timestamp. This is quite annoying if you want to manage photos imported from digital camera or mobile phone by taken date. Cut & paste can avoid this problem, but you might have to recover lost photos if the transfer is accidentally interrupted. Actually, Windows 10 hides a useful feature from us which allow people to copy files and preserve timestamp. Show
Timestamp Types of a FileWhen a photo is taken on digital camera or mobile phone, the taken time is stored into its metadata along with other information, like camera name and edit program. The embedded Date taken won’t change subsequently, but may lose due to some reasons. The equivalent date for document is called Content created. When you save the photo or document after editing, the timestamp will also be stored, separately as Date modified and Date last saved. However, the most obvious timestamps that we can easily notice in a Windows 10 computer are provided by the operating system. When we import files that were not created in this computer, the system will see them as new files and assign them new timestamps: Created, Modified and Accessed. The rule also applies to files created by copy and paste. Usually, Windows system displays the new Created time in File Explorer by default. Though we can add Date taken or Date modified to the status bar, the setting only works in one folder each time. If we can copy files without changing date stamp from the very first, then why go through the hassle? We can check the timestamps of a file on General and Details tabs by right-click and choose Properties. Then, how can we tell Windows to preserve the timestamp on file copy? We can do it with a command line. Robocopy Command LineRobocopy (Robust File Copy) is a command-line directory and/or file replication command. It was first introduced in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, and kept in Windows 10.
How to Copy Files without Changing Date StampRobocopy is a command that we use in Command prompt without any third-part software. Please follow steps below.
Depending on how you want to do the transfer, there are different commands. Keep reading to know which to choose. Robocopy Command SamplesRobocopy command has a simple structure: 1. Copy files in Download folder from D:/MyWork to H:/BackupRobocopy d:\MyWork\Download h:\Backup 2. Copy Download folder including subdirectories from D:/MyWork to H:/BackupRobocopy d:\MyWork\Download h:\Backup /s 3. Copy a picture Dog.jpg from D:/MyWork/Download to H:/BackupRobocopy d:\MyWork\Download h:\Backup Dog.jpg 4. Copy all jpg files from D:/MyWork/Download to H:/BackupRobocopy d:\MyWork\Download h:\Backup
*.jpg For more options in Robocopy syntax, you can type robocopy /? at Command prompt. However, some commands may wipe certain existing files. If you lost important files accidently, please try Windows file recovery solution as soon as possible. Now you should know how to copy files on Windows 10 and preserve original date stamp with Robocopy command. This method should also work on previous Windows 7/8. Feel free to tell us whether it works for you or not. How do I copy a file without changing the date modified?cp command provides an option –p for copying the file without changing the mode, ownership and timestamps. ownership, mode and timestamp. $ cp -p num. txt num_bkup_1.
How do I transfer photos without losing timestamps?Install GoodSync on your PC. Launch the FTP server on your Android phone. Launch the GoodSync software on your PC, and add the phone's photo directories. Pull the photos from your phone through the GoodSync app while FTP server is running on your Android device, over a WiFi connection.
Does copying a file change the date modified?If you copy a file then the copy gets a new creation date. If you move a file then the moved original retains its original creation date. There is no setting anywhere to alter this behaviour.
How do I copy a folder and keep the original date?The easiest way is to right click on the file and drag it to your destination folder. it will ask you to copy or move it. If you move it, the create date will not change.
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