How can a file created date be in the past?












1














I have an installation where some of the files that are put onto the file system have Created timestamps in the past. I understand that it is possible to use API calls to modify the Created (and other) timestamps. So it is possible the installation is doing this once the file has been copied.



Is this the only way a file's Created date can be in the past, or is there some other way that the Created date of the source file is preserved when copied to the file system?










share|improve this question



























    1














    I have an installation where some of the files that are put onto the file system have Created timestamps in the past. I understand that it is possible to use API calls to modify the Created (and other) timestamps. So it is possible the installation is doing this once the file has been copied.



    Is this the only way a file's Created date can be in the past, or is there some other way that the Created date of the source file is preserved when copied to the file system?










    share|improve this question

























      1












      1








      1


      1





      I have an installation where some of the files that are put onto the file system have Created timestamps in the past. I understand that it is possible to use API calls to modify the Created (and other) timestamps. So it is possible the installation is doing this once the file has been copied.



      Is this the only way a file's Created date can be in the past, or is there some other way that the Created date of the source file is preserved when copied to the file system?










      share|improve this question













      I have an installation where some of the files that are put onto the file system have Created timestamps in the past. I understand that it is possible to use API calls to modify the Created (and other) timestamps. So it is possible the installation is doing this once the file has been copied.



      Is this the only way a file's Created date can be in the past, or is there some other way that the Created date of the source file is preserved when copied to the file system?







      windows filesystems ntfs timestamp






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked Dec 6 at 14:32









      fractor

      1215




      1215






















          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          2














          The dates of a file, creation & modification, are preserved when moving a file,
          but not when copying it, as the copied file is regarded as new.



          Most compression programs, such as Zip, also keep the dates when zipping the
          files into the archive, and restore them when unzipping by using the same
          API calls as you found.



          As most installation jobs keep the files they install in some form of a compressed
          archive, the dates are kept when installing the files by uncompressing them.






          share|improve this answer





















            Your Answer








            StackExchange.ready(function() {
            var channelOptions = {
            tags: "".split(" "),
            id: "3"
            };
            initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

            StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
            // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
            if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
            StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
            createEditor();
            });
            }
            else {
            createEditor();
            }
            });

            function createEditor() {
            StackExchange.prepareEditor({
            heartbeatType: 'answer',
            autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
            convertImagesToLinks: true,
            noModals: true,
            showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
            reputationToPostImages: 10,
            bindNavPrevention: true,
            postfix: "",
            imageUploader: {
            brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
            contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
            allowUrls: true
            },
            onDemand: true,
            discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
            ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
            });


            }
            });














            draft saved

            draft discarded


















            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fsuperuser.com%2fquestions%2f1381364%2fhow-can-a-file-created-date-be-in-the-past%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown

























            1 Answer
            1






            active

            oldest

            votes








            1 Answer
            1






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            2














            The dates of a file, creation & modification, are preserved when moving a file,
            but not when copying it, as the copied file is regarded as new.



            Most compression programs, such as Zip, also keep the dates when zipping the
            files into the archive, and restore them when unzipping by using the same
            API calls as you found.



            As most installation jobs keep the files they install in some form of a compressed
            archive, the dates are kept when installing the files by uncompressing them.






            share|improve this answer


























              2














              The dates of a file, creation & modification, are preserved when moving a file,
              but not when copying it, as the copied file is regarded as new.



              Most compression programs, such as Zip, also keep the dates when zipping the
              files into the archive, and restore them when unzipping by using the same
              API calls as you found.



              As most installation jobs keep the files they install in some form of a compressed
              archive, the dates are kept when installing the files by uncompressing them.






              share|improve this answer
























                2












                2








                2






                The dates of a file, creation & modification, are preserved when moving a file,
                but not when copying it, as the copied file is regarded as new.



                Most compression programs, such as Zip, also keep the dates when zipping the
                files into the archive, and restore them when unzipping by using the same
                API calls as you found.



                As most installation jobs keep the files they install in some form of a compressed
                archive, the dates are kept when installing the files by uncompressing them.






                share|improve this answer












                The dates of a file, creation & modification, are preserved when moving a file,
                but not when copying it, as the copied file is regarded as new.



                Most compression programs, such as Zip, also keep the dates when zipping the
                files into the archive, and restore them when unzipping by using the same
                API calls as you found.



                As most installation jobs keep the files they install in some form of a compressed
                archive, the dates are kept when installing the files by uncompressing them.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Dec 6 at 15:12









                harrymc

                253k12259560




                253k12259560






























                    draft saved

                    draft discarded




















































                    Thanks for contributing an answer to Super User!


                    • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                    But avoid



                    • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                    • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                    To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.





                    Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.


                    Please pay close attention to the following guidance:


                    • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                    But avoid



                    • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                    • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                    To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                    draft saved


                    draft discarded














                    StackExchange.ready(
                    function () {
                    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fsuperuser.com%2fquestions%2f1381364%2fhow-can-a-file-created-date-be-in-the-past%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                    }
                    );

                    Post as a guest















                    Required, but never shown





















































                    Required, but never shown














                    Required, but never shown












                    Required, but never shown







                    Required, but never shown

































                    Required, but never shown














                    Required, but never shown












                    Required, but never shown







                    Required, but never shown







                    Popular posts from this blog

                    Plaza Victoria

                    Puebla de Zaragoza

                    Musa