Preserving Photo Creation Dates When Moving to External Storage

Have you ever noticed that the creation dates of your photos change when you transfer them to an external storage device? This can be frustrating, especially if you rely on these dates for sorting or organizing your images. But just what causes the creation dates to change, and how can you prevent this issue?

File System Differences

When you move photos between different file systems, the creation dates might change. Different file systems, such as NTFS, FAT32, and exFAT, handle metadata differently. When you transfer files from one file system to another, the original creation date may not be preserved, leading to changes in the file's timestamp.

Copy vs. Move Operations

Copying files instead of moving them can also lead to a change in the creation date. When you copy files, the new copies are assigned the current date as the creation date. This behavior can be different depending on the transfer method. For instance, if you use drag-and-drop, the original metadata may not be retained, whereas dedicated software can handle the transfer more reliably.

Device Settings and Operating System Behavior

The settings on your external storage device or the operating system itself can also affect how timestamps are handled during the transfer process. In some cases, devices or storage software might reset timestamps. Additionally, different operating systems handle file metadata differently, leading to potential changes in creation dates when moving files across systems.

How to Preserve Original Creation Dates

To ensure that your photo creation dates remain unchanged during the transfer process, consider using file transfer tools that maintain metadata. There are several methods you can use, depending on the operating system you are working with. Below are some recommended tools and commands to help you preserve the original creation dates.

Using ROBOCOPY in Windows

If you are using a Windows operating system, you can use the ROBOCOPY command with the /COPY:DAT switch to copy files with their original attributes and timestamps intact. This command will preserve the date and time of the original files in the destination folder.

Example Command: ROBOCOPY C:source_folder D:destination_folder /COPY:DAT

Using mv or cp in Linux or macOS

For Unix-based systems like Linux and macOS, you have two options to maintain the original timestamps: the mv command or the cp -p command.

If you use mv, the files are moved to the specified directory, and the timestamps are preserved:

Example Command: mv C:/source_folder/ /destination_folder/

If you use cp -p, the command copies files while preserving the original attributes and timestamps and keeps the original:

Example Command: cp -p C:/source_folder/ /destination_folder/

Considering Custom File Transfer Software

There are several file transfer tools that are specifically designed to preserve metadata during the transfer process. These tools allow you to choose specific attributes to copy, ensuring that your creation dates stay intact.

Some popular options include:

Anoinspection: A tool designed for transferring and managing files while preserving metadata. Pcloud: A cloud storage service that allows you to transfer files while maintaining metadata. Resilio Sync: A robust file synchronization application that supports metadata preservation during the transfer process.

Conclusion

Understanding the factors that can cause photo creation dates to change when you move them to external storage can help you take the necessary steps to preserve these important timestamps. By using appropriate commands or software, you can ensure that your photos maintain their original creation dates, making it easier to organize and sort your collection.

Remember, choosing the right method for moving your photos is crucial. Whether you opt for a command line tool or a dedicated file transfer software, the key is to maintain the metadata that matters, including the original creation date.