How can I change the Directory Dates

We recently purchased a new pc with Windows 7. We copied all the folders from XP Pro into "My Documents" folder on the new Windows 7 pc. The dates on all the documents are ok however, the dates on ALL the Folders got changed to the date when we copied them over.

How can I change them back to the original date without having to manually change each one. There are hundreds and I do not know these date(s).

 

Not too sure about this but I think if you put all the folders you want to transfer into a new folder and then transfer that, the dates will remain.

I am not sure if there is a straight forward way to change the dates on the folders you have already transfered so best delete them all and start again.

 

The "filing structure ", (how one would organize files and/or folders) for which a hierarchy executive implemented, to find pertinent documents.

I tested one utility called SetFileDate. Unfortunately, it changed the documents within the directory but not the directory itself.

Even if I wanted to change the directory date, Windows 7 will not allow me to do so without a utility.

I will try the link you sent, in the morning. Thank you Pete!

 

A bit more food for thought:

You could try cloning. If the files on the old machine are in a partition you could clone the partition over to the new PC, if it contains anything you do not need simply delete it after transfer. This could be done via an external hard drive in two stages or in one stage by removing the hard drive and hooking it up to the new PC.

I am sure a program like Acronis True Image would do this job with ease and none of your files will have been altered.

 

When you import photos from your camera to your computer, the date and time that the photos were taken is saved on your computer with each photo.

To change the date and time:

Start Windows Live Photo Gallery.


Right-click the photo that you want to change, and then click Change time taken. To select multiple photos or videos, hold down the CTRL key, and then click each of the photos or videos.

Change the date or time settings.

Click OK.

Note
If you change the date and time settings for more than one photo at the same time, each photo's time stamp is changed by the same amount, so that the time stamps of all the selected photos remain in their original chronological order.

 

This has become a long teadious task. Three programs did not work. DirDate changed the directory. . .but also changed all the files/documents within. Luckily, I used a smaller directory and I'm crrently restoring them back to their original status so I can move forward with PeteC's list. I'll share my results as I progress.

Thank you for your help. It is appreciated-enormously!

 

Still have not found solution so I cannot mark it as solved.

Because there are no other suggestions, posts, please close this thread as unsolved. The tools drop down menu does not offer this feature.

Maybe, years down the road, someone/somewhere, there "will be" a solution. In the meantime, if I find the solution, I will post back, if possible.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

*nix has touch command.

A Windows version is available here but I have no idea if it can handle directories. Worth a try.