Windows question - update file modified date

[macphanatic]

Our corporate IT has implemented a system policy to automatically delete any file that hasn't been modified in the last 5 years. This applies to files anywhere on our laptops, One Drive, server, etc. Problem is that my team all has reference files and documents that are 5 years or older that we NEED. We can't move files to flash drives, sd cards, etc as system policies have locked out all of these options. Is there any way to bulk update modified dates without requiring admin rights?

[clay]

sounds like an exception should be made by your IT folks for this scenario. Shouldn't be up to you to figure out a way to subvert their policies.

[GGD]

clay wrote:
sounds like an exception should be made by your IT folks for this scenario. Shouldn't be up to you to figure out a way to subvert their policies.

Like use the "Last Accessed" date instead of "Last Modified".

[bazookaman]

clay wrote:
sounds like an exception should be made by your IT folks for this scenario. Shouldn't be up to you to figure out a way to subvert their policies.

Yeah. That sounds like a THEM problem, not a YOU problem. It might be interesting to see how the VP/President/Owner reacts when you tell them that IT just deleted all your files that you need to perform your job.

[ztirffritz]

I've found this utility to be invaluable in managing files in bulk.

https://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/

You could rename the files in an entire folder. That should change the modified date. Obviously test on a safe data set first.

[gabester]

This is about as brain damaged a policy as the whole "we delete email after a year" policy but at least I understand the lawyers' rationale on that one.

Pretty sure you can use something like robocopy to duplicate the files but with new created/modified/accessed dates.

Also keep a recent zip archive of the old files around and periodically expand, copy, and rezip into a new archive.

Agree with others here, though, these are workarounds to a policy that at least should have exception and would be best reconsidered as creation date is a poor indicator of file utility.

[macphanatic]

gabester wrote:
This is about as brain damaged a policy as the whole "we delete email after a year" policy but at least I understand the lawyers' rationale on that one.

Pretty sure you can use something like robocopy to duplicate the files but with new created/modified/accessed dates.

Also keep a recent zip archive of the old files around and periodically expand, copy, and rezip into a new archive.

Agree with others here, though, these are workarounds to a policy that at least should have exception and would be best reconsidered as creation date is a poor indicator of file utility.

Didn't think about zipping all of the key items. This should create a new date for the zip file. I could expand and pull out what I need when I need it. PITA but it should circumvent the issue until I can figure out a long term solution.

[macphanatic]

ztirffritz wrote:
I've found this utility to be invaluable in managing files in bulk.

https://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/

You could rename the files in an entire folder. That should change the modified date. Obviously test on a safe data set first.

I doubt that I can get the app onto or run it on a laptop that is locked down. I can't even delete desktop shortcuts created by corporate. Its beyond idiotic.

[rich in distress]

I was going to say Disk Image, but zip sounds easier.

[Tiangou]

https://www.shellhacks.com/windows-touch...quivalent/