In Windows 8.0, copying a file from C: to D: changes its Created and Accessed time stamps. But the Modified stamp is left untouched.
Moving the file from C: to D: instead changes the Accessed stamp, but leaves Created and Modified stamps untouched. Both C: and D: are partitions on the same drive. It's the same behavior when moving the file from C: to F: which is an external disk drive.
If I am not mistaken, on Windows 7 and older versions, when you moved a file to another disk (another partition or another drive) it also changed the modified stamp. Also, when you copy files to a DVD and then copy them back to a hard drive they get new Created, Accessed and Modified stamps.
Why is it behaving like this? What's the purpose of all of this? Why can't at least the Modified and Created stamps be left alone? Why can't you carry this information with you as you move (or copy) the file around?
Best Answer
Well the answer is in your question itself. its Copy & Move
Copy: It creates a new copy of original file, i.e, basically a new File. So the file is created as new. However, the contents of the file was modified in original file by some one on a different time, so its untouched.
Move: You are physically moving the original file to some place else, just like keeping the flower vase in next room, which means, you have not created anything new- but just moved it to another place. So only access stamps needs change, created and modified remains same.
--Edit--
Comment 1: Modified Date is always referring to the content, a kind of version for the content. So Modified date always refers, whether a change was made to the file content or name. So in Copy, the content is not new but the file is new.
Comment 2: Neither is right, I meant of moving a vase of flowers from one room to another, does not change the nature and age of flowers or vase. All it does is change the location on a particular time (access time)