Reader Bob Cuilla suggests that Windows and Tiger find it difficult to make a date. He writes:
I have two Macs and a PC running Windows 98 SE. For years I have been transferring text files from the Windows box by mounting it as a server and then dragging the desired files to the Mac. Worked just fine until Tiger. Under Tiger, the file copy causes the time and date stamps on the Windows machine to be either corrupted or set to some value that appears blank. The content of the file is not effected, only the time and date stamps.Perhaps you can simulate and suggest something.
I have and I can. Rather than pull the files, push them.
I configured my Tiger-running Mac and XP-slogging Dell in a way similar to your setup—with the Dell’s startup volume mounted on my Mac. I opened my shared folder on the PC and dragged a text file across the network. Once copied to the Mac I selected it, pressed Command-I and, whatdayaknow, its creation date was blank. However, its Modified date told me what I needed to know—Today at 12:40 PM (which is when I created the file).
I then flipped the conditions. I shared my Mac’s users folder on the Dell and mounted it as a network share. I created a text document and copied it to this shared folder. Returning to the Mac I selected the copied file, hit Command-I and, howzaboutthat, the Creation date was complete with the proper date and time.
Not a perfect solution, I grant you. Should anyone have a better solution, I’m all ears.