os.stat access and modify time same on WinXP

[rbt]

Peter Hansen wrote:
> rbt wrote:
> 
>> I'm using the standard NTFS file system. The only time the access time 
>> is updated is when the file is modified or saved (with no changes). 
>> What's up with that? Shouldn't a read/view update the access time?
> 
> 
> See 
> http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prkc_fil_punq.asp 
> 
> 
> Quoting:
> '''
> The Last Access Time on disk is not always current because NTFS looks 
> for a one-hour interval before forcing the Last Access Time updates to 
> disk. NTFS also delays writing the Last Access Time to disk when users 
> or programs perform read-only operations on a file or folder, such as 
> listing the folder's contents or reading (but not changing) a file in 
> the folder. If the Last Access Time is kept current on disk for read 
> operations, all read operations become write operations, which impacts 
> NTFS performance.
> 
> Note
> 
>     * File-based queries of Last Access Time are accurate even if all 
> on-disk values are not current. NTFS returns the correct value on 
> queries because the accurate value is stored in memory.
> '''
> 
> Does that help?
> 
> (Just went through this myself the other day.)
> -Peter

Yes, it does. Thank you.