Transferring files to Tablet via USB Cable Looses Original Time & Dates of Files

Hi,
I have a Samsung Android OS tablet with a SD card that I am unable to
remove ("stuck"). The alternative to putting files on that card is to connect
a USB cable, used for charging the tablet, into my Windows 7 Home Premium
laptop computer. Win7 detects the tablet, but does NOT assign a drive letter
to that device, as it does if I plugged in a SD card..

I can transfer files to my tablet's SD card this way, but their
original time and dates are replaced with the time and date of the
transfer!!!!

One solution for now, I "zip" up the files and transfer the FILE.ZIP
to my tablet's SD card (can't be removed), and use "X-plore", a file
manager, that can open the FILE.ZIP and allow me to view those
files and see their original time and dates.

I don't know if the tablet would "see" a USB flash drive if I
had the proper cable to connect it to the tablet?

Any suggestions?

Thank You in advance, John