>>>I installed (attached) SQL Server database to the customer SQL server last year (in December). I know they use the application (VFP9) and have added tons of records to various tables since then. Yet when I go the Command Prompt where I placed the .MDF and .LDF files, the date stamp on them is still December 2012. How could it be?
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>>To test the theory if the files are really the one that are used, try moving these files to another place. If you get 'File Access is denied' message, then these files are used. Otherwise there is a copy of these files somewhere else.
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>I won't try to copy the files (don't want to mess with them). I will ask the DBA for the explanation. Thank you.

The alternative solution is to find out the actual file path of the files used.

Check this blog post

http://blogs.lessthandot.com/index.php/DataMgmt/DBAdmin/MSSQLServerAdmin/how-to-move-datafiles-to-a-new-drive-in

SELECT name, physical_name AS CurrentLocation, state_desc

FROM sys.master_files

WHERE database_id = DB_ID(N'MyDbName');