File/folder duplication utility? 3

[prondina]

My hard drive is becoming awfully full. I'm wondering, there must be some utility programs out there that tell you how many files/folders are duplicates, and allows you to selectively delete them...

peter

 

[gbaughma]

Yeah... lots of shareware/freeware stuff out there. Just google for "duplicate file finder".

Meanwhile, be careful... you might want one that actually COMPARES the files, on a byte-by-byte basis, instead of just by filename, to make sure they are in fact duplicates.



Just my 2¢

"In order to start solving a problem, one must first identify its owner." --Me
--Greg

 

[alidabiri]

the only thing that i know i have done similar thing, is that you can do a "dir > txtfile.txt" in command prompt for every folder that you have data in. this will put the dirrectory list in txtfile.txt.
you now have several files that you can edit, and get file names-only format (delete headers, footers, etc.) load them in a database (acess or excel) and sort them, eliminating duplicates.

 

[prondina]

Thx folks. Yes, I thought about doing the dir >thing, but want something smarter, and wanted some actual testimonials. I like the idea of ensuring it's NOT just a fileNAME duplicate but byte-by-byte! thx! pete

 

[linney]

Make sure you have backed up or your valuable information.

Take extreme care with any applications that remove duplicate files, especially in XP where you have multiple users.

Personally I think this is a path and action fraught with danger and better avoided.

If you wish to recover disk space try the more conventional methods first, or buy a larger hard drive. These links will cover them.

Relocating Hard Drive Capacity and File Compression
thread779-939540

Hard Disk still full after deleting large files
thread779-1136701

 

[prondina]

Thx Linney. Caution is certainly the word, I would much prefer another hard drive, but they nixed that idea (work).