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There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?



 
 
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  #16  
Old August 7th 18, 08:16 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
J. P. Gilliver (John)[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,679
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?

In message , Shadow
writes:
On Tue, 7 Aug 2018 20:28:13 +0200, "R.Wieser"
wrote:

[]
And pardon me, but your 'puter and backup DVD are *supposed to* have
duplicates. Its why you make backups. Why would you want to delete the
(duplicate) files on either of them ?


Because if they are backed up, the ones on disk are just using
up space.


I think we are perhaps confusing "backing up" with "archiving". The
terms - like all of language - change as time goes on, and no
intepretation is _wrong_; however, I think the interpretation of a
"backup" that RW (and I) use is the one currently in commoner use: a
backup is a safety copy made so that you can restore your everyday copy
if it gets damaged. _Your_ use is that when you've completed the
exercise, the one saved is the _only_ copy: then, if you actually want
to access it, you use the disc you've put it on. If it's a disc you use
frequently to access the files, that increases the chance the file (or
other files on that disc, or the disc itself) will be damaged -
certainly not what RW and I consider "backup". If they're files you
_don't_ use, then one could ask why you're keeping them at all, but that
could be for legal or countless other reasons.
[]
I just went though 20GB of photos with Duplicate Cleaner. Back
up to a DVD, eliminate duplicates on disk, back up another DVD's
worth, etc, until there were none.
Result = 20Gb of unique photos backed up.


(I think I'd say "archived" - to me "backed up" means "[emergency]
copies made". But I've covered that above.) For images, it's also useful
to have a Duplicate Image Finder, which finds duplicate images even if
they aren't byte-identical files: they might be in different image
formats, or rotated, or even just have different metadata. The one I'm
thinking of can also find them if they're different sizes (in pixels),
and also has a percentage control - depending on _why_ you're looking
for them, this can also eliminate a lot. (Obviously if you're into image
manipulation and want to keep all your iterations, this is of less use -
but if, say, you've downloaded a lot of images from diverse sources over
the years, it's good at finding copies.) The one I'm thinking of was I
think just called Duplicate Image Finder, but that's not easy to google
for (too broad), and you'd probably want a more modern something anyway
(that worked under XP, though I think would under 7 too).

In other words: You are using that duplicate finder wrong: You should use it
on your 'puter *before* making the backup (as part of the pre-backup
maintenance)

I do.


Right.

, to see if it has the same file floating around in multiple
folders. And you should thread lightly if-and-when you find any (and
rethink your storage strategy).

After the backup you should *at most* use a simple binary file compare using
the exact same filepaths (but for the source & destination basepath
difference ofcourse), nothing more.


I just use this for movies, photos and stuff I download. I use
FreeFileSync for other data.
[]'s

So you're using it to check that a copy has worked? (I do this, in more
or less the way you describe!, using the duplicate finder to find and
remove the source files. I don't know why I'm doing this though -
they're probably files I'll never access!)

(I've just noticed how many 'groups this is going to: which Windows
_are_ you using? Since I suspect the answer people would give to the
subject question might well be different between XP and 10.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"One of my dearest memories is playing the leader of a gang of gay Hell's
Angels
thundering across the Golden Gate bridge on a motorbike in fog, wearing full
Nazi regalia with a young man in a purple dress on the pillion petrified we'd
crash into the bay." Christopher Lee (1997). ["It was in _The Serial_."]
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  #17  
Old August 7th 18, 09:17 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
Big Al[_5_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,588
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate filefinder on Windows?

On 08/06/2018 05:06 PM, Arlen Holder wrote:
Jesus...There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file
finder on Windows?

Googling, I find so many it's not funny...where you know there's a problem
when no two articles even have agreement on the top few.

First I tried the canonical duplicate file remover from Microsoft...
Microsoft Duplicate File Remover
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/duplicate-file-remover/9nblggh4sqnp

But it was too much GUI and too little customization.
http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=9081255duplicatefileremover.jpg

Then I searched for better duplicate file removers, and was aghast that
there is very little consensus among the "reviews" (many of which, I know,
are simply shills).

The Best Duplicate File Finder for Windows
* dupeGuru https://dupeguru.voltaicideas.net/
* Ccleaner https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner
https://lifehacker.com/the-best-duplicate-file-finder-for-windows-1696492476

What Is the Best Duplicate File Finder?
https://www.easyduplicatefinder.com/best-duplicate-file-finder.html

How to Find and Remove Duplicate Files on Windows
https://www.howtogeek.com/200962/how-to-find-and-remove-duplicate-files-on-windows/

5 Best Free Duplicate File Finder Software for Windows
https://www.cisdem.com/resource/best-free-duplicate-file-finder-for-windows.html

5 Best Free Duplicate File Finder and Remover
http://perfectgeeks.com/free-duplicate-file-finder-remover/
https://www.top5freeware.com/duplicate-file-finder
* Auslogics Duplicate File Finder https://softfamous.com/auslogics-duplicate-file-finder/
* AllDup https://softfamous.com/alldup/
* CloneSpy http://www.filesriver.com/app/117/clonespy
* Fast Duplicate File Finder http://www.filesriver.com/app/118/mindgems-fast-duplicate-file-finder
* Anti-Twin http://www.filesriver.com/app/119/anti-twin

26 Best Free Duplicate File Finders
https://listoffreeware.com/list-of-best-free-duplicate-file-finder/

What do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?

I use the one by Auslogics.
I also have used https://www.digitalvolcano.co.uk/duplicatecleaner.html

  #18  
Old August 7th 18, 10:23 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
Arlen Holder
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 466
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?

On 7 Aug 2018 13:17:33 GMT, Big Al wrote:

I use the one by Auslogics.
I also have used https://www.digitalvolcano.co.uk/duplicatecleaner.html


That one showed up in a few of the reviews, but nothing showed up on top
consistently, which indicates a problem in general, in selection of
freeware.

Nonetheless, it's probably safe, at this early time point, to assume these
are the top three for most people.
1. Digital Volcano
2. Auslogics
3. CCleaner

Thanks!
  #19  
Old August 8th 18, 12:07 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
J. P. Gilliver (John)[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,679
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?

In message , "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
writes:
[]
(I think I'd say "archived" - to me "backed up" means "[emergency]
copies made". But I've covered that above.) For images, it's also
useful to have a Duplicate Image Finder, which finds duplicate images
even if they aren't byte-identical files: they might be in different
image formats, or rotated, or even just have different metadata. The
one I'm thinking of can also find them if they're different sizes (in
pixels), and also has a percentage control - depending on _why_ you're
looking for them, this can also eliminate a lot. (Obviously if you're
into image manipulation and want to keep all your iterations, this is
of less use - but if, say, you've downloaded a lot of images from
diverse sources over the years, it's good at finding copies.) The one
I'm thinking of was I think just called Duplicate Image Finder, but
that's not easy to google for (too broad), and you'd probably want a
more modern something anyway (that worked under XP, though I think
would under 7 too).


I found the one I used to use - google "Duplicate Image Finder" or DIF,
and "Runningman software", version 1.0.20. In theory it's payware (I
think I may have originally bought it), but the homesite is dead and
there's a password that works. Seems to work fine under 7.
[]
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

when people say they're perfectly happy without children, we don't have to
presume they're lying! - Paul Dolan, RT 2015/1/3-9
  #20  
Old August 8th 18, 12:22 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
Shadow
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,638
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?

On Tue, 7 Aug 2018 21:11:33 +0200, "R.Wieser"
wrote:

Shadow,

And if that is all your duplicate finder does (generate and compare
hashes) han I would suggest you delete it, and find yourself another,
better program. You know, one which, after finding files with the
same hashes actually checks if they have the same *contents*.


Nope, I keep anything that's been altered. And back it up next
time.


For some reason I cannot seem to correlate your reply with the statement I
made. What gives ?

Because if they are backed up, the ones on disk are just
using up space.


In other words: you are not making backups, you're offloading.

I just went though 20GB of photos with Duplicate Cleaner.
Back up to a DVD, eliminate duplicates on disk, back up
another DVD's worth, etc, until there were none.


Find yourself a "backup" program which has a "move" option (deleting the
origional after the copy has been written & verified). That way you do not
need to go thru such a two-step process. With a bit of luck all you than
need to do is to replace the DVD with a blank one when the program asks for
it.


Yes, I did that. And my target drive crashed while I was
moving files. Never again. I prefer to double check.

But why are you still using those DVDs ? Even a small USB drive can hold
at least 25 times that. A bit bigger one can hold a hundred. And USB
drives are reusable and can be updated per file.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

P.s.
I would suggest you actually make *backups* of those photos of yours (and
not just offload them). You won't like it when your "offload" medium
suddenly turns into an "offline" one. :-)


I always make 2 copies, and DVDs last a lot longer than USB
drives. (theoretically over 100 years for DVDs as long as you compare
your 2 copies once a year or so).
My CD backups are over 30 years old, and all work fine.
[]'s
--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012
  #21  
Old August 8th 18, 12:31 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
Shadow
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,638
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?

On Tue, 7 Aug 2018 20:16:52 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
wrote:

In message , Shadow
writes:
On Tue, 7 Aug 2018 20:28:13 +0200, "R.Wieser"
wrote:

[]
And pardon me, but your 'puter and backup DVD are *supposed to* have
duplicates. Its why you make backups. Why would you want to delete the
(duplicate) files on either of them ?


Because if they are backed up, the ones on disk are just using
up space.


I think we are perhaps confusing "backing up" with "archiving". The
terms - like all of language - change as time goes on, and no
intepretation is _wrong_; however, I think the interpretation of a
"backup" that RW (and I) use is the one currently in commoner use: a
backup is a safety copy made so that you can restore your everyday copy
if it gets damaged. _Your_ use is that when you've completed the
exercise, the one saved is the _only_ copy: then, if you actually want
to access it, you use the disc you've put it on.


2 copies. It only takes a few more minutes and DVDs are dirt
cheap.

If it's a disc you use
frequently to access the files, that increases the chance the file (or
other files on that disc, or the disc itself) will be damaged -
certainly not what RW and I consider "backup". If they're files you
_don't_ use, then one could ask why you're keeping them at all, but that
could be for legal or countless other reasons.
[]
I just went though 20GB of photos with Duplicate Cleaner. Back
up to a DVD, eliminate duplicates on disk, back up another DVD's
worth, etc, until there were none.
Result = 20Gb of unique photos backed up.


(I think I'd say "archived" - to me "backed up" means "[emergency]
copies made". But I've covered that above.) For images, it's also useful
to have a Duplicate Image Finder, which finds duplicate images even if
they aren't byte-identical files: they might be in different image
formats, or rotated, or even just have different metadata. The one I'm
thinking of can also find them if they're different sizes (in pixels),
and also has a percentage control - depending on _why_ you're looking
for them, this can also eliminate a lot. (Obviously if you're into image
manipulation and want to keep all your iterations, this is of less use -
but if, say, you've downloaded a lot of images from diverse sources over
the years, it's good at finding copies.) The one I'm thinking of was I
think just called Duplicate Image Finder, but that's not easy to google
for (too broad), and you'd probably want a more modern something anyway
(that worked under XP, though I think would under 7 too).

In other words: You are using that duplicate finder wrong: You should use it
on your 'puter *before* making the backup (as part of the pre-backup
maintenance)

I do.


Right.

, to see if it has the same file floating around in multiple
folders. And you should thread lightly if-and-when you find any (and
rethink your storage strategy).

After the backup you should *at most* use a simple binary file compare using
the exact same filepaths (but for the source & destination basepath
difference ofcourse), nothing more.


I just use this for movies, photos and stuff I download. I use
FreeFileSync for other data.
[]'s

So you're using it to check that a copy has worked?


Yes, of course.

(I do this, in more
or less the way you describe!, using the duplicate finder to find and
remove the source files. I don't know why I'm doing this though -
they're probably files I'll never access!)


Well, in floppy days the source was corrupted so often we just
got into a habit of doing it.

(I've just noticed how many 'groups this is going to: which Windows
_are_ you using? Since I suspect the answer people would give to the
subject question might well be different between XP and 10.)


Any OS needs backups and archiving. Just make sure you never
trust "The Cloud" and your data will be safe.
[]'s
--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012
  #22  
Old August 8th 18, 12:45 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
nospam
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4,718
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?

In article , Shadow
wrote:

My CD backups are over 30 years old, and all work fine.


30 years ago is 1988.

what cd burner were you using in the mid-80s, before computers had
cd-rom drives, let alone cd burners?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-R#History
CD-R recording systems available in 1990 were similar to the washing
machine-sized Meridian CD Publisher, based on the two-piece rack
mount Yamaha PDS audio recorder costing $35,000, not including the
required external ECC circuitry for data encoding, SCSI hard drive
subsystem, and MS-DOS control computer. By 1992, the cost of typical
recorders was down to $10,000*12,000, and in September 1995,
Hewlett-Packard introduced its model 4020i manufactured by Philips,
which, at $995, was the first recorder to cost less than $1000.

in any event, buy a lottery ticket.
  #23  
Old August 8th 18, 12:45 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
nospam
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4,718
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?

In article , Shadow
wrote:

Any OS needs backups and archiving. Just make sure you never
trust "The Cloud" and your data will be safe.


actually, it's much safer in the cloud than at home, however, bandwidth
speeds make it very time consuming for most people, often impractical
for everything.

multiple copies in the cloud *and* at home *and* an offsite location is
ideal. each covers a different type of disaster.
  #24  
Old August 8th 18, 01:25 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
Shadow
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,638
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?

On Tue, 07 Aug 2018 19:45:00 -0400, nospam
wrote:

In article , Shadow
wrote:

My CD backups are over 30 years old, and all work fine.


30 years ago is 1988.


Oh sht. My bad. My earliest backups are 1996. Make that 22
years. It was a single speed (on my machine) HP and it cost a fortune(
a thousand dollars on the black market), and lasted exactly 1 year.
Still, it was more than enough for my dialup speeds.
I think a CD was actually bigger than my HD back then .....


what cd burner were you using in the mid-80s, before computers had
cd-rom drives, let alone cd burners?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-R#History
CD-R recording systems available in 1990 were similar to the washing
machine-sized Meridian CD Publisher, based on the two-piece rack
mount Yamaha PDS audio recorder costing $35,000, not including the
required external ECC circuitry for data encoding, SCSI hard drive
subsystem, and MS-DOS control computer. By 1992, the cost of typical
recorders was down to $10,000*12,000, and in September 1995,
Hewlett-Packard introduced its model 4020i manufactured by Philips,
which, at $995, was the first recorder to cost less than $1000.

in any event, buy a lottery ticket.


Not my case.
[]'s
--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012
  #25  
Old August 8th 18, 02:21 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
Nil[_5_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,731
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?

On 07 Aug 2018, Arlen Holder wrote in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.general:

You need to ignore that troll "nospam" as he has never posted with
any helpful intent, and where there are entire threads about his
mental status.


There are also posts about YOUR mental status. Should we ignore you, too?
  #26  
Old August 8th 18, 04:37 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
Arlen Holder
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 466
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?

On 7 Aug 2018 18:21:06 GMT, Nil wrote:

Should we ignore you, too?


I pray to God that you do, Nil.
You've never once posted anything of value to anyone. Ever.
Go away.
Please.
  #27  
Old August 8th 18, 08:11 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
Chris
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 832
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freewareduplicate file finder on Windows?

Shadow wrote:
On Tue, 7 Aug 2018 20:16:52 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
wrote:

In message , Shadow
writes:
On Tue, 7 Aug 2018 20:28:13 +0200, "R.Wieser"
wrote:

[]
And pardon me, but your 'puter and backup DVD are *supposed to* have
duplicates. Its why you make backups. Why would you want to delete the
(duplicate) files on either of them ?

Because if they are backed up, the ones on disk are just using
up space.


I think we are perhaps confusing "backing up" with "archiving". The
terms - like all of language - change as time goes on, and no
intepretation is _wrong_; however, I think the interpretation of a
"backup" that RW (and I) use is the one currently in commoner use: a
backup is a safety copy made so that you can restore your everyday copy
if it gets damaged. _Your_ use is that when you've completed the
exercise, the one saved is the _only_ copy: then, if you actually want
to access it, you use the disc you've put it on.


2 copies. It only takes a few more minutes and DVDs are dirt
cheap.


And unreliable. Writable DVDs are not suitable for archiving.

Why not just use an external hard drive? Cheaper, simpler and more
reliable.
  #28  
Old August 8th 18, 08:15 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
Chris
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 832
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freewareduplicate file finder on Windows?

R.Wieser wrote:
Chris,

They can't be trusted.


And neither can you trust your computer, OS or the program your find those
duplicates with. Your point ?


Er, ok. With that attitude just shut down the computer and throw it out the
window.

  #29  
Old August 8th 18, 09:15 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
R.Wieser
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,302
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?

Shadow,

Yes, I did that. And my target drive crashed while I
was moving files. Never again. I prefer to double
check.


That is why you need a *good* offloader/backup program. One which only
deletes the origional files after the *full* backup/offload has been
completed.

But why are you still using those DVDs ?

....
DVDs last a lot longer than USB drives.


Only if you do not use the ones for home usage. Some of them become
unreadable in as short as 5 years or so.

But yes, if all you want is storage (in a dry, dark place I presume) than
DVDs are not too bad of a choice.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser


  #30  
Old August 8th 18, 09:44 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
R.Wieser
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,302
Default There are so many - what do you use for a freeware duplicate file finder on Windows?

Chris,

2 copies. It only takes a few more minutes and DVDs are dirt
cheap.


And unreliable. Writable DVDs are not suitable for archiving.


No, You need the *unwritable* ones. Those are much better suited for
Shadows task. :-)

If handled with some care a good CD/DVD can easily outlast a drive.
Magnetism fades away you know. And that becomes a problem when you do not
really use the drive (meaning: do not give it a chance to refresh sectors).

Why not just use an external hard drive? Cheaper, simpler and
more reliable.


Yeah, I already asked him that (without the "more reliable" and "cheaper"
stacked to it though - both of them are dependant on a few factors and
(thus)
rather questionable). 12 hours back on the minute

Regards,
Rudy Wieser


 




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