Software to find duplicate files

B0bbyEwing

@Belenus - thanks, though it looks like the software I have seems to tick the box thankfully.

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

a quick google would've found you THIS, might be helpful.

Not helpful.

Was already on that exact same page with that exact same term before I was here which is how I got the software I got.

I was asking a little more specific but it's ok as a helpful reply did come a few posts up

[Deleted User]

B0bbyEwing said:

@Belenus - thanks, though it looks like the software I have seems to tick the box thankfully.

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

a quick google would've found you THIS, might be helpful.

Not helpful.

Was already on that exact same page with that exact same term before I was here which is how I got the software I got.

I was asking a little more specific but it's ok as a helpful reply did come a few posts up

Hi,

OK, just try to help, save you time.

B0bbyEwing

frugalmacdugal said:

B0bbyEwing said:

@Belenus - thanks, though it looks like the software I have seems to tick the box thankfully.

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

a quick google would've found you THIS, might be helpful.

Not helpful.

Was already on that exact same page with that exact same term before I was here which is how I got the software I got.

I was asking a little more specific but it's ok as a helpful reply did come a few posts up

Hi,

OK, just try to help, save you time.

Always appreciate help. Will never turn it down.

You just got pipped at the post that's all. 

I'm not choosy so long as I get a solution that's all that matters


Edited to add - just ran it on one proper folder now & it's thrown up 10GB in duplicates. This could be the best piece of software I've installed in a long time as there's numerous more folders to go at. At this rate it wouldn't surprise me if I end up freeing up 500GB-1TB. 
And so long as nothing goes wrong, it'll be well worth it.

GDB2222

Surely, any decent duplicate file finder won’t just be looking for duplicate names?  File size, CRCs are obvious things to compare.

B0bbyEwing

GDB2222 said:

Surely, any decent duplicate file finder won’t just be looking for duplicate names?  File size, CRCs are obvious things to compare.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79504866/#Comment_79504866

GDB2222

I just wanted to clarify, for anyone else coming across this thread, that I would expect virtually any duplicate finder to have the functionality you need.

B0bbyEwing

GDB2222 said:

I just wanted to clarify, for anyone else coming across this thread, that I would expect virtually any duplicate finder to have the functionality you need.

That's fine.

I'm just clarifying that the totally free one that I'm using does this and that from the help given in this thread, I was able to make it through my lack of understanding of the software and get the job done.

For anyone coming across this thread

getmore4less

B0bbyEwing said:

getmore4less said:
Back up before you start using tools to delete stuff.

To be totally honest with you, the only reason I mentioned backing up in the OP was to try and prevent the thread getting derailed in to a backing up thread as I thought if I didn't at least mention it, that's where the replies would end up  

it was a bit tongue in cheek as that method creates yet another set of duplicate files.

Another strategy is to move the duplicates to a new place, then once happy the job is done and the tool has not messed up delete them. 

B0bbyEwing

getmore4less said:

B0bbyEwing said:

getmore4less said:
Back up before you start using tools to delete stuff.

To be totally honest with you, the only reason I mentioned backing up in the OP was to try and prevent the thread getting derailed in to a backing up thread as I thought if I didn't at least mention it, that's where the replies would end up  

it was a bit tongue in cheek as that method creates yet another set of duplicate files.

Another strategy is to move the duplicates to a new place, then once happy the job is done and the tool has not messed up delete them. 

The whole thing is a mess tbh.

I ran a scan on another folder - another 10GB worth of duplicates.

To give you an example - some were just the original & then another in another folder but others were the original & then duplicates 4 more times - but over 2 hard drives.
Like when my dad was doing photography, I backed up his laptop. Then time elapsed and I was doing whatever and wasn't sure if such-&-such a folder had been backed up, so I would just back up "the lot", knowing it'd cover everything.

Then my dad died & his laptop ended up being on the way out & things got a little sentimental so I'd back up to another location.

Then time elapsed and I wasn't sure where what was where so I'd back up again, or rather, make a copy again.

All in all a bit of a mess. And that's just one example.

So it basically all needs straightening out which will be a long boring process which probably some wouldn't bother doing but I'm going to do anyway. 

getmore4less

That's pretty much how I have multiple copies of a lot of stuff.

For a fixed data set like your dads photos, might be worth that bit of extra effort to pull them all together, organize makes notes then make the master/backup/offsite which can be put aside till you can get round to going through them.

that set has a start/end point where all the photos can be totally removed from the various places with stuff still to do.
if done relatively quickly should avoid the forgot where I was and another copy ends up being made.