Comments on: Free Up Your Drive Space by Removing Duplicate Files

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:10:35 +0000

It’s useful software list.

By: Duplicate File Finder

Duplicate File Finder — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:03:04 +0000

i use duplicate finder from ashisoft its not freeware but have very good options to find and delete duplicate files…

get it here : http://www.ashisoft.com

By: Allan

Allan — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:53:13 +0000

I use Directory Report to find duplicates
http://www.file-utilities.com/downloads/wdir.zip

By: Duplicate Finder

Duplicate Finder — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:59:02 +0000

HCC is ok. I am considering buying the pro version.
Another dupe cleaning program is Clone Tools. It is very different from the programs you have tested since it is folder based instead of file based.
DL from http://www.pilotman.com
It is a bit more expensive than HCC but I like the folder based concept.

By: eches

eches — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:57:01 +0000

Darkstriker – thanks for your great effort in testing most of the softwares and come up with your feedbacks. It’s very much appreciated!

By: Darkstriker

Darkstriker — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:53:04 +0000

@Alice McGuckin:
Well, they are the complete duplicates. That means that essentially all but their filename (and sometimes even that) are identical. Hence quality and other features should be identical. So really, just delete the files the program turns out. EDF will show all files while allow you to select all duplicates (in the main or any subfolder). You can then simply delete the files. It really shouldn’t make much of a difference.

By: Darkstriker

Darkstriker — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:44:32 +0000

So I just used Easy Duplicate Finder on my Music collection of (formerly) 66,8 GB. EDF found a not very surprising 3000 duplicates and freed about the same amount of space in MB. Mind you: It also marks folders as duplicates and some of the duplicates I removed were album arts.
Afterwards, DoubleKiller was dry in its default mode (size & CRC comparison) and also in CRC-only comparison mode.
Duplicade File Finder also was dry.
I couldn’t reverse check cause I had permanently deleted the files.

Some tests were about slower. Especially the first one in EDF obviously a bit longer since it had 3k files more to scan and had hits.

Specs:
Files: 14000 (mostly mp3) [Original : 17000]
Size: 63,7 GB [Original: 66,8 GB]
HDD: 3×500GB WD 7200RPM SATA2 RAID0
Scan Time (Double Killer): 00:47,55
Scan Time (Duplicate File Finder): 02:14,49

I cannot post the time of EDF since I didn’t time it the first time and EDF is (due to the install) capable of saving previously gathered infos to the point that a complete rescan (if unchanged) takes a mere 5 seconds in which EDF checks whether there were no new files added.

Points of Interest:
Double Killer seems to be the fastest tool. This might, however, change if it actually detects something. Also the settings suggest that it might not find as many duplicates (obviously also avoiding false positives but neverteless).
Duplicate File Finder’s options are less advanced but geared more at the average user. In fast mode, it splits its scanning time in half to 01:02,60. However, time should not be a concern if even large Music collections take merely a few seconds to minutes.
DK and DFF have the advantage that they are on-the-go tools and don’t require an installation. EDF can be used in both an installed version as well as a portable version.
EDF makes the most professional impression and also performed quick (though unmeasured unfortunately). The real advantange is that it is entirely freeware and offers all options (altough defaults will do for almost any situation)

I didn’t test HCC since I was simply to lazy to install/uninstall yet another program. Ain’t good for Windows (espcially Vista..)

Hope this helps.

Greetz
Darkstriker

By: Alice McGuckin

Alice McGuckin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:00:36 +0000

When there are duplicate files, how does one determine which file to delete?

By: Quakeboy

Quakeboy — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:47:16 +0000

Very very useful software list.
I never thought of searching for a software that can find duplicates..

I needed for the same reason mp3 files but I do have some documents which were duplicated..

By: eches

eches — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:54:11 +0000

Casey - I run the program again and there's no such thing as registration request. I deleted 57 files all at once and I didn't encounter any registration request. Unless you download something else like "Clone Remover" which falls under "Also Recommended" category which is also in the same page as Easy Duplicate Finder. The only thing that I hate about this program is I need to select each and every duplicate before I can perform deletion. The rest is brilliant.

By: Casey

Casey — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:57:57 +0000

I downloaded Easy Duplicate File Finder from http://www.easyduplicatefinder.com/
After installing it it said all I could do was 20 files, if I wanted to do more I’d have to register. I clicked on the register button and it took me to a site that said I had to purchase some other software to register. I ended up deleting the whole thing. Unless I misunderstood something, this is what happened.

By: eches

eches — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:58:03 +0000

Casey – I’mnot sure which software you really download. I don’t find any required registration. Thanks

By: Gian

Gian — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:25:00 +0000

Great find…I will use it right now to clean up my 500 gb HD…

By: Casey Hales

Casey Hales — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:50:29 +0000

The last post, Easy Duplicate Finder, is misleading. I went to their site where it said, “Easy Duplicate Finder is a completely FREE Software. It contains absolutely NO ADWARE, NO SPYWARE, NO REGISTRATION, NO POPUPS, NO MALWARE or other unwanted software.”After downloading and installing it says you have to register the software by buying someone else’s software. No Thanks!!

By: eches

eches — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:58:15 +0000

Thanks Pavan for dropping by and really appreciate your stumble :)