External hard drive

[ST-EOS]

Re: External hard drive

I use FreeFileSync it works for me.

[Nathaniel]

Re: External hard drive

Nat, I've used a free utility called (I think) Easy Duplicate Finder to find, and then delete identical copies of files. It may be worth a try?

Steve, I tried the Easy Duplicate finder and it did find all the duplicate photos but since the files exceeded the Free limit of 10 files, I get several prompts to "register" and then I have to buy the software. I don't want to buy this as it will be a one off operation for me. Would you advise me to buy this package by registering?

Nat

[S_J_P]

Re: External hard drive

Nat, I think the licensing must have changed as I'm pretty sure there was no file-number limit when I last used the utility (perhaps 4 years ago), in fact I'm sure there wasn't a limit as I sorted through a HDD onto which I'd managed to download all my photos a number of times into differently labelled directories, so I deleted many 1000's of duplicated files. Whether it's worth registering is down to the value to you, but I'm sure there are other (totally free) utilities offering a similar service available.

[antoeknee]

Re: External hard drive

This is another duplicate finder I've used in the past.

http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/duplicate-file-finder/

P.S. just looked at the site again and not sure if this is still freeware

[Nathaniel]

Re: External hard drive

Thanks Steve & Ant. Will try Auslogic and see.

[Hereford_EOS]

Re: External hard drive

Hi Nat

I tried and tested a duplicate finder software to try to help you.
Out of 42,000 files it found around 3500 duplicates.
The image files when checking the results were not all duplicates, in fact most (90%) were different.
So, as a warning, please check the images before deleting as they may not be actual duplicates.

I am looking and testing other software for you, so that it is safe a pretty straight forward.

[Nathaniel]

Re: External hard drive

Thanks Stephen. I have tried Auslogics duplicate finder and find that it doesn't locate all the duplicates- even though I directed it to the file where all the photo duplicates were. I am still looking around as I don't want all these duplicate photos to be backed up into my external hard drive and other back up devices.(I have tried the Awesome duplicate finder as well- not very good)!

[DeeGee]

Re: External hard drive

With regard to backing up files.

I have a pro account on flickr - I load up my files "large sizes" and just set the file limit to be viewed so people can't get to the large ones, but if I need them, they are there for me. (Hope that makes sense)

I also have portable harddrives.

[antoeknee]

Re: External hard drive

I've also used the free version of this

http://www.digitalvolcano.co.uk/duplicatecleaner.html

The paid version does have some nice features i.e.
Quote: Find resized, rotated, flipped or edited images and photos. Compare side by side with the image viewer.

Though I've never tried the paid version so can't comment on the effectiveness

[Nathaniel]

Re: External hard drive

Thank you again Ant. I have over 147,000 duplicates and don't know how this has happened. Even my young IT chap doesn't quite know the reason or I don't understand his explanations. Anyway I will try all the free duplicate finders and I should find one that really clears up the duplicates.

[wayne2418]

Re: External hard drive

Good luck Nat ..

[MX5]

Re: External hard drive

I have over 147,000 duplicates and don't know how this has happened.

Are the duplicates by way of the same filenames in different directories or identical images with different filenames or something else?

[Nathaniel]

Re: External hard drive

The duplicates are all in several files- marked pictures (unknown). In those files I have photos taken for example in Sri Lanka, 15 to 20 's of the same photo, than another set of duplicates of a different picture and goes on and on. I am conscious of the disk space that this is taking as well.