====== Duplicate files ======

Software tools that might help find and resolve duplicate files.

Here is a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bjww7Axnzg|youtube video]] that is a good starting point for dealing with duplicate files on Windows.

Here is another youtube video that identifies a free tool.  The video is a bit longer but it is thorough.    The Nirsoft, [[http://www.nirsoft.net/articles/find_duplicate_files.html|SearchMyFiles ]][[http://www.nirsoft.net/articles/find_duplicate_files.html|utility]] is one of the many tools you will find at [[http://www.nirsoft.net/|Nirsoft.net]]

[[http://www.clonespy.com/|CloneSpy]] is freeware. I tried it and I like it. A GUI and lots of options. However… You MUST be careful. This tool could create a disaster if you do not understand the options. For duplicate files it can…. Delete, create a shortcut or create a hard link. Warning. Make sure you understand what can happen and/or create an experimental folder with some "duplicates" in it and try CloneSpy in/on your experimental folder, BEFORE you try it on folders that contain stuff you do not want to lose.

[[https://dupeguru.voltaicideas.net/|DupeGuru]] can be found [[http://https://dupeguru.voltaicideas.net/|here]] or on [[http://https://github.com/arsenetar/dupeguru|Github]]. It does find duplicate files.

[[https://schinagl.priv.at/nt/dupemerge/dupemerge.html|Dupemerge]] is a command line tool. Once again…. Be careful with it. Do some "experimentation" before you turn it loose on anthing your consider "precious". It would be "wise" to have a backup of stuff "before" you commit to its ability to create hard links.