Duplicate Files

Cleaning up my systewm with System Mechanic, I came across some 2892 duplicate files.
My question is how do I know which files to get rid of (if any), as they all seem to have the same time/ date , and only the names seem to be a little different.

o/s windows xp pro service pack 1
Gigabyte GA- 7vt600 1.x
512 megabytes ram
Amd athlon xp 2400

 

harry,
Those dupe file finders are designed to use for your music or graphics collection, or for older versions of Windows. XP has redundant storage of copies of critical system files, and EVEN IF Windows will let you delete them, you'd be wise not to.

Windows uses the ServicePackFiles\i386 folder, for instance, to store copies of all of the (surprise!) Service Pack updated versions of system files, and if something becomes corrupted or broken, or another program messes with one of those files in the main folders (System32, Windows, etc.), Windows repairs the damage by overwriting the bad file from the ServicePackFiles folder, without the need for stopping the machine and asking for your copy of the SP1 CD.

It's redundant, and it's got a lot of overkill built in, but it's best to just let Windows do it that way, and not go messing around with "housekeeping" that you'll regret later.

 

Wisewiz,
Thank you for the prompt reply , and your words of wisdom.

I will just leave things as they are , and let the housework pile up!!

Regards,
Harry.

 

A WISE decision, harry,

But keep your Temp folders clean and ream out your System Restore system occasionally. Both of those cry out for you to "tidy up" once in a while.

(Scotland, and particularly Broughty Ferry, is one of my favourite spots in the entire Universe.)

 

From personal experience. I will never mess with those files again. I had to go back and reinstall windows from a back up of course so it did not take long at all but needless to say it screwed up the integrity of the system.

I learned my lesson.

Like wizewiz I can see the logic in deleting duplicates like mp3's and maybe pictures but anything else. We are asking for trouble

 

digging a little deeper. If you have duplicate files and one says "Copy of [filename]" then that is typically safe to delete. Like your duplicate copy of the serials2k files. (you naughty person you).

 

tee hee hee hee

 

Kodo,
I swear I thought "serials 2k" was all about breakfast foods in the 21st century!

 

when i use programs of this type i will specify folders such as my music, and my pics. personay modified folders only, then you dont have to worry about deleting important system files

 

You must try Dupe Checker Pro.

It's the best duplicate files finder and disk cleaner. From the analog applications I tried, Dupe Checker showed to me the most wanted result and stability work. A lot of useful features - inlcudes finding dupes by date!
Check it on:
http://www.atory.com/Dupe_Checker_PRO/

or

Get Dupe Checker Pro on Download.com

 

nothing like digging up a thread that's a year old. :sigh: