How to avoid duplicate files?

Except for redundancies during backups, you should know that almost all duplicates can be deleted. Indeed, files that take up unnecessary space on the hard drive can be frustrating when duplicate files exist on the PC, especially when they are large enough in number. Here is how to avoid this happening...

How to search for and delete duplicates?

When downloading, copying and archiving files on the hard disk, you may have several copies of the same documents. This may include music, videos or other files. In order to detect and securely delete your duplicate files, you can choose several options as you usually have tools that allow you to manage the folders and information on your computer. PIM, for example, helps centralise and organise your data. Click here for more information on this cutting-edge tool that will help you avoid duplication.

Choosing between free or paid software

While seemingly harmless, allowing duplicates to remain on your hard drive, , can cause a variety of problems. For example, you may mistakenly delete recent files due to simple mix-ups send the wrong file to one of your contacts by mistake. Not to mention the fact that these files can take up a lot of space and waste a lot of space on your computer. All you have to do is clean it up with either a free or paid piece of software.

Avoiding duplicates with Windows Explorer

You can simply do your file searches and deletions with Windows Explorer. To start, right click on the "Start" menu, then choose "Explorer". Click on "Folders" in the Windows Explorer toolbar which will bring up the left pane (or "two pane" view) then click on the folder containing duplicate files in it. There is an “Options” button next to the "Folders" button on the toolbar, select "Details". This will allow you to view all files by name, date and time of creation. Press the "Name" tab to sort the files by name. This will take you through the list, allowing you to find the two duplicate files. You can still check by sorting them by "Date modified" to find the one that was modified most recently. More often than not, it is the most recently modified file that must often be kept.