# Duplicate files - finding them and deleting them

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duplicate-files-finding-them-and-deleting-them/381848>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 26, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duplicate-files-finding-them-and-deleting-them/381848 "2006-11-26T16:28:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duplicate-files-finding-them-and-deleting-them/381848/1 "2006-11-26T16:28:35Z")

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So, over the years, I have downloaded all manner of random junk onto my computer. MP3s, movie files, ebooks, whatever. A lot of it I actually like enough to keep and watch from time to time, and a lot of it I don’t really need any more. And then, a lot of it I like enough to keep and watch, but I could swear I just saw it in another directory.

What are some programs I can use to find and get rid of these duplicate files? Bonus points if they’re free.

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duplicate-files-finding-them-and-deleting-them/381848/2 "2006-11-26T17:14:16Z")

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How about [this](http://www.tucows.com/preview/373411)? Not only is it free, but it will find duplicates even if the filename is different. Never tried this one myself, but it’s worth a go, I think.

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**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duplicate-files-finding-them-and-deleting-them/381848/3 "2006-11-26T17:34:54Z")

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On an [earlier thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=361531), **kellner** recommended [CloneSpy](http://www.clonespy.com/). I like it a lot. I think it’s still free. (Though the author does solicit donations, and I’ve actually paid.) It’s pretty flexible - it can do things like “if a duplicate is found, delete the one with the longer filename” or “if the same file is in C and D drives, delete the one on C.”

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**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duplicate-files-finding-them-and-deleting-them/381848/4 "2006-11-26T18:04:23Z")

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Thanks **Q.E.D.** , I managed to get rid of something like 5 or 6 GBs of random crap. 😃

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**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duplicate-files-finding-them-and-deleting-them/381848/5 "2006-11-27T18:16:55Z")

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There is also DoubleKiller and DeDup. I don’t know how any of these would compare to each other.