# Is there a free software program to do this?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-software-program-to-do-this/347095>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 5, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-software-program-to-do-this/347095 "2006-03-05T01:45:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Caius\_Preposterus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47c2d/32.png) [@Caius\_Preposterus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caius_Preposterus)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-software-program-to-do-this/347095/1 "2006-03-05T01:45:19Z")

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I’m trying to eliminate duplicate files on my computer. I need a program which I can input a file into, and it will search a directory and all its subdirectories for a file which is exactly the same (that is the bytes are the same, not the file name or date created or stuff like that). I’m running Windows XP Proffesional. Is there a shareware or free program that can do this? Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-software-program-to-do-this/347095/2 "2006-03-05T02:01:51Z")

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This is something that I need too.

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**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-software-program-to-do-this/347095/3 "2006-03-05T02:03:46Z")

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There are programs that do this for image files, but I’m not familiar with any that do it for all types of files.

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**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-software-program-to-do-this/347095/4 "2006-03-05T02:14:20Z")

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I have used [CloneSpy](http://www.clonespy.com/cms/index.php) for this.

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**Author:** ![Caius\_Preposterus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47c2d/32.png) [@Caius\_Preposterus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caius_Preposterus)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-software-program-to-do-this/347095/5 "2006-03-05T02:41:17Z")

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> [@kellner](#):
>
> I have used [CloneSpy](http://www.clonespy.com/cms/index.php) for this.

Thanks. That looks just like what I need.