Finding Duplicate Files

Someone in My Computer Headaches Yahoogroup asked how he could speed up the task of finding duplicate files in his voluminous collection of photos. We suggested this (FDFF):

Fast Duplicate File Finder Helps You Weed Out Extra Files--For Free 

By Preston Gralla, PCWorld  

Feb 20, 2010 

With photos, videos, and music files clogging up your hard disk, it's harder than ever to keep it clean, trim, and free of duplicates. Use freebie Fast Duplicate File Finder, though, and you'll be able to find duplicate files with ease, and keep your hard disk in tip-top shape.
True to its name, Fast Duplicate File Finder quickly finds duplicate files.
Fast Duplicate File Finder doesn't merely compare file names or file sizes; it does a file comparison at the binary level. This is particularly important when looking for music, video, and other media files, because you may have files with two different names, which are otherwise identical. It's got plenty of nice-to-have features, such as determining whether to delete duplicates or move them to the Recycle Bin or a custom folder; the ability to preview files before deleting them; and support for removable media such as USB drives.
Fast Duplicate File finder is simple to use, goes about its work quickly, and it's free. It's this simple: If you're looking to trim your hard disk by deleting duplicate files, it won't lead you wrong.

There is a PRO version available that is a more fully featured if you like the experience with the FREE version. With the FREE version we like the option it has for saving search results and projects so you can more quickly rerun checks for hard drive maintenance when necessary. This program also prevents system files and folders from showing up in the search fields as a safety net for disk corruption. I'm sure you will find several other SIMILAR dupe-finding utilities but it is very important to first find out that they won't include system files since there are a few of these files that really are duplicates of the originals. However, there is a purpose for that. If you delete those system file duplicates you might end up reinstalling Windows or having more serious problems. It also features two specialty searches: graphics and music. However, these functions are now limited in the free version. FDFF also shows a preview of image files it finds, and offers some helpful filters you can apply to make copying or deleting the newest or oldest copies, for instance, very simple.

Official Site - http://www.mindgems.com/products/Fast-Duplicate-File-Finder/Fast-Duplicate-File-Finder-About.htm


Here are other freeware alternatives for finding duplicate photos:
http://www.komando.com/downloads/category.aspx?id=8786
http://lifehacker.com/5535510/clean-up-your-photo-collection-with-free-tools

Some of the best freeware suggestions can be found here:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-duplicate-file-detector.htm