Duplicate file comparison utility

[rsutoratosu]

Hi, One of the user in the company has Parkinson's. So while he was opening files, he copied files all over multiple directories. Ended up using a few files in different directories. Of course they didn't let IT know for over 6 months and its kinda too late to rewind.

So basically he doesn't know what file is good or bad. Let me know if you guys used any good duplicate finder where it generate report for full file paths, date/time/ etc

I believe the group will tried to manually go through all the files but need a starting point.. Thanks in advance

 

[C1]

Below are some links in my records for duplicate file finders. Some I know are freeware. You may need to use a couple different ones to get the job done.

Good luck


Duplicate File Finder Ver 1.1.0.3
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/File-Management/Duplicate-File-Finder.shtml


Duplicate File Finder - Ver 1.0.2.8
https://archive.org/details/tucows_373411_Duplicate_File_Finder

AllDup - Find and remove duplicate files
http://www.alldup.info/

http://www.easyduplicatefinder.com/

The Best Duplicate File Finder for Windows
https://lifehacker.com/the-best-duplicate-file-finder-for-windows-1696492476

Finding Duplicate Files
(Requires Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista or XP, including both 32-bit and 64-bit versions)
https://www.ccleaner.com/docs/ccleaner/using-ccleaner/finding-duplicate-files

...... and here's one for pictures/photos

https://www.pcworld.com/article/231785/visipics.html

 

[mindless1]

From what I gather, they might be duplicates in name but not in content?
If true then you just want the most recently modified version of each but to keep the others just in case multiple edits were done to different content files of the same name?

I would just install "Everything" (search app), set all possible root locations where the files might be to create its database, then in it type "dupe:" and whatever filename or extension, then you can use its column headers to sort by name, or path, or date created or modified, or several other sort parameters like you do in windows explorer.

For example you could sort them by date modified then right from Everything, select and copy the bunch, & paste them all into a new directory, then there is the more tedious process of making sure none of the older modified files weren't edited uniquely at an earlier time than those most recently modified.

 

[rsutoratosu]

Its also possible that say Filexyz exist in 3 directories.. he may have edited 1 tab (excel) in 1 and another tab in another directory..

yeah its a mess and manual process.. I start this today.. lol

wish me luck