How to weed out duplicate pictures on hard drive?

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

So my dear wife, when she copies the pictures from the digital camera to the computer for editing/printing/etc, she'll copy the pictures from the camera to a dated folder on the computer, but won't delete the pictures from the camera. So the next time she copies the pictures to the computer she ends up with the same pictures as last time, plus the few new ones she's taken. So in some cases I have dozens of copies of the same pictures stored in different folders in my My Pictures folder.

I want to somehow safely cull all the redundant copies of these pictures, and keep but one copy. Note that all these pictures have the same file name, just reside in different folders. Is there some automated way of doing this? I tried doing this manually, but it is SO time consuming as we have thousands of pictures now.

Any ideas? I was thinking something like TeraCopy, but can't seem to find an option that will do what I want.

TIA

 

[sourceninja]

quick google http://doubles.sourceforge.net/
also http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-duplicate-file-detector.htm

 

[dullard]

I had an old DOS version that worked flawlessly. But, I imagine you want something made later than the 1980s.

I mostly came in here to tell you to set up the program that came with the camera. They virutally all have options to download just the newest files. Of course, then you'll have to train your wife to actually use that program. Or, do the work yourself and avoid any problem to begin with.

Finally, memory cards are so cheap and small, you may be best off just getting the cheapest card you can find, uploading it once, then tossing it forever into a box for backup. No need to reuse a card.

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

quick google http://doubles.sourceforge.net/
also http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-duplicate-file-detector.htm

Ah, google. Why didn't I think of that ! Thanks sourceninja

I had an old DOS version that worked flawlessly. But, I imagine you want something made later than the 1980s.

I mostly came in here to tell you to set up the program that came with the camera. They virutally all have options to download just the newest files. Of course, then you'll have to train your wife to actually use that program. Or, do the work yourself and avoid any problem to begin with.

Finally, memory cards are so cheap and small, you may be best off just getting the cheapest card you can find, uploading it once, then tossing it forever into a box for backup. No need to reuse a card.

Thanks dullard. Yeah I've never really bothered with the camera software, just thought it'd be bloatware. I can play with it but do you think it would work for multiple cameras of different make and model? I guess I'd have to load all the software from each camera? And training is basically the source of the problem. If I could get her to move the pictures instead of copy them, problem solved. And I don't want to do it myself! Good thoughts on the disposable mem cards too.

 

[pyonir]

Why not get her into the habit of downloading the pics to the computer, then once it's done immediately reformat the memory card (in the cam) when removed from the computer?

When I transfer pics i verify they transferred over correctly, put the memory card back in my cam and reformat it. Every time. If I want back up copies that's what extra hard drives and blank DVDs are for.

 

[corkyg]

Why not get her into the habit of downloading the pics to the computer, then once it's done immediately reformat the memory card (in the cam) when removed from the computer?

When I transfer pics i verify they transferred over correctly, put the memory card back in my cam and reformat it. Every time. If I want back up copies that's what extra hard drives and blank DVDs are for.

This! Train wifey!