File compare utility

[Andrew Aronoff]

If I want to compare thousands of files on my hard drive with
purportedly identical files stored on a CD or DVD, what's the best way
to proceed?

Can FC.EXE be used to compare files in multiple directories? If not,
is there a utility that performs the same function?

I developed a VBS script that calls FC.EXE recursively to do this and
it works well, but I'm wondering if I didn't overlook something
obvious.

regards, Andy

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[Drew Cooper [MSFT]]

Not sure what "compare files in multiple directories" means. fc only takes
two paths as parameters, but the paths don't need to lead into the same
directories or even the same drives.

I'm not sure whether you're calling fc serially or in parallel. You should
get better perf if you spawn several instances simultaneously.

And there are probably other tools that do the same thing. Maybe even
better. Maybe someone else can recommend a favorite tool.

 

[Andrew Aronoff]

Hi, Drew.

Not sure what "compare files in multiple directories" means. fc only takes
two paths as parameters

I was just wondering if FC could somehow be provided with a single set
of arguments that would allow it to compare files in several
directories, such as "FC dirname1 dirname2", where dirname1 and
dirname2 each had subdirectories. According to the on-line
documentation, which I've read many times, this can't be done. I was
hoping I might be missing something.

I'm not sure whether you're calling fc serially or in parallel.

It's being called serially and it's taking 99% of the processor usage
(2.4 GHz P-4). FOA, I don't know how to call it in parallel
recursively. SOA, it might not work any faster that way since a single
instance consumes all the processor has to give. FC does quite a bit
of work.

And there are probably other tools that do the same thing

I'm unaware of any tool that compares files bit by bit, but I hope
someone adds to this post with one. (I know of several tools that
compare file sizes and dates, but that's not sufficient.) The last
bit-by-bit tool I had was under Magellan 2.0 for DOS. I'd still use
it, but it doesn't recognize LFNs.

regards, Andy

Not sure what "compare files in multiple directories" means. fc only takes
two paths as parameters, but the paths don't need to lead into the same
directories or even the same drives.

I'm not sure whether you're calling fc serially or in parallel. You should
get better perf if you spawn several instances simultaneously.

And there are probably other tools that do the same thing. Maybe even
better. Maybe someone else can recommend a favorite tool.

**********

Please send e-mail to: usenet (dot) post (at) aaronoff (dot) com

**********

 

[Drew Cooper [MSFT]]

Right. It's not very fancy - it only compares one file with another. You
need to grovel through the file names and the subdirs to find the paths to
all the files yourself. It's pretty easy to script in whatever your
favorite scripting language is.

When I google for "windows binary file comparison download" I get about
100,000 hits. I have no idea what to recommend, though.

 

[Andrew Aronoff]

When I google for "windows binary file comparison download" I get about

100,000 hits. I have no idea what to recommend, though.

I find it's a long list of text file comparers and directory
synchronizers, which, IMHO, are _not_ the same thing. I did see one
promising shareware program (DLSuperCBF), but I'd like to hear some
recommendations before I buy.

Binary file comparers, like backup programs, were never very popular.
Norton Utilities doesn't have one to this day. And if one performs the
Google search you suggested, it's surprising to see how little
discussion occurs in the Groups.

Again, I'd welcome any suggestions from anyone for a good program.

regards, Andy

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[Keith G.]

If I want to compare thousands of files on my hard drive with

purportedly identical files stored on a CD or DVD, what's the best way
to proceed?

Can FC.EXE be used to compare files in multiple directories? If not,
is there a utility that performs the same function?

Why not use some stand alone utility, for example Compare Suite
(www.comparesuite.com). It has an ability to compare folders and it do
it recursively.

 

[Igor Green]

Check our Synchronize It! tool from http://www.grigsoft.com/ - it has
special mode to verify CD/DVD copies, in this mode it compares each
file byte-by-byte to ensure files are copied/backup without errors.

Igor Green
http://www.grigsoft.com/