Getting rid of duplicate files?

[Sigi Rindler]

Somebody recommended me a powerful small and free utility from Finland which
is a real jewel for cleaning up the computer's hard drive.



http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm





The only problem I see is when trying to clean out duplicates. of which I
seem to have tons on drive C.

The creator of this software warns: "Be extremely careful since this is not
recommended for beginners."



Although I am not exactly a beginner, I remember having used a similar
program years ago that also got rid of all duplicates. After that I was
given the opportunity to reinstall Windows again.J



I know that one shall not erase .dll files belonging to the system, etc.,
while others can be erased without any problems.
Is there any list which indicates the files that are absolutely necessary? I
need to hand-select them when using this function.



Or is there a program that will only erase duplicate files that won't affect
Windows?

 

[same]

Save all your files to dvd data disk that you like or removable
storage and then formate c drive do a clean install of os and then your
files it takes a littel time but it will give you a clean start with
things remember to always back up that good stuff on removeble storage

 

[jmatt]

Somebody recommended me a powerful small and free utility from Finland which
is a real jewel for cleaning up the computer's hard drive.

I would not use Duplicate files, here is how I use EasyCleaner.

1: Click on Unnecessary.
I tick > Normal types, Extra types & Temp directories.
Don't use Duplicate files unless you really know what your doing.
If you try & remove a file that is being used, it will after about a 15
second delay, inform you so & will not delete.
2: Now click on Registry & run.

 

[jmatt]

Sigi Rindler wrote:

I have more info for you, need to know your operating system.

 

[Sigi Rindler]

Sigi Rindler wrote:

I have more info for you, need to know your operating system.

Wow... Thanks! There couldn't be a better source than someone who actually
uses this software.
I use Windows XP Pro (SP2), US version.
Please let me know your additional info. It's really appreciated. Since I am
a member of a Computer User Group, I'd like to demonstrate this goodie in
the near future.

This is a great NG!


PS: I guess that this software works on my Japanese computer as well
(Japanese Windows Home Edition). I assume it since I saw that the Help file
was translated into Japanese...

 

[Roger Johansson]

The only problem I see is when trying to clean out duplicates. of which I
seem to have tons on drive C.

You should keep your valuable data (text, pictures, videos, whatever
you want to keep) apart from the operating system and program software.

Different folders and, even better, on different partitions.

When you start using a new computer you should create more than one
partition on your harddisk, use the first only for the operating system
and software, put the data on another partition.

Or is there a program that will only erase duplicate files that won't affect
Windows?

Clonespy,
http://www.clonespy.com/cms/index.php
Select which folders you want to remove duplicates from, and DON'T
include the Windows folder.

A worst case scenario is that you have saved your valuable data inside
the windows folder on the C: partition, then you have to be very
careful and use more advanced methods.

 

[jmatt]

Please let me know your additional info.

It's actually a lot more cleaners, EasyCleaner is only part of my
cleaning tools, the rest are below.

PS: I guess that this software works on my Japanese computer as well
(Japanese Windows Home Edition).

Shall have to leave that part up to you on all the cleaners mentioned.

You may need to print this.

I use all these cleaners for W2K/XP, each one specialises in a
different area.

Do not be supprised if hundreds of files are found.

Files are either removed to the programs backup or the Recycle Bin (
make sure the Recycle Bin is empty, before using the cleaners, that way
you know the files you have removed )

All ( except DustBuster ) allow you to restore them back into the
system, either by right clicking on the reg file in the programs folder
( example Regclean & OleClean > Windows Explorer > Unzipped, click on
either RegClean or OleClean ) & clicking on Merge.

jv16 PowerTools, RegCleaner & RegSeeker both store in Backup on their
main page.
Opening Backup allows you to either Restore or Delete.

EasyCleaner removes to the Recycle Bin & by opening the Recycle Bin,
right clicking on the files & clicking Restore.
Has an Update button. Checks you have the latest version & blacklist.

CCleaner, one advantage of this cleaner is, when Issues is clicked &
the boxes ticked, it will tell you before you fix ( doing one file at a
time ) why the file is there.
Configure the Windows, Applications & Issues panels to suit.

RegScrub
Click on Restore, click the backup to be restored, click on Restore
Selected backups.

DustBuster
Very quick, if you want to know what it cleaned, takes about 1 min to
clean ( depends on the speed of your comp ) you have about 4 seconds to
read the message displayed, when it is finished. Don't use whilst
online.

Find Junk Files
I use only > Find Dead Links, which is part of Find Junk Files. Start >
All Programs.

Backups
Once you are sure they are not needed again ( about one week ) they can
be deleted.

=============================

jv16 PowerTools 1.3.0.195, which doesn't expire.
http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/page7.html
http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/index.html#jv16
http://www.pricelessware.org/thelist/sys.htm
Click on Registry tool > Tools > Registry Cleaner > Continue > Start.
When finished, Click on Select > Special select > Items that should be
safe to remove > Remove.

Or, the renamed later version ( dos'nt hurt to use both )
RegCleaner
http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/
http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/dload/RegCleaner.zip
RegCleaner 4.3.0.780 ( last freeware version ) OS: Win9x/NT/ME/2000/XP
Click on Tools > Registry Cleanup > Do them All
When finished, click on Select > All, then down the bottom, click on >
Remove Selected.

==================================

RegClean
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download458.html
http://www.download.com/3000-2094-881470.html
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,4666,00.asp
Microsoft's RegClean ( freeware ) very conservative.
By default it puts the 3 files into Windows Temp.
I prefer them in Unzipped.
Right click in an empty space in Unzipped, select Folder & name it
RegClean.
Now when you click unzip ( during install ) select the new folder.
To use, you can either open up the folder & doubleclick on RegClean or
right click & make a shortcut to your desktop & then put it anywhere
you like.

===========================

OleClean ( Freeware. I tick all 8 boxes in Options )
http://www.majorgeeks.com/OleClean_d452.html
http://www.geocities.com/maurizioferreira/oleclean.html
http://www.webgrid.co.uk/system_13.html
http://www.webgrid.co.uk/index.html
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=oleclean

===============================

CCleaner
http://www.ccleaner.com/
One advantage of this cleaner is, when Issues is clicked & the boxes
ticked, it will tell you before you fix ( doing one file at a time )
why the file is there.
CCleaner (Crap Cleaner) is a freeware system optimisation tool. That
removes unused and temporary files from your system - allowing it to
run faster, more efficiently and giving you more hard disk space. The
best part is that it's fast! (normally taking less that a second to
run) and Free. Windows 95/98/NT4/ME/2000/XP/2003

=================================

RegSeeker
http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
RegSeeker is a perfect companion for your Windows registry!
RegSeeker includes a powerful registry cleaner and can display various
informations like your startup entries, several histories (even
index.dat files), installed applications and much more! With RegSeeker
you can search for any item inside your registry, export/delete the
results, open them in the registry. RegSeeker also includes a tweaks
panel to optimize your OS! RegSeeker is FREE for personal use only!
My personal use, is to, delete only the Green entries.
Click on Select All and choose > Select all Green items.
Right click to delete.

=========================================

EasyCleaner
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm
1: Click on Unnecessary.
I tick > Normal types, Extra types & Temp directories.
Don't use Duplicate files unless you really know what your doing.
If you try & remove a file that is being used, it will after about a 15
second delay, inform you so & will not delete.
2: Now click on Registry & run.

==================================

RegScrubXP
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2048
http://www.sofotex.com/RegScrubXP-download_L7528.html
Registry Cleaner for Windows XP/2000 Systems (under development is a
version that will run in
Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP)
I have made it very easy for you to backup the registry prior to using
RegScrubXP. This backup process uses Microsoft's reg.exe program.
Follow these directions:
Go into the folder where RegScrubXP was installed.
Double-click on these two programs: HKLM.cmd and HKCU.cmd
You should see two files created: HKLM.reg and HKCU.reg
Copy these two files to a safe place.
If you ever need to fully restore your registry back to normal,
double-click on HKLM.reg and HKCU.reg to fully restore your registry as
it was before you used RegScrubXP.

==================================

Eusing Free Registry Cleaner
http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm
Eusing Free Registry Cleaner is a free registry repair software that
allows you to safely clean and repair registry problems with a few
simple mouse clicks. The Windows Registry is a crucial part of your
PC's operation system.
Problems with the Windows Registry are a common cause of Windows
crashes and error messages. Registry problems can occur for many
reasons, including references left behind after uninstallation;
incorrect removal of software; missing or corrupt hardware drivers; or
orphaned start-up programs. This will significantly increase the
Registry size and slow down your computer, because Windows will need
more time to load, search, and read data from the Registry.
Eusing Free Registry Cleaner will scans your Windows registry for
invalid or obsolete information and provide a list of the errors found.
After fixing the invalid entries, your system will be more stable and
run faster. For maximum safety, Eusing Free Registry Cleaner will make
a backup of the repaired entries. You will be able to restore any
changes made using the software by choosing Restore registry backup.
Eusing Software products are free of spyware and adware. Windows
9x/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003

====================================

DustBuster
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=1182&file=11&evp=bfd7730c44fba586eaed019edd92d63c
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=1182&file=10&evp=bfd7730c44fba586eaed019edd92d63c
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=1182&file=12&evp=bfd7730c44fba586eaed019edd92d63c
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=1182&file=9&evp=bfd7730c44fba586eaed019edd92d63c
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=1182&file=13&evp=bfd7730c44fba586eaed019edd92d63c
http://majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=1182&file=14&evp=bfd7730c44fba586eaed019edd92d63c
DustBuster is a garbage file removing utility for Microsoft Windows
operating systems. It searches for junk files and temp files that are
of no use and are just taking space on your hard drive. Based on a
"common sense" scanning technology, DustBuster now cleans over 1500
different types of useless temp files and directories in a single
click, detecting and deleting all these unneeded files automatically.
This will increase hard disk space on Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003.

==================================

Find Junk Files
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Find_Junk_Files_d1953.html
Find Junk Files is a user-friendly utility designed to free up disk
space by deleting useless junk files.
Each time you use your PC, unwanted files are created that increasingly
use more space on
your hard drive.
Find Junk Files can find more than 165 types of junk files with ease.
Unlike many other programs Find Junk Files will let you choose which
drive or drives to clean, which file types to search for, and what
folders to include or exclude.

==================================

ATF Cleaner
http://www.atribune.org/content/view/25/2/
This program is for XP and Windows 2000 only
Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
Under Main choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.
If you use Firefox browser
Click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.
NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please
click No at the prompt.
If you use Opera browser
Click Opera at the top and choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.
NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please
click No at the prompt.
Click Exit on the Main menu to close the program.
For Technical Support, double-click the e-mail address located at the
bottom of each menu.
This will remove all files from the items that are checked so if you
have some cookies you'd like to save. please move them to a different
directory first.

=======================================

Binman
http://steveseymour.0catch.com/
http://anothermirror.tripod.com/free.htm
Seeks out the rubbish left behind by other programs. Use regularly it
will save space. It can auto run at times set by you. Cleans
automatically at boot up.

Or, ( dos'nt hurt to use both )

XP
Auto Delete Temporary Folder
http://www.tweakxp.com/display.aspx?id=2021

First go into gpedit.msc ( only available in the Pro version of XP )

Start > Run, type in > gpedit.msc & press Enter.

Next select -> Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows
Components/Terminal Services/Temporary Folder

Then right click "Do Not Delete Temp Folder Upon Exit"

Go to properties and hit disable.

Now next time Windows puts a temp file in that folder it will
automatically delete it when its done!

 

[mike]

Somebody recommended me a powerful small and free utility from Finland
which is a real jewel for cleaning up the computer's hard drive.

http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm

The only problem I see is when trying to clean out duplicates. of
which I seem to have tons on drive C.

The creator of this software warns: "Be extremely careful since this
is not recommended for beginners."

The creator is right - I had this prog ages ago, it's ok, but after reading
lots of opinions I now use regseeker.

Removing duplicates is VERY dangerous, (DAMHIK); the same file may be
required in all the positions it shows up, and removing ecxess copies ca
really cripple your computer

mike

 

[Al Klein]

Removing duplicates is VERY dangerous, (DAMHIK); the same file may be
required in all the positions it shows up, and removing ecxess copies ca
really cripple your computer

Sounds as if you have a lot of unregistered dlls.

 

[Sigi Rindler]

Please let me know your additional info.

It's actually a lot more cleaners, EasyCleaner is only part of my
cleaning tools, the rest are below.

Wow, that keeps me busy for awhile... Thanks!

Somebody has mentioned to use "RegSeeker"... which I actually tried. Here is
my mini-report:



RegSeeker:


It's not without problems either..
I just tried, but fortunately made a new backup with Acronis TrueImage
before!
I selected "Clean the Registry", then the program scanned the drives and
finally listed all "problem files". I was asked to select the green and red
files. That's what I did (selected all of them), deleted them, restarted the
computer, and everything seemed to be OK. However, when I tried to work with
MS Word, a message popped up and said that something was missing. No program
that comes with Office 2003 would work anymore.
BTW, Office 2003 was installed on the D partition.
I have no idea whether other programs were also effected. After running
TrueImage, everything was OK again after 10 minutes.



Whatever kind of doctoring with Windows I am going to perform in the future,
FIRST comes a backup with TrueImage...

 

[jmatt]

Sigi Rindler wrote:
I was asked to select the green and red files.

You will see in my info green only ( green for safe, red for danger,
unless you really know what you are doing )

 

[Sigi Rindler]

Sigi Rindler wrote:
I was asked to select the green and red files.

You will see in my info green only ( green for safe, red for danger,
unless you really know what you are doing )

Yes, that's correct! I have done it again and erased the green ones only.
The OS was not harmed in any way. It's all a slow learning process...

 

[Roger Johansson]

Yes, that's correct! I have done it again and erased the green ones only.
The OS was not harmed in any way. It's all a slow learning process...

Regseeker is a very safe registry cleaner. I have used it for years and
I always choose All, red plus green entries, and have never seen any
negative effects of deleting them.

It also has a roll back feature, backing up everything it changes
(unless you disable that function), so you can undo the changes.

 

[Bill Turner]

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

Yes, that's correct! I have done it again and erased the green ones
only. The OS was not harmed in any way. It's all a slow learning
process...

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

But did the performance improve? In my experience, registry cleaners
are a waste of time. If you really want to clean the registry,
reinstall Windows. Otherwise, leave well enough alone.

The best way to reinstall Windows, by the way, is to have an image file
of the basic installation with all updates.

Bill T.

 

[Sigi Rindler]

Regseeker is a very safe registry cleaner. I have used it for years and

I always choose All, red plus green entries, and have never seen any
negative effects of deleting them.

Sorry, I mixed something up. It wasn't RegSeeker but EasyCleaner, and it was
"Dupe erase function" which caused the problem. But yes, RegSeeker is indeed
a very nice program.

Sigi