duplicate files?

[joeypinter]

hello everyone, i have a question about "duplicate files"

i run a digital auto workstation (DAW) and it's easy to get loads of bits and pieces of music (data) i'm working on. the DAW i use has a tool for removing these things, however, i wonder if it's enough.

my biggest concern is somehow adding crap to my hard drive the computer will run slowly.  which brings me to the duplicate file tool here on CCleaner.

my questions are as follows,

1. why are there duplicates?

2. how do i find the ones i'm supposed to keep?

3. i just ran the duplicate finder and there are thousands of them, is there a filter that i can use to look for anything the computer thinks i don't need?

thank you

[Nergal]

Depends on the DAW. My previous goto Sony Vegas leaves behind many tempfiles even after a clean-up of my media bin.

[mta]

Hi joey and welcome to the forums,

 

right off the bat, there is no one answer fits all solution.

 

duplicate files are created for numerous reason.

for example, you may have accidentally copied your last holiday snaps from your Download folder into your Picture folder.

another scenario, you install Office and it creates readme.txt in Program Files\Office.

you then install PhotoShop which also installs readme.txt in Program Files\PhotoShop.

 

so there can be many ways to get duplicate files on your PC.

for me, rule #1, if the dups live in system folders, leave them alone.

rule #2, when they live in personal folders, only you know which is the 'correct' file and which is the duplicate.

 

caveat - use with caution.