fubar an others are correct this software is dangerous and is just plain no good.

Also correct is that ashraf even though meaning well is way off the mark on many of his reviews.
It seems he had nothing better to do and latched on to GOTD to try to be some help and belong here. However to review things you should have some advanced computer knowledge which it seems he is lacking greatly.

thanks fubar, will try duplicate file finder located in reply 25 and test first. thanks for the reply.

This is not even shareware:it simply identifies duplicates and then invites you to purchase the full program if you want to delete then.This is deceitful.

The nearly invisible text at the bottom of the Quick Intro dialog box says:

"Note: The program deletes all files to the Recycle Bin, so if you accidentally deleted some files you can find them in the Recycle Bin."

To the people recommending DoubleKiller, I wouldn't touch it because its strongest "content" comparison is only via CRC32, which is exceptionally weak. Not only is a 32-bit hash grossly insufficient, CRC32 is primarily designed to detect certain types of brief and limited communications errors, and will often fail (same hash value) for files modified by common editing operations.

I know this is yesterday's GAOTD but I'm just posting to say:
I have a 750GB external drive in two 350GB partitions, and an internal drive partitioned as C: and D:
With this program Clone Terminator I was able to select the root folder (drive) of the three partitions D: O: and P:
The program then went on to compare files taking approx 20 minutes to get up to 97% done, then another three hours+ to complete.
It found duplicates of my video files (typical 1GB each) which I manually removed saving 26GB.
I like you can open the relevant folder by right-clicking the results.
I like it finds duplicates with different filenames.
I like it shows the size of each file.

I don't know how it compares to other utilities for the same purpose, but it worked for me.

#27
Thanks for the info.
Please take note on:
Easy Duplicate Finder
Check out their screenshot at their website - -
At the bottom:
What to do with dulicate files
Scary when they can't correct a spelling problem on their program -
and then use it as the screenshot

About this particular program, I do not like that it won't post any results until after the scan is complete. I'm having it scan my entire hard drives (because I have a few backups already) and it's taking quite a long time. Over an hour so far. I would like to start to look through the results now and begin the task of deleting duplicates but I can't until it finishes the stupid scan. Dumb of them. Depending on what the results window looks like and how it functions I'll probably be sticking with Glary Utilities or try to find another standalone duplicate/similar file finder.

One of the things I like most about GOTD is being able to look in the comments to find the names of freeware versions that do the same task possibly better than the GOTD version. LOL

A few days ago we also had Glary Utilities, which seems to be similar to Win Utilities. Both Win Utilities and Glary were discussed in the comments up top.

I check My Doc's Found 50 MB so that's good out of 10 I give it 6 as it not over good at findind some not the same name & size It say same size you can delete to the Recycle Bin Pull out & check & no date to find new one's all reg Key's said the same that 222 not the same? 6/10

This little software tool works well and does what it says, but a couple of weeks ago we had an excellent program that did removing duplicate files amongest other utilities all in one program called Win Utilities which I use all the time.
The comments are on this program so overall I would say this program is a bit on the expensive side $29.95, but a good utility program.

Why is it that everyone of you hurry to this website, download the free giveaway, then complain about it. If you haven't found anything useful for free, then pay a little bit of money and get something useful. Remember, you get what you pay for.
I've been watching this website for only a month now, and still haven't seen anything worth while.

Want to save some hard drive space???? Don't download this program. As mentioned by a few here, every computer has duplicate files and most of these are necessary for the proper operation of your computer. Programs of this type can not possibly know which are necessary and which are not on every system. If you find 2 mp3's or duplicate photo's you took of your friends wedding then sure but when you start messing with dll's and dat files your asking for problems.

Excellent Software!
Installed & worked Great on both XP Professional p.cs
Highly recommend it for removing duplicates,as well
as cleaning up my disk space!

Hi Ashraf,
Don't get upset with the negative comments about your review. I agree that you have done a reasonably good job overall and didn't recommend this software to the less computer savvy.

Quote #16
"Verdict:
There really is not much to say. This program displayed less useful results and more useless ones. This program can be potentially danergous to the technically less-advanced people who will be duped into deleting important files. I would never tell anyone of touch this program but since it is without a backup or restore feature, I double that recommendation to stay away. As for alternatives, I wouldn’t recommend any either. Duplicate file finders just by definition are doomed to fail - many times duplicates of files are made on purpose, either for app use, or backup, or whatever. You just can’t get around it. It really is not worth the time and the risk to be able to get a minimal amount of hard drive space back."

Many of us do appreciate your help and input, so please ignore those comments and continue to do the good job work you are doing to assist those less knowledgeable. Your regular web links and the many reviews had also been very useful and helpful.

It takes a lot time and effort to contribute regularly and I don't see many people doing that. Let us just appreciate the dedication and effort. Thank you Ashraf.

Warmest regards and all the best.

A couple of complaints -- I couldn't "choose" the folders that I want examined; had to choose from their "pre-selected" -- none of which I was interested in.

Went ahead and ran with some of the pre-selected folders. Honestly I couldn't tell that there was a duplicate -- just file names shown -- no date or anything. I certainly wasn't going to delete without more info than that.

Took someone else's suggestion to use File Workshop -- much more friendly.

guys - don't use this to scan a normal computer with minimal files. you use a program like this to clean up when you have 1TB of backups of backups of backups over the course of a decade and you want to make sure you are only deleting files that you have compared to your "master drive." i use "noclone" and deleted over 300 GB of duplicates today. but i'd never let it near my C: drive. that's just common sense. deleting a 1kB .dll file buys you nothing but trouble

To @#62 Wilfred Ruck - If you’re referring to #23 the Renegades comment I can not DISAGREE with you more. I’ll take a witty, informative, and insightful comment any day over a bunch of ESOTERIC ones. That’s why I visit this site and it’s why I tell my friends to do the same. The Renegades comment provided me as much information about today’s GAOTD as anyuone else who didn't go off on some tangent. But in a colorful and easily understood way. The Renegade Rocks! :)

#63, marky marcus, I'd recommend Duplicate File Finder (see my comment #25) instead. Before letting any duplicate finder delete anything, try it using test files so that you're sure you understand what it's going to do.

#59, The Preecher, I wasn't "bashing" Ashraf, and I always state specifically where the errors in his reviews are when I comment on them (as they aren't helpful to me, I only read them when his comments here indicate a possible problem with the review). There was an error in his test methodology today which I specifically commented on. Yes, one of his screenshots was helpful, when he accused Windows Search of not functioning correctly, his screenshot showed that it found exactly what he requested (user error). I didn't comment on his convoluted remarks about AnVir's Windows-standard column selection (not only Windows, but many programs, follow the right-click on column headings standard). My comments aren't to "bash" Ashraf, but to strongly encourage him to dig a little deeper and make an effort to determine why results aren't always as he expects, rather than assuming application error. No one should blindly assume that my comments, Ashraf's, BladedThoth's, or anyone else's are without error or bias. Most days, I read everyone's comments here.

Don't know about the rest of you, but the link to today's Game Giveaway of the Day isn't showing up on this page, so here it is:

http://game.giveawayoftheday.com/hope-springs-eternal/

(Slighty OFF TOPIC - but hopefully Relevant)

"Not VISTA compliant"

Please! Vista is an Acknowledged marketing failure, an 'upgrade' joke, and a resourse hog. Hundreds of freeware tiny footprint utilites will provide the XP OS with all the Bells & Whistles of Vista, Or puchase StarDock's WindowBlinds for the ultimate solution.

All Vista has done is to force Software Companies to modify once sleek apps with hasty and bloated Vista compliant code.

Name one Vital computing function in Vista that cannot be performed in XP.

Even if MicroSoft stops supporting XP (which it often claims it will), new and innovative XP software will surely be offered on sites such as www.majorgeeks.com.

To quote www.oldversion.com's motto: "because newer isn't always
better"

Best of Luck with Windowa 7.


Hawk . Chicago

Ignore some of the negative comments. This is a great little program for those who prefer less complicated programs with multiple tasks, and unlike what one person said, it does not simply search one folder at a time, it will seach the whole computer or even a partition.

can someone please answer this question.

All I would use this program for is to find duplicate movies, mp3s, and ebooks.
They are stored on 2 external hard drives and in my main computer under my documents folder.
I want to put all my movies and ebooks and music in one external hard drive not in 3 different places.
Will this help me compare all my files, erase the duplicate files and then I can manually combine them afterwards?
All these reviews say do not use because you will erase something major and screw up your computer.
I thought a program like this would let you pick the files to scan, not scan all files automatically.
can someone please give me some info on this? Thanks in advance.

Well, I can't really remember a day I enjoyed reading the comments so much. Especially #4 and #17. And #26, and #37. They pretty much sum up my opinion. While I don't agree with his conclusion, a review like #16, INSTEAD OF ALL THE WIDE EYED OMG'd remarks would better help all of us.

Thanks

-Wilfred

I would like to suggest a couple of points regarding reviews of software and posting of software. Someone wrote:

"...I am not so happy with this program. You have to add folders and then scan them. Just imagine you have to add 100+ folders to find if there is clone in them or not."

Try to use the program & your brain at the same time. You can select an entire drive as a folder --- Duh!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote from the entry page of the program (Step 1 of 5):
"With the help of Clone Terminator you can scan your drives for identical files and delete unused of them."

If you are going to write & distribute software, please attempt to use proper grammar & spelling. Software may be confusing enough on its own without clouding it with poorly written instructions.

I am totally confused:

I swear I thought I told people to stay away from this app yet everyone is bashing me for recommending it??

#35, #53: Come on, don't be so harsh on Ashraf:

1. He puts in a lot of energy where a lot of others just leech and wine.
2. His intentions are good, he tries to help out. Many people need a little help. When you go to his website http://politicallymotivated.net/gotdreviews the snapshots alone will help people to see what the software is about before they have to install anything. Snapshots don't lie.
3. everybody is entitled to give his/her comment. Al visitors here did, why not Ashraf.
4. Not everybody has a similar knowledge-level and many do comment crap, no problem as long as this is not intentional. Why should Asraf be a problem, he might go astray now and then but everybody has to make up his/her own opinion what to believe, what to pay attention to, what to do with someones info.
5. What he wants to be and what he is or is not might only hurt your ego, but doesn't really hurt. After all that will be his problem.

But I do agree his comments are to be read with caution. Anybody knowing that and reading other comments aswell, putting in some of your own judgement (while knowing your own level, meant in general) it cannot hurt anymore.
Yes, when you believe everything printed, you could be mislead, but don't you agree, in that case you would have a problem in all of your life?!
Just tread him like everyone else, trust his comments for what he is worth as a commenter an cheer his intentions.
Of course, where he goes the wrong way, he should be expecting critisism. Make clear what was wrong, not just a general bashing. Those corrections will help other people not to be mislead, will make Ashraf more secure, a bashing does not.

Hi all!!

Just for once I don't agree with my friend Ashraf and other geeks like him about the usefulness of this kind of applications.

To remove duplicate files and increase space on your HD there is a tool called DOUBLE KILLER that works pretty well as it searches single or multiple folders for duplicate files by comparing any combination of file size, name, modification date and content.

Moreover with this tool you can exclude files of a particular size range, protect others with certain attributes, like hidden or system files or even limit the scan to files matching masks like *.MP3 etc... so it's not dangerous at all and can be used even by technically less-advanced PC USERS.

DOUBLE KILLER is a stand-alone executable application so, unlike CLONE TERMINATOR, does not alter your registry system in any way since does not need to be installed.

Did I say that that it's FREE?? LOL!


http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/DoubleKiller-Download-32619.html


All things considered I'll stick with it as can't see any reason to download this GAOTD.



Cheers

Giovanni

I do graphic and animation design, so I know I have duplicate items in the files of my programs. I have been playing wth the program for a couple of hours. I started out with scanning my Desktop. And no .dll or .dat files appeared, but 3,800 files did-WHOA! Before I freaked, I noticed that the original, PLUS the duplicated were listed. I am sure many people aren't doing a thumbs up or down because like me, they are "still sitting on the fence".

What the Clone Terminator did point out is that I need really need to take a couple days and clean out these files. Even though I'm not sure that in my interests and art that I can utilize this, I certianly thank you for this GAOTD.

Waste of of IT Space.

i am not sure about this program guys... yest only i used win utilities program to remove duplicates it removed all files from my document guys nothing is left only folders all my files gone.. i am trying my best to retrieve all the files..... so i suggest dont try any such application... atleast do a backup before you do....

For less experienced users, this program is not safe to use and lacks some important features (for example, filtering by file extension).
A safe duplicate finder should at least have an option to exclude unsafe file types (such as .DLL, .EXE, .SYS) from scan as deleting these files might cause some programs to stop working.
Duplicate file finders should only be used on non-system and non-executable files (eg. music, videos, images, photos and other) unless you know what you are deleting.
Thumbs down.

Well spoken in #35 Fubar. I have nothing against Ashraf in the least but many of his reviews seem rather naive & lack what the dangerous side of some poor offers bring to the able.
It seems that for some unknown reason, he seems to think that the majority of these give aways are worthy downloads & good programs.
There I disagree! The majority are from publishers looking to sell average at best software that they can't otherwise sell. Let me be clear. The majority, not the vast majority.
I rarely download these applications anymore. Especially on my Vista system. So blame Vista, who cares. It's true that it's work keeping a stable Vista system & thats why I refuse to risk unknown or otherwise what I consider possible dangerous software.
Ashraf, you'd be well served to do likewise & toughen up your reviews. To many times you have given a positive review on an application that BladeToth doesn't recommend even trying, no less using. More & more, I find myself disagreeing with your posts knowing that your only trying to be helpful.
Many that read & believe your posts would be well served to do the same & look elsewhere for guidance. I wouldn't touch todays offer with a ten foot pole on an enemies PC. This is a dangerous program in the hands of an intermediate like myself, period! Now, what does that make in the hands of a new comer? No, I'm not picking on your reviews but simply stating my opinion of whats becoming more & more of them!

I am ignoring the comments about dup detectors being dangerous tools because they can delete important files. There are definitely valid reasons for using a dup detector, such as using the standard import files from a Camera in Vista (copies every image, even if you already have it on your computer). I assume that if someone is bright enough to use a computer that they will restrict the use of a duplicate file detector to files that they know the importance of.

BTW, I have Vista x64. I downloaded and installed the GOTD's Clone Terminator to test it out, for comparison with the other similar tools that I use (all freeware), which are:DoubleKiller: general tool, allows comparison by name, size, date, CRC32 checksum, filemask inclusion, extension exclusion, and other attributes. (http://www.bigbangenterprises.de/en/doublekiller)DuplicateCleaner 1.3: for comparing music files - special comparison for mp3 tags, etc. (http://www.digitalvolcano.co.uk/dupe.html)DupDetector: for comparing identical and nearly identical image files (http://www.freeware-guide.com/rareware/DupDetector.html)

I found that Clone Terminator's main window has no minimize option, and minimizing the results window does not behave properly. There was no easy way to select duplicates (I had 150 entries - 2 dups of 75 files) either by "select first/last dup in set" or any other wizard.

I see no real benefit to this tool, and several disadvantages compared to the set of tools that I currently use. Sorry GOTD, but I will be uninstalling Clone Terminator. My vote is Thumbs Down.

Omg, this is such a piece of shit. The "duplicates" that it found were language files and other random shit.

Can someone tell me the Registration code because i can't delete the identical files.... It says: " The unregistered version of CLONE TERMINATOR cannot delete files. Do you want to buy full version of clone terminator and remove this limitation ? PLEASE HELP ! :S

Yow! I installed and ran this early this morn, and it came up with bookoos of duplicate files. I have no clue as to what zackly most of them do. The help info that came with the program was NO help at all. Later, I did read comments about what I experienced. There were duplicate .dll files, and .dat files, and some other files that werent user friendly. It did show my duplicate .jpg, mpeg, gif, txt files, but it wanted to remove all of the duplicates! I almost went for it, because the files were the same size, so I figgered they all did the same thing. At any rate, I uninstalled this program, like #5 "rughacker" suggested. The way I see it, if you dont understand what a file is, or does, just leave it be. It can cripple your computer! Thank you "rughacker"! You greatly contributed to me not destroying my computer OS. You summed it up very well!

http://www.clonespy.com/?Download
Clonespy is freeware and fast and portable.

There's no good reason (other than taking your money) for this sort of software to exist! There's no reason to use it, & every dupe you delete can potentially break a program. The reason is simple... even if you only delete *identical*, duplicate files, how do the programs that installed those files know where to look for the copy you didn't delete?!!!

You can put a copy of a duplicate file in the Windows folder, &/or register it with Windows, & that way most all software will find it, EXCEPT, what if a program needs a different version of that file, or a version that's been modified?... A .dll file gets greater priority when it's put in the Windows folder &/or it's registered, & if you have 5 programs that need a different version, even though that version still exists in their program folders, you likely just broke all 5!

With storage so cheap now days, why would anyone go to the time & trouble of finding, then deleting a duplicate file that's probably at most a few MB is size? Especially when the odds are better than 50:50 that deleting the duplicate will cause problems?!!! Even if you have a laptop with a small, not easily upgradeable hard drive, I've got a USB stick with ~1.5 GB of software on it that runs just fine.

1. Anyone who tries these programs without having a restore utility like Acronis, is asking for trouble to begin with.

2. There is no truly safe "duplicate file finder"--especially for those with less experience with them--only one way to learn though, and that's to crash your rig a few times.

3. You're getting these programs for free--don't flame them because they won't give you hot cocoa with marshmellows and read you a bedtime story.
4. Thank GAOTD for going to the trouble to list these programs.

System AMD X24000~2Gig RAM~1TB Seagate HDD......Easy download and install (as usual)
FOR HEVEN'S SAKE! The program is hard to deceipher and in my opinion very difficult to operate. (No newbie here either folks)
I'd say it was ok to check for duplicate mp3's, doc and jpg's etc and nothing else!!! DO NOT USE IT ON YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM IT SEES MOST OF YOUR *.dll and system files as duplicates, delete these and your system wont even boot to a C:>
CONCLUSION: Runnnnnnnnnnn Forest, runnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Also I forgot to say that Primitive Duplicate Finder is absolutely free and does not require installation.

I use Primitive Duplicate Finder, very simple and very fast.
http://primitivezone.com/primitive-duplicate-finder.html

Great tool - I've just cleaned up multiple files of photos (different names for some reason but same pics) all of the place. I would certainly recommend this tool.

Are we reviewing the product or reviewing the reviewers??

I have seen over the months that people who write here who have English as a second, or third or fourth, etc. language always seem to get a lot negative useful checks. Or if someone doesn't write well. Do they give valid information? Do they make good points? Please try to read what they are saying for informational value, and not how it is written. So I ask, are these yeses and nos supposed to be about how well the review is written, or if it is helpful?

If I am looking on Amazon,com and see in the reviews that 20 people really like a product, but they write only a few lines each and all are general. One person doesn't like it and writes very detailed informational points. Would I consider the product? Definitely!! 20 to 1 are excellent odds. Please think about this. Thank you.

Try this tiny freeware (simple but 100% effective and reliable)...
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/File-Management/File-Workshop.shtml

Despite all the negative reviews here, I thought this one might be useful to me. I was right.
The download and install were quick and painless, even though I'm using Vista.
The user interface is not fancy but it works and it's not too ugly. No problem there.
For my first test, I selected my Documents folder. I specified that only files larger than 1 Mb should be checked--if they aren't taking up a lot of space they aren't a problem and getting rid of them would be too much work. I left the 'exclude system files' box 'ticked' and told it to go ahead.
I expected the scan to take several minutes but to my surprise it hummed right along and finished in less than one minute. It found quite a few files, mostly ebooks for which there was a copy in the downloads subdirectory and the my ebooks subdirectory. I got rid of the copies in the downloads subdirectory.
Bottom line: This is an excellent program that does what it says it is going to, and quickly too. Be careful with it and you can indeed free up a lot of space on your disk without spending a great deal of time doing it.
Thanks GAOTD!

Seriously, I'm reading all of these comments about how dangerous these programs are and how they delete important system files etc.

I really have to ask this in defence of all programmers everywhere who make clone deletion tools.

What idiot scans their Windows folder with ANY deletion tool???
Anyone that stupid shouldn't have a PC.
It's the old saying again, if you don't know what you're doing DON'T DO IT!

I steer clear of these types of utilities, as I also steer clear of the act of finding zero length files and deleting them. MANY Times a zero length of "what seems invalid" shortcut is only invalid because my usb drive is not currently plugged in, and utilities that report it to be junk and invalid go ahead and delete this invaluable shortcuts or even actual valid zero length files, then i go to use them when I plug my USB drive in one day and they are gone!...not GOOD. At any rate, today's program is a very handy tool if You have many versions of the same BASE file, of course it's plenty slow when comparing actual data, and even slower if You have an older PC, a bit faster if You have a modern updated PC of course. As of right now I have no use for the comparision engine check of files, Windows XP and/or Vista on board (Start/Search) work for what I need. For those that DO Need version comparision checking, Grab This, it would be invaluable I am sure.

#16, Ashraf, while I appreciate the fact that you're trying to be helpful to others, I have to speak up about a very serious issue, which is repeatedly posting misleading information due to a misunderstanding of the way applications work, or user error. Scanning in-use or temporary folders/files on an in-use computer results in different results each time. Differences in included and excluded files from different products causes different results.

You'd do well to study BladedThoth's reviews. Repeating what's in the Help file or on the website isn't useful, a review should cover the essential features, usability, and reliability of an application, and should tell me what I'm unlikely to know about the application.

An incorrect result from Clone Terminator would prove an algorithmic flaw, but correct results don't guarantee correct algorithms. Personally, I don't think any of the listed duplicate finders are very good. CloneSpy doesn't appear to do a full binary comparison, their unspecified "checksum" is unreliable. A checksum is a very weak hash. The vast majority of hashes are not checksums. CRC codes are primarily designed to detect certain types of communication errors. Secure hashes are designed to make it very difficult to know how to modify a file and return the same hash code; general probabilities of hash failure are the same as any other hash, depending solely upon the number of bits. A high-performance duplicate finder would use a variety of high-quality algorithms and implementations. Hardlink support is a complex issue. If I really needed a duplicate finder, I'd write my own.

NOT FOR NOVICES!!!! I hope I said it loud enough. I downloaded one of these programs from GOTD a while back and recently used it. Am still having trouble. Lost my system restore, wmi, installer and the list goes on. Have used this laptop for 6 years and assumed, like many novices, that hitting that "delete clone files" tab would cure my computer ails. Sorry GOTD but this one gets a thumbs down.