CNET Editors' review
Once upon a time, duplicate files were so evil that no expense and effort was spared to hunt them down, terminate them, and erase every trace of their existence. Hard drives grew, and duplicate files became less of a problem. Then came digital cameras, MP3s, and video, and suddenly duplicate files are once again threatening to take over the world, but today's duplicates are sometimes bigger than entire hard drives were back when dupes were space-sucking villains.
Fortunately, the duplicate file finders have kept pace, and today's tools are far better than yesterday's at identifying and filtering duplicates without removing the wrong files. Duplicate File Finder from AshiSoft not only does its job well, but it's also easy to use. It works with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows versions and requires Microsoft .NET Framework 4.
When Duplicate File Finder's installer finished, the program's quick start Web page opened in our browser. This page offers step-by-step instructions illustrated by clear, annotated screenshots. Duplicate File Finder's interface is attractive, with lots of Aero touches, but all business, too. We started with the Search Options tab, specifying how we wanted to configure our search. Next we added a Path on the Location tab and then added those folders we wanted the tool to skip to the Exclusions tab. A Protected Folders tab let us protect specific folders from accidental deletion--a good idea, especially if you use a system cleaner or other tools that delete files. Our search finished quickly, and the results appeared in the Results List with location, date added, size, and other file information. We could also view duplicates in a preview pane to make sure they were in fact duplicates and not just similar in some way. Once we'd selected all our duplicates, we could take several kinds of action, including marking, moving, copying, and deleting files.
Duplicate File Finder searched not only our hard drives but also removable drives, so it can find duplicates on a memory stick or thumbdrive before you transfer them to your PC. It also searches networked PCs. It's easy to use, fast, flexible, and offers lots of help.
Publisher's Description
From Ashisoft:
Duplicate File Finder is a free application to find and remove duplicate files. It supports unlimited number of files, folders and drives. Duplicate Finder will find duplicate photos, songs, documents, spreadsheets, MP3 files, and more. Duplicate files can enter in your computer in many ways. Your computer is not fully optimized until you have removed all unnecessary duplicate files. Let Duplicate Finder find and eliminate duplicates.
Find true duplicates (files with same contents). Find duplicate songs by Title, Artist, Album. Built in Picture Viewer and Music Player. Protect system files and folders. Convenient and easy to use user interface. Export list of duplicates to HTML, CSV, TXT.
What's new in this version: Version 5.3:
- All New Windows 8 Interface Design
- New Search Engine - SHA1 with Caching Option
- New Search Engine - Folder Duplicate Finder
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All versions:
3.7 starsout of 211 votes
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Current version:
3.6 starsout of 17 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"DO NOT DOWNLOAD: SPAM PRODUCT"
Version: Duplicate File Finder 5.3
Pros
Revo Uninstaller Does a great job of getting rid of this garbage
Cons
This is one of those SPAM products that does not let you know it does absolutely nothing until you spend the time running the scan and selecting each and every possible option only to receive the purchase prompt. THIS FREE VERSION DOES NOTHING AT ALL!!!! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS OR OTHER ASHISOFT PRODUCTS.
Summary
Download CNET Com should do a bit of a better job clarifying Free when what is Free is actually a useless piece of software designed to get you to download it on the basis it was 'Free' and not 'Free to try'. This is dishonest and I expect better.
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"Simply Great Product!"
Version: Duplicate File Finder 5.3
Pros
It finds and removes all the duplicate files in my music collection and help me to organize my huge file collection. Free version does so well but I purchased the Pro Edition just to thank them for making such good utility tool.
Cons
Really does not have any cons.
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"Working Great!"
Version: Duplicate File Finder 5.3
Pros
Easy to filter file types to break clean-up job into smaller chunks. (.doc, .jpg, .mp4, etc)
Simple interface
Working fine on network mapped drives.
Shows thumbnails of similar files at bottom of window - handy for rapid visual comparison
Decent price, under $30 if buy right away. Saved me 100 hours so at $10/hr worth $3,000.
Help file seems decent, but did not really need it just browsed to check.
Allows protecting folders - so if have vault folders can exclude.
Have not needed customer service, program doing what it needs to.
Automatically suggests duplicates to delete.
CAN do mass deletes - but personally have found that usually needed when have entire folder duplicated. So I use explorer to find and delete the folder I do not want.
No adware loaded with program.Cons
Not free for all features - but give me a break. Programmers gotta eat so quit complaining about fewer features in free version. You want free, do write code yourself and post it to CNET.
Summary
Overall very pleased.
No crashes after 5 days intensive work, have left running unattended and then sit overnight until I get back.
Did a bunch of online research before selecting this but did NOT test other products. So unable to say if this is faster or slower than other options. But since only plan to use once or twice a year, speed not all that important.
In short, started with 820GB of media files on a NAS from 2002 to present. After cleanup down to 540GB and peace of mind did not lose anything. -
"HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE"
Version: Duplicate File Finder 5.3
Pros
Seemed to work Ok
Cons
NO Customer Service. They don't stand by their product. They don't respond to emails in a timely manner for a product that is not actually that cheap for what it does.
Summary
I had to re-install my operating system and when I really needed to use this software I went to re-install it. It denied the registration code that I PAID FOR, saying it was already used once. I have lot's of software suites and I've never had this problem. Try to contact customer service. No phone number. Email, "we'll get back to you" In other words "at their convenience". Software worked OK but it's worthless if I can't use what I paid for. Wouldn't buy from this company again under any circumstances so be warned.
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"I works good but it did not get all the dups"
Version: Duplicate File Finder 5.3
Pros
It was fairly fast
Cons
Did not get all the dup the first time
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"Free version unusable without filters"
Version: Duplicate File Finder 5.3
Pros
Searching and comparing files is easy, but without purchase you cant sort results or filter searches.
Cons
Can't filter results means you find duplicate windows files that are necessary in multiple locations, deleting would result in windows errors and problems.
Summary
Other free options or worth looking at, if you don't mind paying, this one would work fine.
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"OUTSTANDING Product Saves time, very thorough. Buy it!"
Version: Duplicate File Finder 5.3
Pros
Tried the free version first, was very impressed at how thorough this program is. Wanted the ability to "move" the duplicate files to another drive and that was only available with the registered version. Purchased the licensed copy and I am extremely pleased with the accuracy of this program and especially the time it has saved me. Purchase this program, you won't be sorry. Oh Yeh, there have been some comments about poor /non existent customer service. My PC died on a Friday, emailed CS, installed the new license on my new PC the very next day! Wonderful customer service!
Cons
NOTHING to complain about.
Summary
Open program, select drives, type of scan to perform, start and walk away. Come back with all duplicates displayed and ready to be deleted or moved to a location of your choice. It can't get any easier than that. I have thousands of photographs, music files and documents to go through and Duplicate File Finder has saved me a ton of space and a lot of time. The frustration of deleting songs from iTunes is gone. It doesn't get any more accurate than comparing file names, size, dates and hash tags. Thanks for making this excellent program!
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"Yeah Sure Its FREE"
Version: Duplicate File Finder 5.3
Pros
It's free for sure because I have tested it on my own system and it find and remove duplicate files without any trouble. It's good I have not taken your your fake review seriously.
Cons
None noted.
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"Are you sure this software is free?"
Version: Duplicate File Finder 5.3
Pros
unlike most duplicate finder softwares this one actually allows to drag the folder you want to scan. Automatically selects the duplicates for you.
Cons
Moving or deleting duplicates is not available for this software because it is the free edition, you have to pay to have that feature.
Summary
I've tested this software with 12 other softwares and this one did very well, it found 72/72 duplicate files. I wanted to see if it scans 'all' types of files so I took sample files and copied all of to see if the software could find all file types and I it did just that. The only problem is moving or deleting duplicates is not available for this software because it is the free edition, you have to pay to have that feature. My duplicate file finder 1.0, All dup 3.3.25, Duplicate file cleaner 2.6.2 and Fast duplicate file finder 3.2.0.1 did a way better when it comes to accuracy, speed and features.
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"Good program!"
Version: Duplicate File Finder 5.3
Pros
Light and fast free edition
Cons
I wish more features were enabled in the free edition
Summary
Light, fast and free
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