The Art of Finding Duplicates

When it comes to media, it’s easy to become a little chaotic. Not only is it easier than ever to buy and to download music and video files, but you also have numerous places in which to store these entertainment options. As a result, you may suddenly be finding duplicates in your computer’s hard drive as well as on your shelves. To combat this problem, you will need to learn the art of finding duplicates so that you can remove them or give them away. The truth is you don’t actually need more than one copy of anything; they’re just taking up space and making your life a mess.

Organize Your Media

The first thing you need to do before you even begin to find duplicates is to organize your media files or DVDs. This way, you can easily see what you own, and as a result how much of each item you own. In truth, this is going to be the most difficult part of the process – especially when you have a number of items to sort. But this will also be a part of the organization process which is going to help you the most. Not only will you be able to see what you own, but you will also begin to organize in a way that will set you up for long term organization. Set up a system now that works for you and you will certainly continue to enjoy the benefits which come with knowing where everything is. You can organize by simply putting all of your media files into one folder, where they can be easily reviewed, or you can put all of your DVDs into one room and then sort them alphabetically.

Use Duplicate Finding Software

Once you have all of the media in one place, you may have already begun finding duplicates. You’ve noticed that some files are the same as others. Take those files and put them off to the side. If you’re still having troubles finding files that you want, you might need to use software specifically designed for finding duplicates. This sort of software is easy to find online and it certainly will help to point out duplicates you may not be able to see on your own (and much more quickly).

Remove the Doubles

Once you’re done finding duplicates, then you need to get rid of them. You don’t need more than one copy of anything, so it’s best to just trash these extras to make room for new media purchases. If you’re paranoid that you might need that extra file, store it in your media collection with the rest of the media to make sure you’re not buying a triple copy of the same movie, music, or other media item.

Whether you have a lot of media to sort or you just simply want to get rid of any extra baggage, taking some time to pare down your library is a great decision. This will help you to know what you have and begin to enjoy your entertainment all the more.

Save