Thread: Running short of disc space? try this.

Munruben,
As tempting as it may be to do as you suggest, my advice would be, that unless you are really, really sure you know what you are doing, to leave well enough alone.

Third party applications, especially free ones, tend to provide what you pay for.

Restore points can only return system settings to those previous to your latest disaster. They cannot recreate a file if you have deleted it.

Ian

Originally Posted by Ian Smith

Restore points can only return system settings to those previous to your latest disaster. They cannot recreate a file if you have deleted it.

Ian

I should have said, back up your files before deleting them and good idea to do a restore point just in case you need to restore the system.

Deleted files, of course can be recovered as you know, they don't actually get deleted but that's another story.
Fast duplicate file finder does have a System file security function that prevents you deleting system files. You can also elect to have your duplicate files removed to the garbage bin if you want which gives you the opportunity to "restore" them. However, as you suggest, if you are computer illiterate or you don't feel comfortable or not sure about which files to delete, then probably better to leave it to someone who does know.

On the subject of free third party applications, I can only say I have many of them and as with "paid" applications some are good and some are useless. I for one would not use Nortons anti virus software when some of the free ones do a better job at protecting your computer. Some of the diagnostic software that I use is free and I could not do without some of those. I use them to diagnose and repair computers..

One I have used with great results is VisiPics. It does more than just find duplicates, it will compare image files for likeness and you can set the level of similarity that you want.

A while ago I upgraded to a large disk that could hold a lot of the stuff that has accumulated over time on backup CDs and DVDs. For many reasons the backups included the same files in different directories and with various modifications to original scans and images as monitor and scanner resolutions changed over time. I used VisiPics to sort through the mess and get the backup library back to a sensible state.

There's definitely nothing wrong with a lot of free software and this ones a cracker! It would also be more difficult working without free stuff like Firefox and in fact even a lot of the purchased stuff wouldn't work without free stuff like Java either!

Thanks for the link Fuzzie. I will check out VisiPics.

Just downloaded your link John gave it a run through selected folder and amazing stuff.

Thanks

Will check Fuzzie's out also.

Now off to the shed

What ever floats yer boats gents.

All I am saying is be careful, it's not for everyone

I did take that particular piece of software for a spin around the block and it very nearly trashed a huge database of family tree stuff.

It's not that I don't have backups so no real pain but just because Windows itself boots after a clean out like this doesn't mean that all is well and it may take some time, weeks even, in fact well after you think all is well and emptied out the recycle bin, before you discover any issues.

Ian

I recommend anyone who uses this program to check the files yourself that it suggests to delete. If in doubt about any file, leave it intact. This program only lists files that are identical or close to identical but it is always prudent to check the files out to make sure it is not something you need to keep. This program will not delete any files unless you instruct it to do so, it merely brings up the files that are identical or close to identical in structure and size, it is up to the user to delete or not delete the file.
I also assume that most folk do create a back up of their computers regularly so any mishaps should not be a problem. I can only speak from my own personal experience with this particular software and so far have had no problems with it but I always check the file I am going to delete before deleting it.

So true Ian, as I found out the hard way one day

Anyone who dosn't have a back up of "important files" is a idiot. Yes I speak from personal experience after losing a database of several hundred family photos I was deterimned never to allow that to happen again. So taking into account that i have been a computer tech for 10 years, tutored in a number of IT Subjects at TAFE and own my own computer repair business I offer the following advice.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how imporatnt to you is your data? Whatever the number is the number of back ups you need. Oh and keeping them all on the same computer is just asking for trouble. DVD's hold huge amounts of data, external hard drives, thumb drives etc are all methods of holding information in a safer manner as is online storgae but please don't rely on just one method.

To help with a constipated system try this free program CCleaner - Standard Ccleaner is a good stable program which I have literally installed on 1000's of clients computers. It works to find and remove crud from your computer - temp files, cookies, recently opened documents ets. Never had a client stuff it up yet.

With 1TB hard drives at $61 and 2TB at $99, it is easier to chuck more disk at the problem...

Originally Posted by q9

With 1TB hard drives at $61 and 2TB at $99, it is easier to chuck more disk at the problem...

Not at all.

What you backup to is immaterial. Having a backup strategy that lets you find the things you need and keeps them physically separate and safe from the original is an entirely different issue.

Originally Posted by Mike Busby

To help with a constipated system try this free program CCleaner - Standard Ccleaner is a good stable program which I have literally installed on 1000's of clients computers. It works to find and remove crud from your computer - temp files, cookies, recently opened documents ets. Never had a client stuff it up yet.

Agreed, a great little program from Piriform which I also use.

Might be worth mentioning here that Piriform also offer a software called Rescuva which can retrieve lost or deleted files etc which I have also found is a great piece of software.
These two software packages are also free so if anyone feels that free software is not worth using then I suggest you don't bother with these. I can only speak for myself when I talk about software and of course nobody can guarantee that these programs will meet everyones expectations and work great on every computer, Computers have a tendency to a mind of their own. I have used these mentioned above and they have worked for me but I stress, before you install or use any new software, back up your files.

I always make sure to overwrite free space on my laptop hard drive with lots of binary '0's, as they are lighter to carry than all the binary '1's - and every gram helps, when its a laptop!

Originally Posted by munruben

These two software packages are also free so if anyone feels that free software is not worth using then I suggest you don't bother with these

Geez John - no need to get so uppity. I never said all free software was not worth using - I said it tends to be.

I myself use Open Office, CCleaner and MSE - all free and all useful. Sure, there are others, but those suit my purpose.

When you look at the total number of free apps and utilities out there in the wild, probably in the millions, the number of really useful ones is pretty damned miniscule in comparison to the number of useless, poorly written, ad-ridden, and downright dangerous POS so all I am saying is that you need to be awfully careful and don't just grab the first thing that claims to be the answer to a maidens prayer

Ian