Music files reproducing like rabbits

Question

After having a problem with Musicmatch and having to reinstall, nearly all of my music files have been duplicated.  I am not certain the two are related, but I'm hard pressed to find an explanation.  So...   1)  Is there any simple way of having the computer find and delete the duplicates, or do I have to go through and delete them myself? 2)  How can I prevent these unwanted copies?  (I have also seen this when I've tried to clean out photo files, only to have something or other replace them with 1 or more copies of the deleted files.)

fireberd · Answer

A common problem is when you are in a folder and want to delete several files and you hold down the CTRL key and start clicking on the files. If you inadvertantly have the mouse key down when you move from one file to another it will do a copy function and you will wind up with a second set of the files you are trying to delete. Make sure, when you click on a file to delete it that you release the mouse key before going to the next one.

The easiest way to find all the files is to do a search, but you will still have to manually delete the duplicates. e.g. do a search for *.wav or *.mp3 those searches will find all the wav or mp3 files, iif you have different audio types use the wild card symbol * and then the .file type.

Message Edited by fireberd on 06-18-2005 06:05 AM

oldtraveler · Answer

You will find it easy to delete all the duplicates as a group if you first click the 'date modified' column at the top. This will arrange all the files in that order thus putting all your recent duplicates together as a group.

RoadiJeff · Answer

I found several duplicate file search utilities by doing a quick google search.  Here's a link to one of them that looks promising: http://www.programmersheaven.com/zone16/cat657/   If you don't like that one just go to www.google.com and search for duplicate file utility.

GreyMack · Answer

Also make sure the duplicates actually exist, and are not simply duplicate entries in the MMJB Library. GM

nkviking75 · Answer

Grey Mack, you're on to something.  I tried one of those utilities, and it didn't find any duplicate files.  So I looked more closely and found that the duplicate files don't really exist.  They are just duplicate entries in my MM library.  MM Help was no help.  The steps they recommend doesn't work with version 10 because they refer to options available in earlier versions only.  I have version 7.5 on disc.  When I get time I just might uninstall version 10 and reinstall version 7.5.  Maybe then I will have more luck.

GreyMack · Answer

If/when you re-locate a folder containing music files that have been previously noted by the MMJB library, (or reinstall MMJB?) the library may find the files again in a new location and add them. There may be settings in MMJB to track music files while MMJB is running, but you can also delete all library entries and then let it search for files, and you can restrict the search to certain folders and sub-folders to avoid picking up everything on your PC.

I think my version is 7.something, but v10 should be similar. Deleting all file entries (file entries only) from the library and then adding library entries for all my music files is relatively quick.

GM

Message Edited by GreyMack on 06-19-2005 10:55 PM

nkviking75 · Answer

Update:  Reverting to version 7.5 cleared up the library problem.  Now I'm debating whether to return to version 10 or stay with 7.5

Windows General

Music files reproducing like rabbits

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