Find duplicate files fast, easy, and free to try! Compare file utility

Easy to use interface

You just have to specify both paths, choose some parameters options and click SCAN button.

Comparator Fast will scan both directories (and subdirectories if specified) and show information on easy to read and understand tabbed windows.

Brief DescriptionIf it's the first time do you use Comparator Fast, just select the From directory (on left side) and the To or destination directory (on right side), check "Scan sub folders" options if you want to scan subdirectories too, and if you want to check for duplicates choose the desired option. Time is default (and the most fastest option if you want to check for duplicates), and hit the Scan button. This will do a comparison of directories contents and will show information about on the tabbed windows.

STEP 1:
Select folders to compare. You may navigate to select the "From" and "To" directories, select folders manually or using drag and drop.

Drag and Drop method.

Select Folder Manually.

STEP 2:
Choose search options and start scan.

STEP 3:
You may want to save your settings as a Preset for later use.
If you don't want to save those settings, must choose Reset button to start a new search.

Add settings as New Preset.
Use the Presets Wizard to easily create, modify or delete presets

Scanning Window

This window shows a detailed scan progress:

- Graphic presentation of results (Right-click on graphics for other options).
- Results, with details of number of files/folders found, ignored, discards, sizes, etc.
- Filters Applied, a description of applied filters/exclusions (if any).

You may cancel the scan at any time using the Cancel button (or Esc key on your keyboard).

Use the buttons to switch to other presentation (Graphics, Results, Filters), or use the function keys (on your keyboard):

F6
Graphics Screen
F7
Results Screen
F8
Filters Screen
F9
Next Screen. Hold Shift key to go to prior screen. If you're using a "wheel mouse", can use the wheel too and click the wheel button on an empty space of Scanning Window to maximize Scanning window.
F5
Update information on current screen.

The results are shown / updated just after each subfolder is processed, or when you see a screen for the first time. If you want to get updated results (refresh), hit F5.

Missing Files

Missing
This will show files that doesn't exists in the "other side". You can easily click on proper Copy button to copy selected or all files from one side to the other.

List of Files on the LEFT SIDE
The left side will show you the files that exists in the From directory but doesn't exists in the To directory.
If you click the Copy button on the top of this list (also shows an arrow pointing to the other side), Comparator Fast will copy all selected files to the other side. If you didn't selected any file at all, Comparator Fast will copy all files on the list.
A log of this process is created. You may click the same Copy button again to Stop copying process (if this happens during copy of a large file, you need to click the Cancel button on the copy progress window).

List of Files on the RIGHT SIDE
The right side will show you the files that exists in the To directory but doesn't exists in the From directory.
If you click the Copy button on the top of this list (also shows an arrow pointing to the other side), Comparator Fast will copy all selected files to the other side. If you didn't selected any file at all, Comparator Fast will copy all files on the list.
A log of this process is created. You may click the same Copy button again to Stop copying process (if this happens during copy of a large file, you need to click the Cancel button on the copy progress window).

Other Options
See Also: Working with Results.

Newer Files

Newer
This shows files that are newer than files in the other side. You can easily click on proper Update button to update (copy) selected or all files from one side to the other.

List of Files on the LEFT SIDE

The left side will show you the files that exists in the From directory and are newer than files existing in the To directory.
If you click the Update button on the top of this list (also shows an arrow pointing to the other side), Comparator Fast will update (copy) all selected files to the other side. If you didn't selected any file at all, Comparator Fast will update (copy) all files on the list.
A log of this process is created. You may click the same Update button again to Stop updating (copying) process (if this happens during copy of a large file, you need to click the Cancel button on the copy progress window).

List of Files on the RIGHT SIDE

The right side will show you the files that exists in the To directory and are newer than files existing in the From directory.
If you click the Update button on the top of this list (also shows an arrow pointing to the other side), Comparator Fast will update (copy) all selected files to the other side. If you didn't selected any file at all, Comparator Fast will update (copy) all files on the list.
A log of this process is created. You may click the same Update button again to Stop updating (copying) process (if this happens during copy of a large file, you need to click the Cancel button on the copy progress window).

Other Options
See Also: Working with Results.

Duplicates

Duplicates
This tab appears only if you choose any "Duplicates" option other than "None":
In this example, the default setting is search duplicates by modified Time (including Date). You can see the duplicates on each side:

List of Files on the LEFT SIDE

The left side will show you the files that exists in the From directory and also in the To directory.
If you click the Delete button on the top of this list, Comparator Fast will delete (to the Recycle Bin, when possible and available) all selected files of this side. If you didn't selected any file at all, Comparator Fast will delete all files on the list.
A log of this process is created. You may click the same Delete button again to Stop deleting process.

Files with "Bad Duplicate Mark" will not be deleted. You may select all the files on the left side and use the proper pop up menu option (see below).

If you want to delete only files with "Bad Duplicate Mark" , then hold the SHIFT key while clicking the Delete button.

List of Files on the RIGHT SIDE

The right side will show you the files that exists in the To directory and also in the From directory.
If you click the Delete button on the top of this list, Comparator Fast will delete (to the Recycle Bin, when possible and available) all selected files of this side. If you didn't selected any file at all, Comparator Fast will delete all files on the list.
A log of this process is created. You may click the same Delete button again to Stop deletion process.

Files with "Bad Duplicate Mark" will not be deleted. You may select all the files on the right side and use the proper pop up menu option (see below).

If you want to delete only files with "Bad Duplicate Mark" , then hold the SHIFT key while clicking the Delete button.

Other Options
See Also: Working with Results.

What are Bad Duplicates?

Bad Duplicates are those files that have the exact File name, Size and Date/Time, but their content is different. Bad duplicates can be discovered using CRC32 methods with scanning (or comparing by Data).

Bad duplicates should be handled by user, to decide which file is the right one.

Log Window

It'll hold all information about process:

There are:
- Text box with process description
- Time running on Phase 1:
- Time running on Phase 2:
- Folders found:
- Files found:
- Files discarded: (example: files doesn't match a specified file spec).

Other Options

To get other options, right-click on any part of the Log's window, and a pop up menu will appears.

You can choose to:

* Save log to file: you may save the log file in RTF (Rich text format) to preserve colors, or just as TXT (simple text file).

* Clear all log entries: this option will clear all entries on the log. You'll be asked to confirm this request.

* Select all: this option will select all entries on the log.

* Clear selection: this command will clear only the selected portion of the log's content. You may select text as with any word processor.

Unresolved Items

Under rare circumstances, you may get an "Unresolved" window, where shows files that couldn't be categorized normally as Missing, Newer or Duplicate:

Unresolved items are those that have the same File Name, Date, but DIFFERENT SIZE, so we can't determine automatically what kind of files are them, because they don't are Missing, Newer or Duplicate.

Certainly are "Duplicates", exists in both sides and have the same date but different size. If you look the screen sample, the first file, "briefdescription.htm", have the same date than the other side, but the size is different: 9,492 bytes for the first one, and 9,490 for the second file.

You should review both files and choose what to do with any of them using the options on the pop up menu for each side.

If you want to keep those items Unresolved, just close or ignore this window.

To manage those files, you have exactly the same functionality / options as described on Missing Files, Newer Files, Duplicates.

Each result list (Missing, Newer, Duplicates, Unresolved) have options that can be accessed thru a pop up window, right-click a result list box and you'll see the pop up.

Some options will be hidden or disabled automatically if they don't apply to the result you're working in.

Open selected
Open/Run selected file(s). Use this command with caution. Please note: if you use this command to open/run several selected files, you'll be warned about it.

If you select this option while holding the SHIFT key, Comparator Fast will Open/Run the same selected file(s) but on the other side too (when apply).

Select Results

Select All
Select all files on that list.

Select None
Unselect all files.

Invert Selection
Files selected will be unselected, and unselected will be selected.

Select by Wildcards
Allows you to select files on results using wildcards.

Select by Attributes
Allows to select files on results based on their attributes.

Remove Selected
Will remove selected items from results. Files will not be deleted.

Size of Selected Files
Calculates size of selected file(s).


Send Selected To


Missing Section
Send selected file(s) to proper Missing section, for other tasks.

Newer Section
Send selected file(s) to proper Newer section, for other tasks.

Clipboard as Filenames
Selected filenames will be copied to the clipboard, user is allowed to setup the list of files with special options.

Any Folder
Allows to copy or move selected files to any other folder.


Find Next Duplicate with
Bad CRC
If you enabled CRC32 option, any duplicate with exact CRC32 will have a check icon. If that CRC32 is invalid (differs from the other file), you'll see a bad mark before file name. This option can search quickly the next duplicate with bad CRC32 (from selected one). This is useful if you get a lot of duplicates and just want to check for the bad ones.
See Also: Duplicates.

Clear All Duplicates OK from List
This option let's you clear (files will not be deleted) all the files on the list that are "ok" (with a check before it's file name). This is useful if you enabled CRC32 option and just want to see all bad duplicates.

Tools


Touch Files
Send selected file(s) to Touch Files tool, to change file's attributes, modified date/time, creation date/time, last accessed date/time.

Hex Dump of Selected
Launch Hex Dump on selected file.

Hex Dump of Selected file,
on the other side.
Launch Hex Dump on the same selected file, but the one that exists on the other side.

Notepad
Launch window's Notepad for selected files.

WinZip
Send selected file(s) to WinZip or the specified external software you defined to manage Zip compressed files.

WinRAR
Send selected file(s) to WinRAR or the specified external software you defined to manage Rar compressed files.

External Software
Send selected file(s) to the defined external software you select.


Delete Selected Files
Delete selected file(s) to Recycle Bin (if is possible and allowed by your Operating System configuration).

Open Container Folder


Windows Explorer
Open container folder of selected file(s) with Windows Explorer.

MS-DOS Window
Open container folder of selected file(s) with MS-DOS Window.

Select another folders

After a scan, directories remains on last selected/used.

If you want to "reset" this condition, you may use "Reset Browsers" option in the Main Menu, or select a standard Windows directory.

Presets Wizard

Will guide you, step by step, in the easy process of create / modify / delete a predefined preset.
A preset saves your time... all the settings you specify can be easily used later.

Touch Files

Touch Files(Standard for Comparator Fast).This software allows you to easily:
- change file's attributes
- Date/Times Last Modified
- Date/Time Created
- Date/Time Last Accessed

You can select this tool from Comparator Fast's Tools Menu or from your Window's Programs Menu, under Comparator Fast.
It's like a Wizard, step by step tasks/options selection, or Advanced Users can use the Main Menu and their keyboard shortcuts to switch to desired screen.

Drag and Drop files from Comparator Fast's results, Windows Explorer or any application capable.
Files/folders dropped to Touch Files's window, will be added to the list of Files to Process.

Synchronizes your Computer's clock.
On the Tools menu, is an option Internet Time, Just choose the time server of your preference, type in the server's box your own time server, and click Go. Just that ! Easily, your computer's clock will be synchronized with precision Date/Time from "Atomic Clocks" servers.

Minimize to System Tray for later use.
You can choose to keep Touch Files on hand, minimize it to system tray and just have to click it's icon to open, or right-click it's icon for a pop up with quick options.

About Box with information on hand.
You'll get (on network environment) your logged User name, Computer's Name, and privileges (if using NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP or better), along with your detailed Window's version and Windows Uptime (time your computer is running since turned on).

For more information, consult Touch Files Help.

Internet Time

Internet Time is an "Atomic Clock" Synchronizer.

This tool helps you keep your computer's clock on time !

Synchronizes your Computer's clock.
Just choose the time server of your preference or type in the server's box your own time server, and click Go. Just that ! Easily, your computer's clock will be synchronized with precision Date/Time from "Atomic Clocks" servers.

CD/DVD/Media Data Check

This tool scans all data content of a CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, Removables (Zip Drives, Jaz, Compact Flash, Smart Drives, Smart Media, USB Pen Drives, Tape Backups (as logical drives) or similar media, verifying that all data is readable.

Peace of mind to make sure your backup's media are fine.

Options
Verify Data
Start checking of Media on selected drive.

Eject
Eject the media (if supported).

Stop
Stop checking process.

Refresh
Refresh drive's information/content.

Compare
Select this option to compare media content against files on other media (hard drive, CD, DVD, etc).

Close
Close this tool, leaves to Comparator Fast.

Recover from Media

This tool allows you an easy recover of files (good and/or damaged) from specified media. The recovered files and folders will have the same directory structure than source, but all recovered files will be saved on specified destination folder.

Options
What to recover
Define what do you want to recover from preselected media:
- Files with Status OK (previously analyzed in CD/DVD/Media Check).
- Files with Status BAD
- Selected files only (selected on CD/DVD/Media Check results)
- All files on Media (this is the only choice that can start a recover (copy) process without previously analyze the media with CD/DVD/Media Check. It'll process all files found on media.

Wildcard
Right-click this box to get a history of recent used Wildcards.
You can specify a file wildcard to recover. The default *.* will process all files on media. You may enter several wildcards, separated by a semicolon.
For example: if you want to process only your files with extension .DOC and extension .MP3, you should specify as wildcards:
*.doc; *.mp3

Destination Folder
Right-click this box to get a history of recent used Folders.
Enter the destination folder to save all recover files and folders from media. Click on the folder button to browse for a folder, or type folder's complete path on this box.
Double click on box to open specified destination folder in Windows Explorer.

Overwrite existing files
This option determines whether you are prompted before existing files on target are overwritten with files from the source media.

Skip older
Determines whether skips (does not recover) existing files when the date/time stamps of the file in the source is older than the file on disk.

Touch targets
Enable this check box if you want all target files and folders to be "touched" with the same date and time stamps than each source.

Open Explorer window
If the Open Explorer window check box is checked, a Windows Explorer window is opened after the extract operation is complete. The window will show the folder to which the files were extracted.

Show byte progress
Enable this check box to get a report of number of bytes read and written for each file. This option is available only when copy method is Special.

Clear Last Results and Log
If this check box is checked, previous results and log (if any) will be cleared before a new process is started.

Insert "Bad Name" on files with errors
Check this box if you want to insert the specified text at the beginning of each file saved on target with errors. This may helps you to remember which files what recovered "bad", with errors or incomplete due to defective media.

Recover CRC errors
Enabling this box can delay recovery process when files with CRC errors are found. If your media have files with CRC errors, successful recovery depends on media source. For Example, if media is CD-ROM/DVD-ROM and files with CRC errors exists, the recovery of data may be only "nulls" (characters number zero). Disable this option to recover at least a portion of your file, or enable it to force continue reading of data on such media.

Copy Methods:
Windows default
Will process each file using the Windows default copy procedures. When a file fails to be copied, no file portion is saved.

Special method
This method will try to read and write all file's content. If an error is found, the error is logged and the process will continue to the next file block. This process can be very slow, depending on source media. If the process is interrupted by user, the recovered portion of recovered file will remain.

Command Line Parameters

You may use Comparator Fast with command line parameters.

The only restriction is: the first parameter must be the preset name, already defined. If the preset name is long and have spaces or other characters than letters or numbers, please use the format "preset name" to specify it (using " ").

The process starts automatically on background. You'll see a small icon on the system tray. If you want to "see" Comparator Fast, just click on that icon on system tray.

Comparator Fast will save automatically a log of the process (in Rich Text Format), using this convention for the filename:
"Comparator Fast Automated (YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS).rtf"

where "YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS" is the date and time when task was completed:
YYYY
Is the year

MM
Is the month

DD
Is the day

HH
Hour, in 24H format

MM
Minutes

SS
Seconds.

This file will be saved on the installation path of Comparator Fast (see About/Info window).

The command line parameters should be:

ComparatorFast "preset name" [parameters]

The valid parameters are:

/M1
This parameter instructs to process all Missing Files in the "From" side. This means, if any missing file exists in the "From" side (left), then all those files will be processed (copied) to the other side.

/M2
This parameter instructs to process all Missing Files in the "To" side. This means, if any missing file exists in the "To" side (right), then all those files will be processed (copied) to the other side.

/N1
This parameter instructs to process all Newer Files in the "From" side. This means, if any newer file exists in the "From" side (left), then all those files will be updated (copied) to the other side.

/N2
This parameter instructs to process all Newer Files in the "To" side. This means, if any newer file exists in the "To" side (right), then all those files will be updated (copied) to the other side.

/D1
Use with caution. This parameter instructs to process all Duplicates Files in the "From" side. This means, all duplicates in the "From" side (left), will be deleted.

/D2
Use with caution. This parameter instructs to process all Duplicates Files in the "To" side. This means, all duplicates in the "To" side (right), will be deleted.

PLEASE NOTE: Be careful not to use both parameters /D1 and /D2. Normally, you should not do this. Using both commands together is permitted by Comparator Fast, but keep in mind that ALL THE EXISTING DUPLICATES IN BOTH SIDES will be deleted.

/ALL
This command instruct to do all the procedures as the parameters /M1, /M2, /N1 and /N2.
This means, if you plan to use all those parameters, just use the /ALL one, it covers all parameters above.

/NOEXIT
By default, when the task is completed, Comparator Fast will close automatically.
With this parameter, Comparator Fast will not be closed.

/SHOW
By default, the task will be noticed only by it's icon on System Tray. If you want to show the Comparator Fast's main window while running the software using command line parameters, use this option.

Minimize to System Tray

When you minimize the Comparator Fast window, it'll be working or waiting in background, on system tray.

Options
Click Icon to open/hide Comparator Fast.

Double-click to open Recent used folders window.

Right-click to get a pop up menu with options. You'll see three submenus:
Recent Used Folders (From),
Recent Used Folders (To), and
Favorites Folders (quick access to your favorites predefined folders).

Those submenus allows you to open Windows Explorer on a selected folder.
If you want instead to open MS-DOS from here, hold SHIFT key while clicking the desired folder *.

* Not allowed to network paths (UNC format, ie: \\SERVER\C). To open MS-DOS Prompt on network drives/folders, please Map it on Windows Explorer first.

Select Results by Wildcards

This option allows you to specify wildcards to select files on a results list.

You may enter several wildcards, separated by semicolon.

ie: This way, you can select your documents files (*.DOC; *.TXT), your spreadsheets (*.XLS; *.WK1).

This will remember your last used specifications, just click on the down arrow on specification's box and select your choice.

Options
Move to Last Selected will moves your selection to the last item found and selected.

Clear History of Specifications button will clear all your specifications history.

See Also: Working with Results .

Select Results by Attributes

This option allows you to specify file's attributes to select files on a results list.

You may specify files with attributes: Archive, Read Only, Hidden, System.

Options

Look All Specified will search for files with all specified attributes.
Look Any Specified is a "relax" search. Will search for files with any specified attributes.

See Also: Working with Results .

Send Files to Clipboard as Filenames

Send selected file(s) on results to clipboard, as a list of files.

You may setup clipboard's list including any text (ie. commands).
There are 3 sections for this: (a), (b) and (c).

The list will be processed as follows:
(a) + FILE PATH + (b) + FILE NAME + (c).

This means, any text on field (a) will be the first on each clipboard's line, then FILE PATH, then field (b), then FILE NAME, and finally field (c).

Example (assuming you want to create a batch file with commands to copy selected files to other folder):

1) the selected files on result's list are:
C:\BACKUP\DATA1.INF
C:\BACKUP\DATA2.INF

2) the fields are filled with (ignore inverted commas). Please note we're leaving a blank space at the end on (a) and at the start of (c):
(a) "copy "
(b) --------------> blank
(c) " c:\old /v > c:\old\log.txt"

List will be copied to Clipboard as:

copy C:\BACKUP\DATA1.INF c:\old /v > c:\old\log.txt
copy C:\BACKUP\DATA2.INF c:\old /v > c:\old\log.txt

If you leave all fields empty, just the file's list will be copied to clipboard, ie:
C:\BACKUP\DATA1.INF
C:\BACKUP\DATA2.INF

Options
Separate with spaces: check this to separate all fields with one space, automatically. The result line will be:
(a) + SPACE + FILE PATH + SPACE + (b) + SPACE + FILE NAME + SPACE + (c)

Each line with inverted commas: check this to put each result line between inverted commas, ie:
"C:\BACKUP\DATA1.INF"
"C:\BACKUP\DATA2.INF"

Preview
When you click Ok on settings window, you'll get a preview window of each processed line.

You're allowed to edit any content (use the button Undo to reverse/redo changes), and when finish you may Save to file or Copy to Clipboard.

See Also: Working with Results.

Send Files to Any Folder

Selected file(s) on results can be copied or moved to any other folder using this option.

Settings

Destination folder,
What method (Copy or Move),
Remove from results when processed: removes from list all copied/moved files,
Use source folder names to process: when checked, will copy/move files to destination folder, and including each source file's path.

Preview

The preview window allows you to see a preview of the process before execution.
Here you'll see a detailed description of what files will be processed and to what folder will be copied or moved.

If you want to change settings, click Back button.

If you wish to continue, click Go.

Process

When you click Go the process starts.

You'll see a detail of total files processed, errors produced, remaining files, and file names.

You may cancel the process with the Cancel button.

See Also: Working with Results: .

Text Differences

This option allows you to compare two text files (documents, sources, etc.) to get differences like:

- Lines Added to one file
- Lines Modified
- Lines Deleted from a file.

The Window have two sections: 1 and 2 (or A and B).
To compare two files, open files 1 and 2 and hit Compare on Process menu or in toolbar.

You can compare a file or clipboard content, choose Paste