How to Locate Duplicate Files on Windows Vista

There are times you might discover some duplicate files that match in name, content, date, time and file extension. Duplicate files generally occur when you save copies of the same file in different folders and locations on your computer. Duplicate files cause system clutter and slow down perform because they use system resources (RAM). With Windows Vista, you can locate and delete duplicate files easily.

Instructions

1. Press the Windows key and "F" together to launch the Windows Vista Search tool.

2. Type the name of the file you suspect might be duplicated in the "Search" field and click "Search." The tool searches your computer for the file and displays the results.

3. Click the "View" menu and click "Show Details." Scroll through the results and look for files that have the same name and file extension. Compare the dates. If they have similar dates and times, there is a great chance that they are duplicate files. To be certain, double-click both files to open them and confirm that they are indeed duplicate files.

4. Right-click the duplicate file you want to remove and click "Delete."

References

• Microsoft Vista Support: Deleting Duplicate Files