Today's article has you cautiously finding and removing duplicate files...

KGIII

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In this article, we'll be using rdfind to find (and remove) duplicate files.

There are some pretty clear warnings in the article. It'd be wise to heed them. Odds are good that you have duplicate files that are actually needed. So, I advise against running it on / or ~/, at least not in automatic mode.


Again, use some caution and common sense. Other than that, I do love me some feedback.
 


This article is crazy, why should I want to remove something that I have twice and risking the integrity of my OS when I can just have them double, double is better then nothing at all
 
This article is crazy, why should I want to remove something that I have twice and risking the integrity of my OS when I can just have them double, double is better then nothing at all

The tool is there if you want it. You're not actually obligated to use it.

Personally, I just use more disk space.

But, if you're regularly working on the same data set and want to keep a tidy work place, stuff like this can come in handy.

I would strongly suggest reading the warnings before using the application.
 
Just kidding, the article is not crazy it just have an adventurous spirit that I lack for the time being. Maybe when I'm short in disk space and my OS is close to format time I will reconsider
 
Oh, definitely... If you've got all your data backed up and you're gonna do a clean install, run it on the / root directory. I'm not sure how much it'll break, but I'm pretty sure it'll break multiple things.

I suppose we could check on a VM just for fun.
 
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It'll take a while to run. It's in a VM, so hopefully it doesn't freeze. I'm on a laptop that's not my testing laptop, so it's not going to be all that fast.
 
The results are in... It removed a couple thousand files (on a brand new Ubuntu 20.04 install) and this is what happened after rebooting:

g1iSKE1.png


So, again... For those in the cheap seats, I'll say it again.

DO NOT RUN THIS ON YOUR ROOT DIRECTORY (or your home directory)!!!

You WILL break things!!!


You have been warned.
 
Since switching from windwoes years ago it's not something I've worried about...I just run a few safe cleaning commands every few months...which removes very little...the safe option is always the best.
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The last thing you want is...
 
You're mostly fine so long as you're not crazy enough to run it on / or ~/. If you run it on either of those directories, you're gonna have a bad day. I played around with the VM that I destroyed with the command and there was no restoring it with any commands. The only solution would have been to backup what I could and do a clean install. Running it on your root directory is just insane. That's why I had to test it!
 
What a mature forum we have where we have no users who look down on people who use another os and don't change the name of that other os to words that insinuates that os and it's users.
 
What a mature forum we have where we have no users who look down on people who use another os and don't change the name of that other os to words that insinuates that os and it's users.

I can't disagree, but I just try to treat 'em fairly and with kid gloves.

I think it's because people want to feel special, but I'm not actually a psychologist.
 
You're mostly fine so long as you're not crazy enough to run it on / or ~/. If you run it on either of those directories, you're gonna have a bad day.

What's the first thing people do when you say...Don't run it ? They do and the next thing we have a Thread...My computer wont Boot.
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There are a few videos about tools that remove duplicate files and folders...I wouldn't use any of them...it's not about feeling special...it's about being safe.
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If this was windwoes that fills up with heaps of crap and double and triple system files...well then yes...run em till the cows come home and add a few cleaning software too.
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If this was windwoes that fills up with heaps of crap and double and triple system files...well then yes...run em till the cows come home and add a few cleaning software too.
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.....and then when the 'thing' is completely screwed....Install Linux !....your worries will be much diminished !
 
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