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Deleting duplicate files left by iTunes

Thanks iTunes, for “Organizing” my Music folder!

I have noticed that having your iTunes, albeit even the new versions (iTunes 8 at the time of this posting), it somehow manages to duplicate numerous .mp3s all on it’s own.  I don’t know if apple thinks that “organize” is synonymous for “duplicate”, but nonetheless I have found a way to reverse the damage.

Let me start off by saying, if you like iTunes to “organize” your music folder, turn it on, let it do its thing, then turn it off.  Don’t leave it on, or your music folder where turn into stem cells and begin the horrible duplication process.

Don’t Fret, I’m here to help.

First we can see the size of my music folder before anything has been accomplished.  I don’t remember downloading 120GB of music, err, I

mean “purchasing” these music files.

Folder Properties - Before

Step 1

This link is for the Windows “portable” version.  It is a zipped file that can be run without installing, which is always a plus.
This is also great to store on a thumb drive to save your friends iTunes music collection as well.

Step 2

  • Run the program
  • Select your music folder in the top left of the program
  • Click the “add” button
  • Last, click the “start” button right in the middle of the program
  • LET THE SEARCHING BEGIN!

Easy Duplicate searching for files

Step 3

  • You will see this box once complete

    Easy Duplicate Search Completed

  • Right click on any of the files and select “Leave only newest version in each Dup.Group”.  What this means is that instead of manually selecting each file to delete the duplicate, the program itself will delete the oldest file of the duplicates.

Easy Duplicate deleting process

  • Once the older duplicated file has been selected, you can choose to “Move to Folder” or just go ahead and “Delete Selected”.  I’m brave and have nothing to lose, so I decided to go ahead and delete them instead of moving.

The benefit of moving the duplicated files is that in case you didn’t like what happened you can restore them, by moving them back into your music folder from where you moved them to.

Step 4

  • Watch your duplicate files disappear.

Easy Duplicate completed deleting

  • Here is what  my music properties looks like after the duplicate file removal program has finished.  I removed 8GBs of duplicated files!  Wow, thanks iTunes.

Folder Properties - After

Final Step

  • Rebuild your iTunes library.

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