- 1). Use the Windows Explorer to remove your duplicate files--it's easier than attempting to complete this task in an individual program, because you can access the files for every program on your computer and sort them to find the duplicates. Right-click the "Start" menu and click "Explore" to get started.
- 2). Click the "Folders" button on the Windows Explorer toolbar to bring up the left-hand panel (also called a "two-pane" view). Click the folder that contains the duplicate files in that left-hand panel.
- 3). Press the option box next to the "Folders" button on the Explorer toolbar (looks like a small window with colorful buttons) and select "Details." This will allow you to view all of the files by name only, as well as the date and time of their creation.
- 4). Click the "Name" tab to sort the files by name. Scan the list to find the two duplicate files.
- 5). Check the "Date Modified" column next to each of the files to find out which one was modified last. In many cases, the file modified last is the one to keep. Click each file to open them if you need to double-check, then click back to the Explorer window.
- 6). Hover your mouse over the unneeded duplicate file, then select it and press "Delete" on your keyboard to remove the file. Repeat this action with all of the duplicates in that and other folders.
- 7). Right-click your Windows task bar (displays the names of all of your open programs) and click "Show the Desktop." Right-click the "Recycle Bin" and click "Empty Recycle Bin" to get rid of the unwanted file. You can also click to open the "Recycle Bin," select the file and press "Delete" again to remove the duplicate file from your system completely.
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