File Duplicates on Separate Hard Disks

[mrfoogie]

I recently switched to Windows 8 from Vista (thank goodness) and so far have enjoyed it very well. I haven't found too many issues with the OS, but after clearing out one of my hard disks of junk and old OS files (I tried installing different operating systems on different drives), I noticed that the hard disk (E appeared to be empty, but still displayed that 40 gigabytes were in use. I went searching a bit in it and discovered that the Documents and Settings folder had read protection on it, despite the drive itself not having read protection. That's not the issue, as I can type the address directly in on the address bar and access files in the Documents and Settings folder. However, I noticed that the data in the user accounts was identical to that on my active drive (C with Windows 8. Furthermore, when I added a blank text file on my desktop, it appeared in the E drive as well as the C drive. I believe that this file duplication is responsible for that unaccounted for 40 gigabytes.

How do I stop my computer from duplicating files onto two drives? Can I delete files on the one drive without deleting the real files on the other?

 

[Neck Beard]

Before deleting anything from from your (E drive or formatting it, I suggest right clicking on a bunch of the folders and files in both C: and E: to determine their locations.

This way you can check if you actually have duplicates or not. You may only have one copy but it might appear in C: and E: vis a vi a link. If you have somehow created a symlink or hardlink or junction or whatever the windows terminology is you won't accidentally delete your only copy.

Another way would be to run a program like Duplicate Cleaner which is the one I use, but there are many others like it. Just insert the paths to be searched and search by content it will report back your dupes.

 

[mrfoogie]

Before deleting anything from from your (E drive or formatting it, I suggest right clicking on a bunch of the folders and files in both C: and E: to determine their locations.
View attachment 13637
This way you can check if you actually have duplicates or not. You may only have one copy but it might appear in C: and E: vis a vi a link. If you have somehow created a symlink or hardlink or junction or whatever the windows terminology is you won't accidentally delete your only copy.

Another way would be to run a program like Duplicate Cleaner which is the one I use, but there are many others like it. Just insert the paths to be searched and search by content it will report back your dupes.

I checked the file destinations of some files that were being duplicated on my desktop, and they both have different destinations. I tried deleting one off the E: drive and it deleted it off my desktop as well. It would seem that the "duplicates" are linked together somehow...

 

[mrfoogie]

Also, I already tried formatting my drive, and it doesn't let me.

 

[Neck Beard]

This:

Also, I already tried formatting my drive, and it doesn't let me.

and this:

It would seem that the "duplicates" are linked together somehow...

together make it sound more like some kind of RAID mirror setup than simple linking. Or possibly the new storage spaces feature.
What do your Disk Management and Storage Spaces look like.

 

[mrfoogie]

This:

Also, I already tried formatting my drive, and it doesn't let me.

and this:

It would seem that the "duplicates" are linked together somehow...

together make it sound more like some kind of RAID mirror setup than simple linking. Or possibly the new storage spaces feature.
What do your Disk Management and Storage Spaces look like.
View attachment 13698
View attachment 13699

Here's what my setup looks like. I don't think I have any RAID volumes if I remember correctly. I was trying to overclock my computer earlier and I didn't see any on the BIOS.

 

[Neck Beard]

I already tried formatting my drive, and it doesn't let me.

The reason for this is your E drive is marked as System.
Cannot Remove False System Partition Using Disk Management
Vista Disk Management - "System" Disk is not C...should be C...How do I change it to be C? - Super User

I don't think I have any RAID volumes if I remember correctly.

No, you don't have any Raid volumes. It is showing your disks as Type: Basic.

I don't know why your system is duping. I wish I could be more help but your system looks like you have tinkered with it so it isn't standard. My suggestion would be to backup everything on Disk 1 that you need and then reformat the entire disk not just a partition. And then re-install.

 

[Neck Beard]

Also you have Active flags on C D & E if you only have one OS installed only one of those should be marked as active.
Changing Active Partition Can Make Your System Unbootable
Partition - Mark as Active - Windows 7 Forums
Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums