Network drives are an innovative method used by many large and small organizations. This is found in the drive mapping technology where network drives are used to connect with a public network folder on a host PC. These drives create a secure link between the file-sharing primary server and the secondary PC. You can also edit these documents on the server computer without needing to have on-hand access to it.
Scan Duplicate Files on Mapped Network Drive Duplicates Easily
Clone Files Checker follows Google Software Principles and it is a digitally protected software
When it comes to local differences that are only accessible to the person with a host PC, network drives are also viewable by any authorized connection. Usually a network address begins with “\\” and is then preceded by the title of the host server and the folder title you are permitted to view and edit.
The major upside to network drives is that they are accessible to any local partition that may be similar. Mapping a network drive makes it similar to the rest of the sections on the hard disk. A folder’s content, be it on your official network or corporate server, is accessible from the comfort of your home. You can access anything at home with minimal effort, be it gaining access to a customer’s data, including their financial track record. With network drives, the advantages are limitless! They have plenty to offer to both individuals and businesses.
Advantages:
Here we will talk about the various advantages that you get with a network drive.
- It provides the ability to send files without manual access to the server computer.
- Editing (read and write) of permissions can be personalized according to the needs.
- It is extremely handy when it comes to back-ups and mirroring.
- You can extend storage by using SAN, NAS, and various similar technologies.
Drawbacks:
There are drawbacks to a network drive as well, some of which are listed below:
- If you have a weak internet connection or you have connectivity issues, this will interrupt the network drive connection. Interruption in the network drive connection will ultimately result in some files disappearing and some getting corrupt.
- If you plan on using a network drive, be wary of the fact that they are prone to security breaches like hacking, attacks, and cyber threats. You can dodge this issue to an extent by taking security measures like setting up a strong firewall system and more.
- Whoever knows and is permitted access to the credentials of your network drive can easily access your system. They can steal, wipe out, and corrupt all your data. This is usually common in ransomware malware breaches on companies. The criminal will send a virus to the company’s system, then steal and encrypt sensitive information. For the company to gain access to their data again, the criminals demand a ransom fee.
- You need a stable internet connection at all times when using a network drive. You may risk losing data if your internet connection is troublesome, especially while transferring the data. (See point 1 for more clarification)
The Right Way To Scan your Network Drive for Duplicates:
If you think that a network drive is safe from duplication, you are mistaken! As a storage option, it too faces this issue like other storage options. However, it is easy to get rid of these duplicate files. Identical files take up extra storage and make data retrieving confusing. You can scan your network drive for duplicate files, all you need are the right programs and tools.
The tool we will be using is called “Clone Files Checker” or CFC. It is excellent in identifying and removing duplicates. Follow the steps below to get rid of duplicates:
Step 1: Mapping network drive in windows.
You must map your network drive in your windows before you can scan it through Clone Files Checker for duplicates. Follow the procedure below to map your network drive:
Necessity:
You need to have your computer switched on and need appropriate permissions so that you can create a distant connection.
Method:
- Click on the computer icon on your home screen.
- You will see a ribbon interface. In case you do not, click on the “down” arrow located at the extreme top right corner of your PC’s screen. By clicking on the arrow, an expanded menu will drop down, which is actually the Ribbon interface.
- Shift back to the PC tab.
- A “Map Network Drive” option will be visible under the “Networks” group. Select that option.
- A “Map Network Drive” wizard will automatically launch on your PC.
- Here, you need to pick a drive letter that is not under use.
- If you already know the network gateway to the folder on the remote host server, you can type it in the textbox. You can also use the search option to search for a folder manually (If you don’t know the network path).
- Select the “Reconnect at sign-in” option to create a secure and automated connection at all the windows boot intervals.
- Select “Finish” to complete the set up of your mapped network drive.
Step 2: Scanning the mapped network drive.
This is the main part of our article. Continue reading below to find out!
- Download and install CFC.
- Launch CFC and select the “add button”, from there you need to select your network drive.
- After selecting the network drive, select one of the options mentioned below:
- All Files: This option is ideal for scanning all types of files. This will help get rid of a lot of unwanted files, clearing a huge chunk of your storage.
- Custom: This is ideal if you want to select only a limited amount of file extensions.
- With Clone Files Checker, you are offered upper and lower file size settings. You can use these settings to specify a limit for the upper and lower scan.
- Select “Start Search” to begin the scan.
- After the scan, CFC will show you an overview of all the duplicates that were spotted on your mapped network drive.
- You may choose to view the entire list to compare results and other things.
- There is also an option to select files in batches by using the “Select Duplicates” option. Clone Files Checker will show you numerous file selection patterns so that you can pick the newest and oldest (and similar) files in every group.
- After selecting all your files, click on the “Select Action” option and click on one of the options given below:
- Move to folder: enables you to shift all duplicate files to a different folder on the network drive or on a primary folder on your PC.
Delete Duplicates: This enables you to erase all the duplicates in one go. You can choose to make a backup version of these files in case you ever want to access them again.