Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to delete duplicate files?

In most cases duplicate files are not needed and simply take up space on your hard drive. However, we do recommend that you have a current backup of your system before starting to delete duplicate files. We also recommend that you only delete files that you have created.

What directories should I check for duplicate files?

We recommend that you the directories which store the files you have created for duplicate files. On Mac OS X, your user directory can be searched for duplicate files, on Windows, the My Documents directory can be searched, and, on Linux your user directory can be searched. Of course any additional directories which you have created can be searched if you would like.

What directories should I avoid checking for duplicate files?

We recommend that only advanced users search system files or applications for duplicates. A good rule of thumb is if you do not understand what the files are within a folder, do not include it in the duplicate hunt.

Should I group files by checksum or by digest?

The decision to group files by checksum or by digest is a trade-off between speed and accuracy. The checksum method of grouping files has a higher chance of grouping two files which are not duplicates than a digest method. However, grouping by digest can be more than twice as slow than grouping by digest.

I am running Max OS X and I can't find the other devices on my computer?

On Mac OS X, you can find all of your external hard drives, mp3 players, network drives, etc. under the Volumes directory at the bottom of the list of directories.

How can I find duplicate pictures?

The best way to find duplicate pictures is by grouping by either checksum or digest as well as size and turning off grouping by name. You may want to set a filter to include only image files (Include Files Named *.jpg;*.gif;*.png). You can also optionally group the files by extension to ensure that each type of file is separated. This will allow zsDuplicateHunter to find files which have been renamed from the original file. For example, a digital camera may have created the file as P10100002.jpg and you may have renamed the file to MyCat.JPG. Using the above settings will allow zsDuplicateHunter to group the files together even though they have different names.

How can I find duplicate music files?

Finding duplicate mp3 files and other music files can be difficult because they often contain small changes which make them unique. If you turn on grouping by digest or checksum and turn off grouping by name, ZsDuplicateHunter will group any files with changes independently preventing you from grouping the live version of a song with the studio version. If you would like to try to group these files together, you can try grouping only by name which will identify any files with the same name, together. When grouping only by name, please carefully review each duplicate as it is possible to group songs by two different artists together which have the same name. Note: some mp3 players and music services add the track number to the name of the file so grouping only by name is not possible.

How can I order zsDuplicateHunter

Simply go to our order from and select the edition you would like as well as the quantity. You can then pay by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, check, or money order. After you have completed the purchase, your registration key will be printed with your order receipt. You can then enter the registration key into the program.

Can I have zsDuplicateHunter delivered to me?

Yes, you can have zsDuplicateHunter delivered to you by ordering a Product CD. The Product CD contains the latest version of all of the programs which Zizasoft sells and is great for backup purposes.

I have an old copy of zsDuplicateHunter, how can I upgrade to the latest version?

If you already have an existing copy of zsDuplicateHunter, you can upgrade to the latest version by simply downloading the latest version.

I'm worried that the checksum and digest grouping will group files which are not duplicates.

tm our experience, we have not found that the checksum and digest grouping methods generate false positives if the size grouping is turned on as well. However, if you are concerned, the Professional and Enterprise Editions allow you to have zsDuplicateHunter perform a binary check on the files before they are marked as duplicates guaranteeing that the files have the exact same contents.

The program ran out of memory, what can I do?

With larger daplicant hunts, zsDuplicateHunter may run out of memory using the using the default settings. You can allocate additional memory to the program using the adjust available memory command, in the help menu.

I have a question that wasn't answered how do I contact you?

If you have a question that wasn't answered, we would be happy to assist you. Just fill out our Feedback form or our Problem Report form as appropriate.