deleting duplicate files

[richiestac]

I ran the check for duplicate files and check for duplicate contents searches and came up with over 900. When I used cyberlink power togo8, 1 copy happened to be the Itunes version and the other was the original ripped copy that had been converted to mp3 when it was ripped. How do I know which copy to delete, also does itunes store files separately in MM? I din't want to start deleting things and then when I create a new playlist to sync to my ipod touch, not be able to find the links and have to manually relocate the missing links. I am new to ipods and really new to music monkey, etc. I tried reading the knowledge instructions regarding deleting duplicates and basically got the message do it carefully one song at a time so you don't delete the wrong copy of the song. I an nervous about trying to figure out which files to keep or delete. also don't want to delete the files created by itunes, some are from itunes store, but most are ripped personal cd's for backups and convenient access to convert to mp3/ipod usage. eventually want to create a series of disks that acks up all of my music onto cd or dvd disks in case of multiple disk failures as I experienced recently and had to use a special device to recover my data from an essentially dead harddrive. would anyone be able to teach this inexperienced person how to clean up his files so as not to waste so much disk space on duplicates, but also not delete files needed for my ipod to be able to sync. I have not tried to sync with ipod and media monkey yet. not sure hw to do that either. Sorry to ask a question that is addresed in the knowledge area, but I found the information there rather incomplete. thanks for any assistance with my learning disability and media monkey skills development.

[Lowlander]

You might be able to use the Path to see if it is the iTunes copy or a ripped copy. MediaMonkey can't help with figuring out the source (unless something in the tags or the aforementioned path indicates the source).

[richiestac]

Thank you for your response, I will try to shift things to be better able to ID the path. I do appreciate your helping a novice fool.

[richiestac]

What happens if I delete itunes media files when cleaning up duplicate files? Does it mean that I can no longer play those songs on my ipod?, also i these are important iles to keep, is ther a way to set the duplicate finder to ignore songs with itunes in the path?

[Lowlander]

No, it can't exclude iTunes folder (unless you'd create a Collection excluding the iTunes folder).

[richiestac]

are the itunes media files required to sync an ipod with mm files library playlists? If I deleted the itunes media files will MM still be able to sync playlists of mp3s with my ipod touch.

[Lowlander]

You need to be cautious before proceeding making sure you understand what you're doing.

MediaMonkey can sync the file it has in it's library to the iPod. If the files in the MediaMonkey library are not the same files as the files in the iTunes library (that means files on your hard drive) you don't need to iTunes files.

[richiestac]

I appreciate your words of caution as I do not know what I am doing and am not only new to MM but ipods and itunes in general. I'm afraid I did not really understand your last post. Where can I locate information that would make this topic more clear and easier to understand what MM can do and what resources it needs ie the itunes media files etc. Or some one willing to assist me. I generally am a fast learner and am the resource person in the ICU for almost all things mechanical or computer based., but This is bigger than what I have experience with. I appreciate your responses and welcome any guidance or assistance, perhaps even remote assist to help see what I have and what I need to do to clean things up and make the most advantage of what MM has to offer.

[Lowlander]

Well generally you have MediaMonkey scan your media files and this won't move them. So unless you copied the iTunes files to a new location for MediaMonkey to scan you're using the iTunes files in MediaMonkey. You can further verify by checking the Path of files in MediaMonkey and see where they're located.

[richiestac]

Currently after running scan for identical content duplicates, I have nearly 1000 or more. in many cases, there is the mp3 version and the itunes media file version being identified as a duplicate file content. So I should leave both the mp3 and the itunes media files alone? not delete either. Some have multiple entries and I am working on deleting all but 1 mp3 and the itunes media file. Is this the best route, or should delete the itunes media file as well. Like I said, i really don't understand this and don't want to do anything to cause more headaches than I am already having trying to figure this stuff out. Appreciate the help, but could you please dumb it down for me, thanks. much.

[Lowlander]

If you're just going to use MediaMonkey you can delete all but one MP3.