Single copy, multiple pointers??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Teflon
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T

Teflon

Just wanting an expert's confirmation of what I suspect to be the
case.

If I have a file on a HDD, and I COPY that file to multiple folders on
the same HDD, I will still only have one copy of the file on the HDD,
right?

I'll just have multiple pointers to that file from each of the folders
where I copied it, right?

I just want to arrange some files in various catagory folders, but not
end up with multiple copies of the file cluttering up my HDD.
 
In
Teflon said:
Just wanting an expert's confirmation of what I suspect to be
the
case.

If I have a file on a HDD, and I COPY that file to multiple
folders on
the same HDD, I will still only have one copy of the file on
the HDD,
right?

I'll just have multiple pointers to that file from each of
the folders
where I copied it, right?

I just want to arrange some files in various catagory
folders, but not
end up with multiple copies of the file cluttering up my HDD.
Click to expand...

No, you will have multiple copies of the file. The only way to
avoid that situation is to create shortcuts to the original
file in each of the other folders.

Nepatsfan
 
Teflon said:
Just wanting an expert's confirmation of what I suspect to be the
case.

If I have a file on a HDD, and I COPY that file to multiple folders on
the same HDD, I will still only have one copy of the file on the HDD,
right?
Click to expand...


No, wrong.

I'll just have multiple pointers to that file from each of the folders
where I copied it, right?
Click to expand...


You'll have multiple copies of the file.

I just want to arrange some files in various catagory folders, but not
end up with multiple copies of the file cluttering up my HDD.
Click to expand...


To get multiple pointers to it, copy it to *one* folder, then right-drag it
to the other folders. When you release the right-mouse button after
dragging, choose "Create shortcut here."
 
No, wrong.


You'll have multiple copies of the file.


To get multiple pointers to it, copy it to *one* folder, then right-drag it
to the other folders. When you release the right-mouse button after
dragging, choose "Create shortcut here."
Click to expand...

Wow! No wonder I was chewing up those HDD's like they were pepperoni
pizzas.

Thanks a lot guys. Shortcuts will work just fine for what I want to
do. Probably a more sophisticated way to do it, but what the heck, no
one's ever accussed of being sophisticated.

Now, where is that guy that fed me that 'multiple pointer' crap?
Must've been the guy selling those HDDs.
 
It is possible to have one file with pointers to it that look like the same
file in multiple locations.
Microsoft and possibly others used this on some install CD's as both a
method of reducing the data size and a very basic copy protection scheme.
There have been some utilities that accomplished the same result with the
idea of saving space.
Generally, it's a bad, bad idea, unless a backup copy of the file is also
present.
 
It is possible to have one file with pointers to it that look like the same
file in multiple locations.
Microsoft and possibly others used this on some install CD's as both a
method of reducing the data size and a very basic copy protection scheme.
There have been some utilities that accomplished the same result with the
idea of saving space.
Generally, it's a bad, bad idea, unless a backup copy of the file is also
present.
Click to expand...

You're right. Shortcuts are much easier for most folks - delete a shortcut
and only the shortcut is gone. Delete a hard link or junction and original
is deleted too - that's where the backup copy that you mentioned comes in
handy :)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/205524/EN-US/
 
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