---
title: "Shared drives, migrations and sensitive data · DuplicateDuster"
description: "A folder everyone saved into, two file servers becoming one, and copies that should not exist."
url: "https://royalsoftworks.com/products/duplicate-duster/use-cases/shared-and-sensitive/"
source: "https://royalsoftworks.com"
format: "markdown"
note: "Markdown rendering of the HTML page at `url`. Same content, same canonical URL."
---

Use cases · 2 of 2

# Shared drives, migrations and sensitive data.

A folder everyone saved into, two file servers becoming one, and copies that should not exist.

Shared drives & departments

## A shared folder where everyone saved their own copy.

The challenge.Shared drives accumulate duplicates fast when several people each save a copy of the same document or asset instead of linking to one. Deleting someone else's copy is a political act as much as a technical one.

With DuplicateDuster.Every copy is listed with its full path, so you know exactly whose folder each one lives in before anything is removed — and hard-link mode reclaims the space while leaving every path working, which nobody has to be consulted about.

- Full paths shown for every copy in a group
- Hard-linking frees the blocks without breaking anyone's links
- Recursive scanning covers the whole share in one pass

Migrations & consolidation

## Two file servers becoming one.

The challenge.A merger, a NAS replacement or a cloud migration means copying one tree into another — and quietly paying to store, back up and migrate every file that already existed on the other side.

With DuplicateDuster.Compare the incoming tree against the destination before the move. What's already there comes back as folder-level matches, so you migrate the delta instead of the whole thing.

- Cross-drive and cross-volume matching by content
- Folder matches show the overlap at the level you'd actually plan around
- Cancel mid-scan without losing the machine to a runaway job

Regulated & sensitive data

## Redundant copies you're not supposed to be keeping.

The challenge.Data-minimisation obligations don't just mean deleting old records — they mean not holding six copies of the ones you do keep, scattered across working folders nobody inventoried.

With DuplicateDuster.Find every redundant copy against a designated system of record, remove them with a three-pass overwrite where a normal delete isn't enough, and do all of it on a machine with no network connection.

- Runs entirely offline — safe for material that can't leave the room
- Optional secure erase with the SSD caveat stated up front, not buried
- System locations refused outright, whatever ends up selected

## See exactly how a scan runs.

From nominating the two sides to a reviewed list of matches and the space they're costing you.

[How it works](https://royalsoftworks.com/products/duplicate-duster/how-it-works/) [Security](https://royalsoftworks.com/products/duplicate-duster/security/)

Free to download, no account · Pro €20 once, VAT included · Windows · [Download free →](https://royalsoftworks.com/download/#duplicate-duster)

[Previous Archives, backups and photo libraries.](https://royalsoftworks.com/products/duplicate-duster/use-cases/archives-and-photos/)

[All of DuplicateDuster use cases](https://royalsoftworks.com/products/duplicate-duster/use-cases/)

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