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Duplicate files in Finder with NTFS disks

Hello everyone, first of all sorry for my poor english, I'm spanish user 😉


I'm having an issue with NTFS disks. I don't know if it's only with El Capitan, previously I was using Mavericks, Yosemite, Mountain Lion and I don't remember this issue happening. Now I'm using El Capitan 10.11.1.


I have some disks in NTFS format, I use Paragon NTFS for Mac in the latest version (14.1.83) and when I'm browsing the disks in Finder some files are duplicated with exactly the same name, same attributes, properties, owner, extension, etc. They really seems to be same file. The files are duplicated only one time (I mean that the file can appear two times, not three or more). Also it seems to be happening with files and not with directories, but I suspect that probably will affect to directories too.


If I use the Terminal and I go to the disk (/Volumes/name_of_the_disk) and browse and list files of the directories ("ls -la") the files appears only one time, without duplicates. Also I use Double Commander and in this application the files are not duplicated. And when I connect the disks to another machine (for example a Linux Mint Netbook) they are not duplicated.


It seems to be a problem with Finder because in the rest of the test that I've made there are no duplicated files.


I tried to do the next:

- Backup the disks, I copied from NTFS to Mac, and the files that were duplicated in NTFS appears twice in Mac but with different name (and "(2)" at the end of the name if I'm not wrong, I can't remember). So in this case the problem is weaker because the files have two different names.

- Format the disks in Mac (with OS X Plus format) and then copy the files that backed up previously. After when I'm browsing the files only appear one time, so here they are ok.

- Back to format to NTFS (I've used Paragon NTFS or I've formatted in other machines, the problem still remaining). After formatted I copied the files backed up, and when it has finished and I'm browsing the files they appear again twice.

- I tried to clean caches, temp files, etc. with Onyx, I'm not sure if I had to check and specific option, but I'm sure I cleaned so much things 😉. Also I tried to clean "Finder cache" but I googled for it and I didn't found a directory for the Finder cache.

- Showing the inspector in the files on Mac shows the correct files and size, and on NTFS disks shows more number of files and more size.


It is very strange, now I'm supposing that it is due to an issue in Finder because in other machines and other apps they are only showed one time. But I really don't know what is happening. Please I need your help!!! Any help will be appreciated!!!


Thank you all!!!!

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), OS X El Capitan (10.11.1), Paragon NTFS

Posted on Nov 29, 2015 4:17 AM

Reply
9 replies

Nov 29, 2015 1:51 PM in response to jcmartinez1982

Hi again everyone.


So that seems to be an issue with Paragon NTFS.


I disabled it and with the OSX drivers I can't write but the list of files were correct without duplicates.


I also installed trial of Tuxera NTFS and it seems to be OK, I can copy and lists my files without problems and duplicates. I hope Paragon solve it quickly.


Thank you anyway!

Jan 4, 2016 8:16 AM in response to jcmartinez1982

Hi I had exactly the same problem - and the moment I uninstalled Paragon, it went away. And I see other Paragon users have the same issue:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7393100?start=0&tstart=0


I'm planning to replace Paragon with Tuxera. When I upgraded Paragon recently I went through the worst upgrade experience in my thirty year tech career, and the company was arrogant & unhelpful; subsequently I've heard similar reports about Paragon from others. I've done some research on Tuxera and they seem to be a great company.

Jan 4, 2016 8:28 AM in response to jcmartinez1982

Windows NT File System has serious limitations with all versions of OS X

Unless you have a Windows partition on your Mac with Windows installed to it you don't need NFTS and you relying on a file system that requires a 3rd party app to allow it to delete files. It will not be usable in Time Machine and it will not store Mac OS permissions and any update you make to the OS could render that software useless.


If you need to share a drive with a windows computer on your network that is connected to your Mac it can be Mac formatted and Windows will access it and you will run into far less headaches and purchases later on.

Jan 4, 2016 8:41 AM in response to OptimizE

If you need to share large files, format the drive as exFAT on the Windows computer. Both Windows and OS X can read/write such a drive without the need for any third party software on either side, and exFAT can hold massive files.


OS X can format exFAT, but has a known bug (particularly comes out on large drives, such as 1 TB and larger) where it will use a large block size that Windows doesn't like. From Windows, make sure to use a block size no larger than 1024 KB.

Duplicate files in Finder with NTFS disks

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