First notes

• A snapshot is a simple text file that contains information about every file/folder found on your system. This file should be encrypted when it's no longer needed;
• Whenever you make a profile HDD-Profiler generates a 'fresh' snapshot and it will compare it with the one given by you;
• By comparing the two snapshots HDD-Profiler will generate a profile in which it will inform you about what files/folders have been changed, that is, it will tell you which folders were created or removed, it will tell you which files were used by checking the created, modified, accessed and size properties and it will tell you if a file was added/created or removed. You can check these properties yourself by applying a right-click on a file and selecting 'Properties', just do it for every file on your HDD :)
• Please note that the profiling process might take a while because your system might have over 500000 files therefore if you want to reduce the processing time create profiles for certain folders, that is, don't try to do it all at once unless you have the time & patience to wait until it finishes or unless you have HI-Tech hardware.

Usage - HDD-Profiler's features can be accessed from the menu, from the button styled icons or by using the keyboard shortcuts. Here's a detailed description explaining their use:

• Exit(Ctrl+Q or Escape) - Exit the application;
• Snapshot(F8) - Show the 'Snapshot' dialog and start creating snapshots:
  • Click the "Open" button found on the right-hand side of the "Folder" field and select a folder for which you want to create a snapshot. You can also drag a folder onto the corresponding field;
  • Click the "Save" button found on the right-hand side of the "Snapshot" field and select a file in which you want to create a snapshot(*.hps). You can also drag a file onto the corresponding field;
  • Select 'Local snapshot' if you want to create a non-recursive snapshot, that is, all subfolders, if any, will be ignored and information will be gathered locally;
  • Click 'SnapIt' to start creating a snapshot. Please note that depending on the complexity of the folder, that is, if it has a lot of files and subfolders, the operation might take a few minutes to complete;
• Profile(F9) - Open a snapshot and generate a new profile;
• Save(Ctrl+S) - Save your current profile in a new location(*.hpl);
• Open(Ctrl+O) - Open a previously saved profile(*.hpl);
• Options(F5) - Show the 'Options' dialog and change the following preferences:
  • Warn on Exit - This prevents accidental exits;
  • Warn if Unsaved - This prevents an exit without saving. Please note that profiles are not saved unless you say so. If you're not interested in logging activities uncheck this else leave it checked!;
  • Show ToolTips - If tooltips bother you uncheck this. Note: Narrator reads them;
  • Show Snap info - If checked, whenever you make a profile a notification dialog will show you the folder for which the selected snapshot was made;
• Manual(F1) - Open & read the manual;
• About - Show the About dialog;
• The List - This is the main display area which will contain valuable information about your files and folders:
  • Double click - HDD-Profiler will attempt to open an explorer window in the location pointed out by the selected item;
  • Right click - Generates a notification which points out the location of selected item. This is an alternative for scrolling and tooltips;

Command Line - In case you want to automate profiling sessions HDD-Profiler can be used as a command line tool and it offers you the possibility to create snapshots and profiles from the command line(MS-DOS prompt or batch files) just make sure you send/specify a full path for the executable(Warning: No relative stuff!). Here is the syntax:

• Snapshot builder: <app> -s <snapshot> <folder> <local> <overwrite>
  • <app> - A path pointing to the executable;
  • <snapshot> - A path pointing to a file in which you want to save the snapshot. To help you create unique and suggestive names HDD-Profiler allows you to use a generic macro called ... $date$ ... which will be replaced with the current date. For example: '$date$.hps' will become 'Fri May 14 18-43-40 2005.hps';
  • <folder> - A path pointing to a folder for which you want to create a snapshot;
  • <local> - Would you like to create a local(non-recursive) or full(recursive) snapshot? Local('-y') or Full('-n');
  • <overwrite> - What do you want to do in case the snapshot exists? Overwrite('-y') or not('-n');

• Profile builder: <app> -p <snapshot> <log> <overwrite>
  • <app> - A path pointing to the executable;
  • <snapshot> - A path pointing to a snapshot;
  • <log> - A path pointing to file in which you want to save the profile. To help you create unique and suggestive names HDD-Profiler allows you to use a generic macro called ... $date$ ... which will be replaced with the current date. For example: '$date$.hpl' will become 'Fri May 14 18-43-40 2005.hpl';
  • <overwrite> - What do you want to do in case the log exists? Overwrite('-y') or not('-n');

• Examples:
  • Snapshot(with macro) - "C:\HDD-Profiler\HDD-Profiler.exe" -s "C:\Temp\$date$.hps" "C:\Windows\" -n -y
  • Snapshot(simple) - "C:\HDD-Profiler\HDD-Profiler.exe" -s "C:\Temp\snap.hps" "C:\Windows\" -n -y
  • Profile(with macro) - "C:\HDD-Profiler\HDD-Profiler.exe" -p "C:\Temp\Fri May 14 18-55-05 2005.hps" "C:\Temp\$date$.hpl" -y
  • Profile(simple) - "C:\HDD-Profiler\HDD-Profiler.exe" -p "C:\Temp\snap.hps" "C:\Temp\log.hpl" -y

Final notes - When & why should I use it?

• Make a snapshot before you start installing new software then after the installation is complete check to see what was added to your system;
• Make a snapshot before you start surfing the web then after you're done surfing check to see what 'goodies' were added to your system :)
• Viruses tend to move around ... maybe you'll catch them when they do this :)
• Sometimes programs write stuff into temporary files and forget to erase them :( What if they get too big?
• If you're repairing/servicing computers for other people make a snapshot and if they call you again to fix some system problem you'll have a chance to know what might of went wrong, who knows, they might of accidentally erased some system file :( this certainly helps and prevents a lot of head aches :)
• Need I say more?

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