How big is your downloads folder

[miskairal]

Mine's 6.33GB. I know a couple of years ago I went through and took some really old stuff off onto disk. When I want a freeware I first go through my downloads in case I've already tried something out before and forgotten about it.

Do others save stuff too, just in case you might need/want it later?

[wdhpr]

Mine is over 7GB's. I have been looking for a application which can inventory my downloaded files but also give me an option to replace the older version with the newer version.

Wdhpr

[Anupam]

If you are taking about the software downloads folder, then mine is a little over 4 GBs. I have been collecting free software for quite a long time now. In the early days only, I came to know that managing this would be difficult, and so I started to categorize them, and keep them in different folders like Antivirus, Antispyware, Audio Tools, Video Tools, Multimedia Players, Messengers, and so on. By this, its easy to locate the software, and I also know which software I already have.

I don't use all of these software, but I have kept the software which I may need some time. There have been occasions, where I wanted to use a particular type of software, but I did not have it that time. So, now, whenever I see a software which can be useful, I download it. This has proven very useful for me.

I also keep these software updated, even if I don't use them. For this, I have subscribed via RSS to some good download sites like MajorGeeks, FreewareFiles etc, and also some blogs. So, I regularly download the setups and keep my collection up to date.

Also, some of the software are hard to locate again on the internet. So, I have made a list of software in each folder in a notepad with their site names against them. This has been a tedious process because I had to search for each software on Google for this, and note their site name. But, this exercise has been fruitful.

As this collection is very important for me, I keep a backup of it on another hard disk. I synchronize these two daily by FreeFileSync. Earlier I used to do it manually, but FreeFileSync has really done it easy for me.

I also keep a list of the files and folders by using directory printing software like DirHTML. This helps me keep a list of all the setups, in case I loose all my software, and I have to download them again. I haven't updated this list in a long time though. Will do it soon.

There are many other useful software that I keep coming across on the downloads site. If I feel I might need them sometime later, I note the names. So, I have an extra list of software like these. So, if on the forum, someone asks for a particular type of software, I can suggest them.
This list is pretty messy right now, because it has not been categorized. I have to categorize it. For this, I am thinking of trying out some free note taking software, with tree-style note taking.

[Ritho]

Obviously either I download too much or I have been downloading longer, as I have several DVDs full of downloaded programs and such. Of course those include a number linux editions, and those stack up fast. I usually delete the older iso's and just keep the latest ones.

[jim]

I have a separate hard disk for backups etc. and I used to have a folder on there called Downloads Saved. In fact I still have but I haven't looked at it in ages. This thread has reminded me to check it out again. I don't now save ANY downloads for more than a few days (except games). All app software is usually updated regularly and I find they are always easy to locate for a new download if necessary. I save information of registered stuff in a different folder so can easily use it for a new download. So, I just don't see the necessity of keeping any downloads - unless someone can convince me otherwise of course.

[Ritho]

Originally Posted by jim

So, I just don't see the necessity of keeping any downloads - unless someone can convince me otherwise of course.

Worst case scenarios. Nuclear war? Natural disasters? One of the many under sea fiber optic cables coming to your part of the world is severed?

Why some might still keep downloads. Probably most don't need to be saved. I used to save a lot more of them when I had very slow download speeds. Also there have been times when a utility's website has disappeared, or the developer decided not to offer it for free anymore, or it was a limited time thing.

For the most part now I only keep very large downloads on hand just for the convenience of not having to download them again. Of course I still keep downloads of anything I have paid for, but that is a different thing all together I suppose.

[wdhpr]

I wonder?

If our download folders reflects the way we keep our garages

Wdhpr

[bo.elam]

On my "Downloads" folder I keep installers for the current version of
software that I am currently using and in some cases I also keep the
installer for the previous version. At this moment its 113 MB.
Videos and other stuff that I download are kept somewhere else.

Bo

[Ritho]

Originally Posted by wdhpr

I wonder?

If our download folders reflects the way we keep our garages

Wdhpr

I'm not sure. I don't have a garage.

[wdhpr]

Ritho

I'm not sure. I don't have a garage.

I didn't used too either. But the wife wouldn't let me squirrel things away in my closet.

Anyway I also have a downloads directory that has folders for every form of software genre that I can think of. This also makes it difficult to keep track of. Anupam has a good idea of making A list of categories. Sort of like a index to aid in keeping track of everything. Problem is it has to be a tedious effort to keep it up to date.
Maybe someone will develop a hybrid that maintains a database that tracks your downloads folders combined with a update manager. Seems like it could be plausible.

Wdhpr