Help! I am surrounded by files

[quartet-man]

I admit, I have not been as diligent and organized as I should, but I need a program that will help me to orgranize different versions of the same file on different computers, easily compare versions and differences, and organize them. The organization is not so hard, it is making sure I keep the right versions, or others as backups before changes. Is this what a file mangement program does? Any recommendations. I am talking tons of files, and many different formats.
These would include word documents, html, emails (Outlook Express), WAV, mp3, pictures (different formats), etc. Maybe I need too much, but whatever help I could get on any of this would be great. I am looking for the best, and most efficient approach. I have WIN98SE at home and XP home at work. Free would be cool, but I want the best I can get without breaking the bank. I have files on at least two computers, two jump drives as well as some backed up on CD or DVD that I would like to go through at some point as well.Thanks, Terry

P.S. I like the way when comparing versions of entries at www.wikipedia.com the differences are highlighted. This would be ideal in some cases.

[pam123]

You don't want much do you?
I've never had occasion to use this program myself but everyone who has thinks it's great and at $20 it won't bust your wallet : http://www.freshee.info/folder_compa...ion_21943.html

Your problem will be the XP/98 file system differences.
FAT 32 is all you can use on 98 and XP is, or should be, NTFS.
What this means is that XP can see the files on the 98 computer but that the 98 computer cannot see the files on XP.
The solution is that you will be using the 98 computer entirely under the direction of the XP computer and that you will have to remember that 98 has file size limitations that XP does not. Which is why you won't be using FAT 32 on XP.
So if you've got, say humongous video files, then you will have to remember to break them down into smaller units before you can store them on the 98 computer.
You will also have to make 3 directories.
One over-all one that goes on the XP computer, a secondary one on the XP computer, and the specific one for the 98 computer.
Your portable drives should be synched with the XP computer ( Depending on how you formatted the portable drives, FAT 32 or NTFS, and the size of the files on them you may be able to use them directly with the 98 computer but this is probably a mistake.) but I'll leave it to you decide if the CDRs should be used for both. I wouldn't but you're the one who has to keep track.
The DVD disks are probably best confined to the XP but if you keep music data files on them then 98 should be able to read them, again remember the file size limits. 98 will still choke on a dual layer DVD that's just one large music file.

[quartet-man]

Well, they say it doesn't hurt to want much, but I think it does if you don't get it.
I forgot to mention I have portable hard drives too. I just basically want to get everything organized and then back up the archived files I want and make sure I have the most current or desired file on each computer. Thanks, I will check out the program.

[glc]

FAT32/NTFS is not an issue when you transport files back and forth between 2 computers - either by network or removable media. The only thing you have to be aware of is you must use a common compatible file system on removable media - in other words, FAT or FAT32 - and FAT32 has a 4gb single file size limit. CD's or DVD's need to be CDFS or UDF.

The only time NTFS comes into play is if you physically connect a NTFS drive to a 98 computer - then it can't be read.

You know, this whole thing would be easier if you upgraded your home machine to XP. You can use offline files to keep everything in sync.

[quartet-man]

Yeah, I need to upgrade, but have medical bills to pay and more coming up apparently.
It is something I want to do, but it will likely be next year at the earliest. Getting the files organized would help in doing so too as transferring would be easier. Thanks.