file watcher

[serverdude]

hi guys i was just wanting to know is there any free programs you can download that monitors files and shows you when they change iv looked on Google but most are crap and you have to pay for them so if anyone knows of one pls let me know thanks guys

[crypto7]

How instant does it need to be?

If it needs to be real time, then you will need something that can hook the file io interupts (and they can/will be busy).

If it does not need to be realtime, a simple app that runs in the background and checks a file every x mins may be good enough.
eg: a batch file run as an at/schedule job.

How many files does it need to monitor
How often does the check need to happen.

[Zero Alpha]

What do you mean by hooking file io interupts?

A simple windows API hook would be enough.

[crypto7]

Fair point. I was thinking too far back; when you needed to get the disk irq to know when a file was being read from or written to. (Like the old AV TSRs)

I'm sure your correct and windows will privide a nice abstracted API now.... Much better idea...