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Is a raw image backup compressed?

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The used space on my primary HDD is 96 GB, but I notice that the sector-by-sector (raw) backup I created is only 63 GB. Since Acronis states a raw image is not compressed, I'm wondering if the   backup failed, or is the backup file compressed. Anybody able to throw some light on the matter?

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How did you create your sector-by-sector backup image?  Was this done using the Windows ATI main GUI or did you boot the computer using the ATI Rescue Media to do this?

Backups done via the GUI have a default set of exclusions which ensure that some very large files / folders are NOT included in the backup, i.e. the system pagefile.sys, swapfile.sys & hiberfil.sys plus the System Volume Information folders - these could account for the difference in size mentioned.

Backups done the the Rescue Media have no default exclusions set so would be expected to be larger in size.

Yikes! If a sector-by-sector image backup is not possible with Acronis True Image then the program is fraudulent in that it does not copy a true image. If the program is able to truly back up an "exact" image of a HDD as advertised, please share. Here are the steps I used that came up short. Maybe I erred in step 2, by not checking "Back up unallocated space."

That you say very large files are not included in an image backup leaves thinking I need to get a refund.

 1. Launch Acronis > Options (lower right) > Advanced tab.
 2. Check "Back up sector-by-sector" > leave "Back up unallocated space" unchecked.
 3. Backup tab > click in "Select destination" at right.
 4. Browse -> expand "Computer" in the directory.
 5. Highlight target drive > OK > Back up now.
 

You may wish to take a read through forum topic: Sector by sector compression of unused space - lossless or lossy?  which has an indepth discussion on this subject.